We all know we’re supposed to cover our mouth when we cough or sneeze, especially when we have flu. But have you ever wondered where the germs on your hands end up if you don’t wash your hands ASAP?
We touch a countless number of items every day. And unfortunately, these items aren’t cleaned often, which makes them the perfect breeding ground for flu germs. If you have kids, you probably don’t want germs to slip under the radar.
Here’s a list of five germ hotspots to keep an eye on
1. Door handles
It’s not hard to imagine why door handles are one of the top transmitters of germs: we touch them every time we enter a room. Research has found that the flu virus can live for up to 48 hours on a door handle. Remember that next time you reach for a handle.
2. Remote controls
Remote controls are probably the dirtiest gadget in your house. They’re used by practically everyone in the family and are rarely cleaned. To make matters worse, if you eat while you watch TV, the germs on your dirty hands end up on the remote.
3. Laptop keypads and computer keyboards
Your keyboard is swarming with bacteria. It’s even worse when you share a laptop or computer with other people. A study by the University of Arizona revealed that keyboards have more germs than a toilet seat. Only half of the people interviewed for the study said they cleaned their keyboard every month.
4. Toys
Toys are a great way to educate and entertain kids. They’re also a great source of emotional comfort when your child catches the flu. Have you ever seen how tightly children cling to their teddy bears when they’re sick? That’s precisely the type of prolonged contact that makes toys the perfect hideout for germs. To clean your children’s toys, add a few drops of Domestos Thick Bleach to a bucket of water. Soak the toys in this solution for about 20 minutes and air dry in direct sunlight.
5. Light switches
It’s one of the first things you touch when you wake up and the last thing you come into contact with before you sleep. Unless you’re living in complete darkness, it’s likely your house has a few light switches. And those switches are touched by different people more than once a day. This means if one of your relatives sneezes and switches on a light, you’re at risk of catching the flu.
It’s scary to think that germs are lurking in places you didn’t imagine. The good news is that you’re not defenceless. All you have to do is frequently disinfect the items you touch regularly. No cleaning arsenal is complete without a bottle of Domestos. Combine it with a few house cleaning tips and you’re well on your way to keeping your family safe from flu infections.
Image: iStock
This post was sponsored by Domestos.
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