With cold and flu season upon us, it’s a great time to think about methods for avoiding germs. After all, you don’t want to have to turn down an opportunity to adopt a baby because you’re sick!
First of all, make sure to get your yearly flu shot. Second, hand-washing is the easiest and most effective daily habit that’ll help you avoid cold and flu viruses. However, airborne germs can survive on surfaces for over two hours. So, we suggest you add the hands-off strategy to your hygiene routine.
Here are 3 tips on how you can do that:
1. Use a Pencil
Avoid dialing a phone, pushing elevator buttons, or punching the ATM pin pad with your fingers. Instead, use an elbow, knuckle, or the eraser end of a pencil.
2. Bring a Barrier
Did you know that there are about 230,000 germs per square inch on faucet handles that are frequently used? Gross! To avoid touching the handles in public bathrooms, use a paper towel instead. You can also protect yourself from germy outdoor surfaces like gas pumps, mailbox latches, and hand rails by wearing gloves. Most grocery stores make disinfectant wipes available to their customers. Use them to sterilize your cart, which has been touched by many germ-filled hands.
3. Go Automatic
There are many modern inventions you can use to keep hands cleaner at home. Think about investing in a sensor-operated kitchen faucet or a trash can that opens with a foot pedal. There’s a kit which will turn your toilet into an automatic flusher. Its motion-sensing light switch means fewer touches.
Do you have any tips for avoiding germs that we forgot? Please share them by leaving a comment below!
