How to Help Protect Your Family During Cold and Flu Season: 4 Easy 清洁ing Tips

Perhaps nothing gets a parent more concerned than a small, red, and sniffly nose. Now, you have to worry about the health of the entire family.

孩子们, particularly children under the age of 5 years old, are at the highest risk for developing cold and flu, as well as additional complications¹. Pneumonia, dehydration, long-term sinus issues, and more are often related to the flu². 2010年至2020年, the CDC estimated that anywhere from 6,000 to 27,000 children younger than 5 were hospitalized in the United States because of colds and flu¹.

Cold and flu season is around the corner, but luckily we have some cleaning tips and easy habits to help you protect your family and help prevent spreading germs in your home.

1. 洗手!

Probably one of the easiest ways to prevent getting and spreading a cold or flu is to regularly wash your hands. 我们经常处理食物, 倒垃圾, 清洁浴室, 换脏尿布, 处理我们的宠物, 等. These are all key times when you can come into contact with and spread germs.

And for those with a baby at home, while they may not be handling a lot of toys just yet, they are mouthing and putting those adorable germ-covered fingers into their mouths.

Begin teaching this healthy habit and provide your family with the 安全的选择 option, ECOS低过敏性洗手皂, and follow the CDC’s five steps for handwashing³!

1. Wet your hands in clean, running water. Turn off the tap and apply the hand soap.
2. 在他们的手上(和你的手上)涂上泡沫!通过相互摩擦.
3. Scrub your baby’s hands for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse off their hands under clean, running water.
5. Dry their hands in a lint-free clean towel or let them air dry.

2. 清洁 often-touched surfaces in your home frequently

Aside from our hands that touch everything, think about all the other surfaces in your home that may be potential cold and flu germ carriers.

电视遥控器, 水龙头开关, touch-screen tech (especially if you let your little ones play on the iPad!牙刷柄和牙刷架, and your office desk–the list can go on, but these are just some of the spots that are high-traffic and high-risk.

Let’s not forget our children’s toys! Considering how often children’s toys get touched with sticky fingers, 甚至小孩子也会用嘴说, our kids’ toys deserve extra attention. 在我们的 How to 清洁 Baby Toys: 6 Eco-Conscious Tips, we walk you through easy tips to wash soft plush toys, 清洁电子十大彩票网赌平台, plastic and wooden toys plus more, 使用我们的生态系统 植物动力清洁十大彩票网赌平台.

3. 家里养宠物? 以下是你需要知道的

Of course not all sniffles are the cold or flu. 如果你的孩子, 有人在家, or even you are susceptible to pet-related allergies, there are ways to live with your pet and reduce your symptoms! 头皮屑, which is found in all forms of pets from dogs to birds, carries a specific protein that people can be allergic to.

But you live with them, how do you manage the dander and 污垢? 这里有四条建议:

1. Create a pet-free zone in your home
   This can be a family room or family members’ bedrooms to help prevent 污垢 and dander from getting onto those surfaces.
2. 考虑买一个HEPA过滤器
   These filters help remove tiny airborne pollutants like dust mites, 花粉, and pet dander from the air you breathe at home.
3. 清洁. 清洁. 清洁.
   你的宠物去哪了?, chances are 污垢 and dander follow so you may want to get into the weekly practice of cleaning the surfaces your pet touches with our ECOS万能清洁剂!
4. 定期给宠物洗澡
   减少皮屑的数量, 污垢, and germs that your pet brings indoors by regularly washing them, 每周至少一次. 就像我们的宝贝宝宝一样, pets also have sensitive skin and can be susceptible to harsh chemicals and ingredients. 我们的 ECOS低过敏性宠物洗发水 can provide a thorough clean while soothing your pet’s skin with plant-derived vitamin E.

4. 洗衣服

我们的 children’s clothing in particular can pick up plenty of germs. Think about it: they are crawling, 触摸他们的衣服, or rubbing their noses with their sleeves, 周围的一切都变得一团糟.

Small babies and children have sensitive skin so when washing their clothing, consider a safer detergent that is free of added fragrances like our ECOS Hypoallergenic Detergent in Free & 清晰的.

Prepare for Cold and Flu Season, the ECOS Way

Don’t let cold and flu season catch you off guard or scare you either! ECOS provides you and your family with plant-powered, eco-conscious cleaning products to help protect the wellness of your family.

我们的 mission is to bring families safer, sustainable, and affordable cleaning products. 另外, we want to help you learn how to maximize the use of our products so you can achieve a healthier lifestyle. For more of our cleaning tips and to learn about our full line of ECOS eco-conscious cleaning products，请查看 干净生活博客!

来源:

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Protect Against Flu: Caregivers of Infants and Young 孩子们. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/infantcare.htm
2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 流感症状 & 并发症. http://www.cdc.gov /Flu Symptoms/症状.htm
3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 何时以及如何洗手. http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
4. The Humane Society of the United States. How to Live with Allergies and 宠物. http://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-live-allergies-and-pets