Flu season has hit our area with a vengeance, and quite frankly, I am not in the mood to lay in bed with the spins and aches {though, just laying in bed all day is not off the table :)}. I’m officially kicking off Project Stop the Flu {working title} around here…which short of stopping all human contact, usually insulates us pretty well. If you are looking to de-cootie your house and hopefully your life, here are a couple of easy tips to keep the flu at bay:
- De-germify your house. Get a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol {yes, your house will temporarily smell like a hospital} and a clean rag. Go for the things that get touched the most–doorknobs, television remotes, etc. Spray the clean towel and then wipe down the offender {that way, if it is electronic, you don’t douse it with liquid}.
- Wash sheets and bedding more regularly. If your bedding allows, go for a hot setting.
- Remember to replace toothbrushes if someone in the house does come down with the flu. Also, I like to get everyone their OWN tube of toothpaste this time of year. It seems a little excessive, but seriously, you put the brush in your mouth everyday, then you rub it up against a community toothpaste…not good.
- Again, if someone does get sick in the house, empty garbage regularly. Those used tissues are like little ticking time bombs every time you add to the garbage.
- This probably goes without saying, but wash hands more frequently. It’s actually shocking how much our hands get near our faces. Keeping them germ-free might leave you chaffed, but at least you will have your ability to breathe and stand upright intact.
- Avoid being in confined spaces with sickies. You are most likely to get the flu from human to human contact. Sneezes, touches, etc. So, courteously decline invites from friends who have been sick within the past 24-48 hours. It’s war against cooties, here people, it’s not personal.
- When you are in public or at the office, think about all of those touchy sorts of places–elevator buttons, keyboards, etc. Try not to touch your face after you’ve been touching communal supplies.
- Insulate yourself from the inside out. Up your nutrition game, get plenty of sleep, and if possible, de-stress often. The flu can sense a weakened body…like a lion smells fear :).
That’s about the best you can hope to do, I think, unless you are going to go into a strict quarantine scenario. How do you keep flu cooties away?
~Mavis
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Rosaleen says
Ditto for the rubbing alcohol wiping of surfaces. Wash hands often and encourage family members to wash or at least use sanitizer as soon as they walk in the door. I run toothbrushes through the dishwasher periodically as well as when someone has been sick. I also use a Neti pot to flush out some germs and hydrate my nasal passages and try to eat some fermented food (yogurt, kimchi, etc.) pretty much daily. The “gut” is super important in our immune systems.
Shell says
One thing I did not see mentioned is get a flu shot. This has gotten a bum rap due to people up playing the thimersol and mercury misinformation. Google it. About 95% of people that have died from the flu have had pre-existing conditions and or did not get a flu shot. We keep H202 by the sink in our bathroom. After a good rinse of the toothbrush we pour that over the bristles and then apply toothpaste. Replacing the toothbrush after an illness is also a good tip.
Jennifer S. says
Drinking water is allowed to have 2 parts per billion of mercury. If an item has more than 500 parts per billion of mercury it has to be labeled and handled as toxic waste. The flu shot this year has 50,000 parts per billion. Because of that fact I’ve chosen not to get it, but that’s each person’s personal decision. I cut out sugar. Germs and bad bacteria feed on sugar, and it’s a severe depressant for the immune system. Lots of bone broth soups full of veggies around our house!
Marcia says
The single dose vials of flu shot and the nasal spray version do not contain thimerosal (mercury).
devon says
true story. they do not contain thimerosal!
Jennifer S. says
Hmmm – I looked up the ingredients of all the shots, and Flulaval, Fluvirin multi, and Fluzone Multi all list 25 mcg of mercury. Fluvirin single dose lists 1 mcg. Info from my doc states: “In compliance with this recommendation a preservative-free vaccine formulated for children ages 6 to 35 months, with only a trace amount of Thimerosal, is available in a limited amount. It is distinguished by a pink syringe plunger rod in the pre-filled syringe. All adult formulations still contain Thimerosal.” All have formaldehyde except for Afluria and Flumist.
Diane says
It ‘s a different kind of mercury. Methyl mercury can damage the nervous system, but it isn’t in the shots. The shots have thiomerosal, a compound of ethyl mercury.
JC says
Ditto to the FLU SHOT. People will say it made them sick. So maybe the shot isn’t for them. But most people who get the shot have no ill effects other than a sore arm and will tell you that they either didn’t get the flu at all OR that they previously have had the flu and they don’t want to ever get that sick again.
Alison says
The majority of flu shots this year do not have preservatives which seem to be better tolerated by people taking them.
Marcia says
Good point on the rubbing alcohol. I have kids, so cooties are inevitable (one in elementary, one in daycare).
We’ve all gotten our flu shots.
In addition, I just don’t touch anything at work. Seriously. This time of year, I wash my hands. I use a paper towel to touch the water cooler, the coffee pot, the microwave.
After I use the bathroom, I wash my hands, use my forearm to turn off the water, use my elbow to push out paper towels, and use my back to open the door.
I make my kids wash their hands as soon as we get home.
Last year, from January to April, I virtually stopped going to the gym. Too many things to touch (boy, that’s $100/month that I wasn’t using). Eventually, I started going again and went swimming. So I don’t touch anything. Just go in and swim, then shower, then get dressed and leave. Use my sweatshirt to open the locker room door.
Marcia says
Also about 2 years ago I got everyone their own toothpaste.
Ellen in Clackamas says
I always get my flu shot because I am at risk with my asthma and I have not had a bad case of the flu for years (oh-oh..knock wood!!). I knew about new toothbrushes but never thought about the toothpaste. Good idea.
Tracie H says
To muddy the water further about flu shots… A close friend of mine who is required to have a flu shot every year ( she’s an RN ) just tested positive for the flu.
Nanci Fitschen says
Something I learned after my husband was diagnosed with cancer is to push the elevator buttons with a knuckle. We also wash our hands as soon as we come home from anywhere. We also each have our own toothpaste tube. Another thing is to remove your shoes as soon as you enter your home as many germs are carried in on the shoe bottoms. Don’t be afraid to ask people to remove their shoes or put up a sign, especially if you have someone who is immunity is not good.
Cecily says
I got the flu when I was 3 months pregnant with my second child. It settled in my lungs and turned into pneumonia. I ended up in the hospital for 12 days (intensive care for 5) with one lung fully collapsed and the other partially collapsed. I have gotten my flu vaccine every year since and I have not had the flu again, despite being exposed to it. I highly advocate getting one.
Libby says
I have lots of small children at home and a parade of neighbor children,friends and family always coming by. I gave up sanitizing long ago and we rarely get sick. The moment I stopped stressing out about germs was when I caught my son licking the handrail at school. When they first started preschool we got every virus under the sun, but they survived, we survived and now we have super powered immune systems. Not recommended for the elderly or immune compromised.
Important to note that we are also fully vaccinated (even though that didn’t stop us from getting whooping cough that turned out to be very moderate). Good times
Maria B says
Ok, so I am both an RN and a paramedic, and I administer the flu shot. For those that remain concerned about the mercury, please be aware that there are different versions of the vaccine. One can opt for a traditional vaccine which contains a preservative, or a preservative-free (which is sometimes recommended for pregnant women). There are also versions of the vaccine that contain a live attenuated (weakened) virus or a “dead” virus. Lastly, some seasonal flu vaccine covers for 3 types of influenza, whereas others cover for 4 (sometimes recommended for the elderly or otherwise susceptible populations). As with any healthcare endeavor, one should bite the bullet and simply do a little research to determine which is the best option for oneself and one’s family rather than listening to fear-mongering and misinformation. FYI, getting the flu vaccine doesn’t mean that you wont get the flu, but it’s still the best protection out there…for you and your loved ones. You’re not just getting the vaccine to protect yourself, but others, too! As my boss mentioned to me, “I need for others to get the vaccine because my baby isn’t old enough. We need herd immunity.” It’s also noteworthy that per the CDC, those that do contract flu after receiving the vaccine display a shorter recovery time and less severe symptoms. Cheers and stay safe!
Jen Y says
I take a daily zinc supplement if someone in the family is sick or I feel I’m coming down with something. I aslo add extra c to diet.
The hand washing thing drives me crazy! Warning: read ahead with caution….It’s unreal how many people don’t wash their hands. 🙁 I recently went to a little community basketball game & took a restroom break. While I was there a young mother took her daughter in, finished their business & left without washing either of their hands…it gets worse. She was sitting in front of us in the bleachers & her daughter was sick (surprise!) with a cough & runny nose. She kept wiping her duaghter’s nose with her own fingers, no tissue, just her fingers…then absently stroking her own hair – spreading the grosseness I guess?! Thankfully this restroom had no doors. You know you walk through a little hallway & turn into the restroom, so I didn’t have to touch a door knob after them.
I also get a yearly flu shot. My husband is diabetic & the rare times he’s gotten the flu have been very bad for him. We are religious about hand washing & staying away from germs for his sake.
Sharon says
Besides taking a zinc supplement when anyone in the family is sick, we have a rule about toothbrushes. If you’re sick, you have to pour Listerine on your toothbrush before and after you use it. If your toothbrush can make you sick again after you recover, can’t it be extending your illness while you’re still sick? Surely it is one of the germiest items in the house. Since the bottles of Listerine (actually store brand) are usually quite big and easy to over-pour, I keep some in a travel-sized bottle with a pourable lid. Another thing I would like to do but haven’t yet: get two nice baskets for the bathroom. Put rolled-up wash cloths in one basket and have the other nearby for tossing the used cloth. This way everyone gets a fresh “towel”. The cloth can be used to turn off the faucet, too, to avoid the germs you put on it when you turned it on.
Christy says
Great ideas.
Christy says
Don’t forget to wipe down your car door handles and steering wheel regularly too. Imagine all those germs you bring into your car after shopping, running errands, or pumping gas.