With flu season in full force and coronavirus COVID-19 working its way across the U.S., now is the perfect time to think about how to prevent the spread of viruses within in your own home. Today’s Tip Tuesday goes into the many simple steps you can take to prevent the spread of an illness once it reaches your home. While the typical flu virus can only live up to 24 hours on hard surfaces, early evidence indicates that the COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for up to 9 days in ideal conditions.

The CDC recommends that you clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Many people think about cleaning their doorknobs and countertops to stop the spread of viruses, but let’s not forget about your floors! Especially if you have little ones crawling around on them. These three tips should help.

• No shoes in the house. Keep a pair of slippers or shoes solely for inside use.
• Steam clean your carpets. If you find that illness keeps spreading around your household family members, sometimes a thorough carpet cleaning can help.
• Clean hard floors with child-safe products whenever possible. One part vinegar to one part water is a great safe alternative to store bought cleaners.

Studies have suggested that lower-tech cleaning solutions can help prevent disease. One 2010 paper found that both bleach and vinegar, separately, could kill influenza viruses lingering on surfaces; mixing the two, however, could be dangerous.

Flu Season Basics:

According to Health.com these are some of the best ways to avoid getting sick:

• Wash your hands as much as you possibly can.
• Don’t touch your face.
• Get enough sleep.
• Get your flu shot—every. single. year.
• Eat enough fruits and vegetables.
• Work out regularly.
• Keep your distance from sick people.
• Keep hand sanitizer on hand.
• Quit smoking.
• Be wary of sharing food with others
• Buy a leather or vinyl bag and ditch your cloth purse for the winter.

And, let’s not forget that allergy season is coming up next. Have you thought about the air quality in your home lately? The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends getting your air ducts cleaned every three to five years. After a while, your heating and cooling system’s air ducts can get clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris. When this happens, your air quality can become compromised and your system can start to operate less efficiently. Also, that same dust, dirt, mold and debris can affect the health of you and your family and trigger unwanted allergies. Ask about our air duct cleaning services today!