20+ Surfaces to Clean During Cold + Flu Season

Emily Fazio
·4 min read

Adopt a heightened awareness for contagious viruses during flu season. To reduce the chances of getting sick, make proactive hygiene practices a consistent habit. Regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces can significantly reduce the spread of harmful germs from surfaces.

We've all been increasingly vigilant when out of the home, but taking care of the spaces inside your home is important, too. This list outlines key touchpoints that shouldn't be ignored. Make cleaning them part of your ordinary routine and contribute to a healthier, safer space for all.

Products We Use to Kill Germs

  • Isopropyl alcohol (70%+ concentration)

  • All-purpose cleaners that kill 99.9% of the types of germs on surfaces

  • Bleach (ventilate the space well and never let it interact with another cleaner)

  • Disinfecting wipes (wipe the surface for 15 seconds for maximum effect)

  • Sanitizing sprays (both disinfecting fabric sprays and hard surface sanitizers)

Related: Cleaning is Not Disinfecting. But Do You Understand Why?

Areas Around the Home to Tackle

  • Doorknobs and handles. Clean with a disinfectant wipe or a mixture of water and soap using a cloth.

  • Light switches. Disinfect with a disinfectant spray or wipe, ensuring not to oversaturate.

  • Remote controls. Use a disinfectant wipe or a cotton ball dampened with an isopropyl alcohol solution to clean the television system remotes and video game controllers.

  • Children's toys. Clean hard plastic toys with soapy, hot water. Stuffed animals can take a trip through the washing machine with your dirty laundry. (If the toy has any delicate features, put it inside a pillowcase and tie it shut with a rubber band. It's less likely to be damaged when nestled inside the pillowcase.)

Related: How to Clean Your Washing Machine—Without Bleach

  • Fitness equipment. Wipe down gym equipment and mats with wipes and a disinfecting spray after use. (If you're taking this tip to the gym, wipe down that equipment before and after use.)

  • Bed linens, bathroom towels, and other laundry. Reduce the spread of germs by disinfecting soft surfaces, too. "While deep cleaning is sufficient for most healthy households, an extra sanitizing step can reduce the number of certain bacteria," shares Jennifer Ahoni, Tide Fabric Care Principal Scientist. "Disinfecting kills bacteria and other germs like viruses. For laundry from people who might be ill with a stomach virus like rotavirus, or for laundry that is heavily contaminated with body fluids, I would recommend a sanitizing step using an appropriate dose of a high-quality laundry detergent like Tide, plus an additive that is registered with the EPA as a sanitizer or disinfectant. [You can also] use a sanitizing spray for hard-to-wash items or in-between washes. Tide Antibacterial Fabric Spray is designed to kill 99.9% of bacteria left behind on fabrics."

Related: How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

  • Kitchen surfaces. Clean contaminated surfaces like the kitchen sink, countertops and cabinet handles with a kitchen-safe disinfectant or a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water.

  • Bathroom surfaces. Clean the vanity surfaces, toilet bowl, floor, faucets, and toilet handle. Depending on the surface, use a bathroom cleaner or a diluted bleach solution. (Friendly reminder: While diluted white vinegar is also a popular cleaning agent, never use bleach and white vinegar at the same time. The two liquids combine to form a deadly toxic gas.)

  • Desks and workspaces. Clean germs on surfaces with a disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes, especially on shared equipment.

  • Staircase railings. Disinfect using a disinfectant wipe, paying attention to hand-contact areas.

  • Shared items. Make sure you're properly cleaning shared high-touch surfaces, like the handle to the coffee pot, the knobs on the bidet, the salt and pepper grinders, and the microwave buttons. Use hot soapy water or a disinfecting cloth daily.

  • Elevator Buttons. Do everyone in your apartment building a favor and wipe down the elevator buttons. Be mindful not to let excess liquid seep into the buttons—using some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball will do!

Related: The Best Ways to Clean Your Baking Sheets

Purify the Air in Your Home

Take it a step further and replace your HVAC air filter, or get a freestanding air purifier for your home. These systems can be beneficial in homes during the cold season reducing the spread of airborne germs like viruses and different types of bacteria. Use them to improve your respiratory well-being when windows are closed in colder weather. Additionally, they remove indoor pollutants, such as dust, allergens, and airborne particles, providing a cleaner and healthier indoor environment.