Flu can cause big trouble for us asthma sufferers! In my house, I became the germ master and clean like a crazy woman. One unfortunate year, my in-laws came for a visit and got sick and were miserable with the flu. I couldn’t figure out how everyone came down with flu so quickly until I realized we were all refilling our water glasses using the water dispenser on our refrigerator. Placing our germ filled glasses against the same piece of metal that triggers the dispensing of water! Lesson learned! Below is a nice article to get us all thinking about germs in our homes and what we can do.
Stopping Germs: Speed Cleaning
In addition to cleaning like a crazy, I enforce my “healthy eating and eight hours of sleep rule”. I’ve discovered that exhaused kids mean more cold and flu in our home. Rested kids equal less illness. Tired run down bodies just can’t put the strong fight I have found.
What tips do you have for avoiding germs during flu season?
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
I’ve been doing a more frequent clean of the iPads and keyboards in the house – I hope this helps. With a toddler in the house, I really need to start with the ceilings and work my way down 😉
Heather, we’re suppose to clean the celings too? Haha-just kidding. I forgot keyboards. Good one!
I would have never thought of that being a germ magnet, good to know!
We wash hands constantly, switch to paper towels until the germs subside (we usually don’t, we are big recyclers), frequent bed cover washing and making sure toothbrushes stay far away from each other & get run through the dishwasher.
Tracy,
Good call on the toothbrushes! I didn’t know you can run them through the dishwasher. I boil water and them pour it all over them–wasting extra water. Paper towels is another good suggestion.
Thanks for putting in your two cents–always welcomed here.
We keep a canister of sanitizing wipes near the doorway everyone uses…for food allergies and illness purposes! Also keep a hand sanitizer pump at the computer. I know disinfecting spray is not a good choice due to asthma, however, spraying down backpacks and other sports bags a few times a week would seem to help. I also quickly wipe down with disinfecting wipes lunchboxes/books/calculators/etc. that come home from school.
Cheryl,
GREAT tip!
Caroline