5 Household Items You Should Clean First After Having a Cold

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

• When you’re sick with a cold, certain household items may become a breeding ground for germs.

• Items like bed sheets, towels, and phones need to be thoroughly sanitized in order to make sure your cold doesn’t linger.

• Experts also recommend opening up windows to provide proper ventilation, and continuously taking out trashes that may be full of cold-ridden tissues.

After you’ve had a cold, there are a few key household things that need to be properly sanitized.

When you or someone in your house has a cold or flu, one of the main concerns is how to keep the infection from spreading. Contagiousness can last up to two weeks, so disinfecting a shared space is crucial.

This is important whether you’re trying to keep other household members from getting sick, or simply trying to avoid getting round two of whatever seasonal sniffle you picked up.

“The run-of-the-mill common cold is caused by a group of viruses, most commonly the rhinovirus, that are mostly airborne and spread by other people who have been infected by the cold virus,” said William Li, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, and Live Longer.

Here are the household items experts say are crucial to sanitize after you've had an illness, as well as additional tips for keeping your house fresh this cold and flu season.

Items to Clean Out After You’ve Had a Cold

While cleaning your entire house from top to bottom would be ideal for saying “goodbye” to seasonal germs, there are a few items that deserve your attention first.

Wash Bed and Pillow Linens

After you’re done with your cold, make sure to throw all bedroom linens in the wash.

“We spend a lot of time in our beds resting when ill and likely coughing,” said Piyal Alam, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician ay Northeast Medical Group at Yale New Haven Health. “There is potential for spreading pathogens there and best to minimize risk by cleaning (laundry).”

Since the bedroom can quickly become one of the most germ-infested areas of the house while you’re sick, it’s the best place to start cleaning.

Wash Towels

Similar to bed and pillow sheets, towels can carry remnants of the infection and pass on to other members of the household.

“It’s generally good practice to wash or change towels once a week as they can harbor pathogens bodily fluids, even more so when ill,” Alam stated.

Li explained that common cold symptoms, like a running nose and coughing, can spew bodily fluids into the air, often landing on household items like towels.

Or, maybe, you’ve used a towel to wipe your nose in a moment of panic—one way or the other, it’s best to throw bathroom linens in the laundry load with your bedsheets.

Clean Eating and Drinking Utensils

While it may be tempting to reuse the same mug for tea throughout the day (or the week), it’s best to get a fresh mug with each refill.

Eating and drinking utensils can quickly harbor germs. So not only should you replace those utensils after each use, but you should avoid sharing cups/utensils with others.

“It’s best not to share eating and drinking utensils while ill to limit spreading pathogens,” said Alam. “Make sure to thoroughly clean utensils prior to sharing with rest of household after cold to minimize their risk.”

Related: These 7 Supplements Could Help You Fend Off a Seasonal Cold, Experts Say

Wipe Down Your Electronics

Chances are high your phone, laptop, or tablet has been in your vicinity as you’ve been cooped up in bed. These devices can quickly become a safe haven for germs.

A 2022 study suggests that phones—which are rarely cleaned—may be an important repository of pathogens.

“A wipeable cover can make cleaning easier, but disinfectant wipes can allow you to re-use the device safely after an illness,” Scott Roberts, MD, an assistant professor and associate medical director of infection prevention at Yale School of Medicine, told Health.

Wipe Down Any High-Touch Surfaces

And, don’t forget to wipe down any high-touch surfaces, like bathroom countertops or doorknobs.

“Light switches, doorknobs, and countertops should be disinfected to kill off any remaining virus that could spread if someone doesn’t wash their hands appropriately,” Roberts said.

Li explained that while a cold does not remain infectious long if it’s on a surface like a countertop, the virus can linger for up to a week.

“So it’s wise to wipe down surfaces that might have dried up aerosolized particles, and good for general cleanliness and hygiene to do the laundry for towels and clothing, high touch items do not represent an ongoing infectious disease threat to other people after you are over your cold,” he said.

Other Ways to Freshen Up Your House After Sickness

While making sure these main “germ items” are clean is a top priority while recovering from a sickness, experts say there are a few additional steps you can take to give your house a full reset.

“I would recommend keeping trash and linens separate, ventilating the space by opening windows, and disinfecting any potential surfaces that may come into contact with others,” said Roberts.

Li suggests doing a thorough house cleaning.

“Wipe down surfaces, vacuum, do the laundry, wash the dishes, and do a wipe-down of bathroom surfaces including countertops, treetops, toilets, sinks, and showers,” he said. “Vacuuming and adding a natural diffuser with a pleasant scent is a nice added touch for room freshener.”

Additionally, it’s important to note that guidance on how to clean your house may vary a lot depending on the virus.

“For instance, I would disinfect a home differently depending on if someone had COVID (focus on ventilation/airing out the home), RSV (disinfect surfaces since this spreads through contact/touch), norovirus (need bleach or specific sporicidal disinfectant wipes on surfaces), etc,” Roberts said.

Related: 2023 Fall Vaccines: When to Get Vaccinated for COVID, Flu, RSV

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