The first official day of spring is this week, and with the warmer weather comes spring cleaning. Now is the time of year to rid your home not only of any unnecessary clutter but also of the germs and bacteria that built up throughout the winter.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consistent cleaning habits (and making sure to clean the right way!) are important in preventing the spread of cold and flu viruses. Instead of waiting for your child to get sick, make sure to proactively and routinely clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
Use these simple tips to make spring cleaning, and establishing a regular cleaning regimen, easier!
Order is Important!
For maximum effectiveness, clean hard surfaces with soap and warm water first to remove dirt and debris.
Then disinfect and sanitize. Use Disinfecting Wipes to help kill 99.9% of bacteria. Make this a habit! Routinely wipe down commonly touched surfaces such as tables and countertops at home and desktops and keyboards in the classroom.
Remember to disinfect easily forgotten places such as the insides of the trash cans, baseboards and computer keyboards.
Divide and Conquer
Many hands make light work! Spring cleaning can be a daunting project, so think about ways to conquer it in bite-sized chunks. Assign each person a room or a certain task.
Cleaning out the fridge can be a good family task. Spoiled food can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, so make sure to get rid of foods that have passed their expiration dates! Be sure to disinfect the inside of the refrigerator as well.
Make keeping the home clean a habit for your family by assigning tasks to everyone. Ask your children to tidy the floors before vacuuming, put their dirty clothes in the hamper or put their toys away every night before bed to teach healthy habits from a young age.
Don’t Forget Soft Surfaces!
Did you know that regular laundry detergents often leave germs behind? Use Laundry Sanitizer to help kill bacteria on fabrics. Wash your family’s clothes, bedding and towels with Lysol® Laundry Sanitizer to kill 99.9% of bacteria.
Wondering how to clean the couch or your kids’ favorite recliner? Lysol® Disinfectant Spray can be used to disinfect hard surfaces and to disinfect soft surfaces! It also kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including cold and flu.
Remember, while spring cleaning is important, it is just as important to create and follow and adopt healthy habits at home and in the classroom all throughout the year! Get more tips at PTA.org.
Ferran Rousaud is the Marketing Director for Lysol. Lysol is a Proud National Sponsor of PTA. Learn more.
