Viruses are out there to make you sick, and you may be wondering on how to disinfect a room after the flu. The change of weather is usually at fault that makes people sick, especially since the flu season is approaching fast. Not to mention, many airborne diseases are running rampant all over the world today.
Disinfecting a room may sound like an obsessive-compulsive act, but it is actually a preventive measure. Your licensed doctor will also tell you the same – sharing items is a no-no, and that your room should be totally cleaned and disinfected once you’ve gotten out of the flu to reduce the risk of passing it on to someone else.
After all, since flu is easily passed, and you can’t really see or control the flu virus, getting yourself (and your surroundings) prepared for invasion is a good move.
Do I need to disinfect after the flu?
Yes, disinfecting is a crucial step in preventing flu from being passed on to someone. After your body fought the tough battle of driving the flu virus away, you should find a way so that the enemies don’t end up infecting another person. Whatever you touch and breathe on can be a potential carrier of the virus.
With that said in mind, you can start cleaning using a bleach solution. This is the easiest way of disinfecting your home, bedroom, or wherever else you often stay in. Take time to disinfect tables, chairs, and even objects that you always use, such as the remote control and especially the toilet. You can even clean up your phone case if you often use your phone.
For dirty clothes and anything that needs to be laundered, make sure that the people who don’t have the flu yet don’t touch it to avoid getting them contaminated. Quickly toss them into the washer without much human contact.
Can you be exposed to the flu and not get sick?
Yes, it is possible, especially if your immune system is strong enough. A certain study showed that people who had more antioxidants in their system and had a difference in their genes are more likely to get sick less.
But, if you’re looking for ways to at least lessen your chances of getting flu when there’s a sick member of the family, here are a couple of ways to do it:
| Vitamin | Stocking up on vitamin D can help boost our immune system, which can lessen the likelihood of getting flu. Vitamin D can be found on eggs, fish, milk, juices, and supplements.
Remember that if you do want to take vitamin D in supplement form, talking to your doctor is important so that it doesn’t contradict with other medicines you may be taking or so that you don’t overdose with it. |
| flu shot | While this may be an obvious answer, some people are still afraid of vaccines. However, most doctors will tell you that it is worth getting a flu shot because it will at least lessen your chances of getting flu and even tougher illnesses such as pneumonia.
For this, you may want to consult your local doctor or physician, especially from a health center near you, as flu shots are commonly given during flu season. |
| Probiotics | Probiotics are more than just gut juice – they can also help strengthen your immune system. Try buying yogurt more often. Asking your doctor about probiotics is also important if you are taking other medicines. |
| Vegetables | Antioxidants, as we mentioned above, could be one of the key reasons why some people don’t get flu as much as others do. Veggies have a lot of antioxidants so it can be a healthier option for you to have a salad toss at home. |
| Protective Hygiene Habit | This basically means you have to impose a no-share policy with family members when it comes to anything, such as towels and the like. This means no handshakes, no smooches, no sharing of bed, and no touching the face for the meantime. |
How do you prevent the flu if you’ve been exposed?
Getting yourself clean and disinfected is the first step to do once you’ve been exposed to the flu virus. Your doctor/physician may advise you on proper bathing temperatures and methods since bathing in cold water could worsen your illness. They may also recommend a germicidal soap to help disinfect you from the flu virus (or at least lessen it).
Regular washing of hands and using alcohol-based products can drive the nasty virus away. Here’s a quick recap on the proper washing of your hand:
- Wet your hands with water
- Cover your hand with soap
- Rub from palm to palm
- Interlace your fingers and rub
- Rub both palms together
- Interlock your hands from opposite sides
- Rub your thumbs in a rotating manner
- Rub your fingers while clasped in a rotating manner to the palm
- Rinse your hands with water
- Use a towel to dry (single-use is better)
- Turn off the faucet using the towel (much better if the faucet is sensor-enabled)
As much as possible, don’t touch your face without disinfecting your hands first. Viruses and bacteria can go through your eyes, nose, and mouth, which can get you sick much quicker. If you’re going out, it helps to bring a hand sanitizer or alcohol with you, or at least a pack of tissues if you really need to get something out of your face.
Moreover, the air you breathe, whether at home or in an office, can also be cleaned from small particles – viruses and bacteria included. Your physician may recommend an air purifier, especially if you are also prone to allergens such as pet dander and pollen, or if you live in an industrial setting.
To put it simply, if you want to know how to get rid of germs in the air, then air purifiers can have a bearing on disinfecting the air because of their filters.
- Are you having trouble sleeping at night? You can try the Whirlpool Whispure WPT80P True HEPA Air Purifier because of its quiet operation. Because of its true HEPA filter and anti-bacterial properties, it can remove not only allergens but can potentially prevent airborne germs such as the recent COVID-19 – Coronavirus if you run it all day and all night.
- Do you have a large room? The Germ Guardian AC5350B Air Purifier may work for that. It is AHAM verified which also means it is an air purifier recommended by allergists. With a 4-in-1 filter system, it includes true HEPA, activated charcoal, pre-filter, and the UV-C light, which can disinfect viruses such as influenza among others.
- Are you concerned about the environment? The ozone-free LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home with True HEPA Filter doesn’t use such so that you can enjoy clean air without the consequences. Not only that, it has a compact design that makes it ideal for small rooms while it uses its true HEPA filter to get rid of particles and other pollutants. It even runs quietly at only 23 dB.
- Do you have Amazon Alexa at home? Try the RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier w/WiFi – it can be a convenient solution for defending against the flu virus due to its 6-stage purification system. It can even cover large areas up to 815 square feet and it has a customized filter, so you can really ask it to guard you against sickness. A space-saving unit, it can be easily wall-mounted.
How do I know when my cold is no longer contagious?
The actual number of days can depend on many factors, such as the patient’s age and the weather lately. It can be difficult to tell because you can’t really see bacteria and viruses with the naked eye.
Usually, a licensed physician can help you determine this, depending on who is sick (pediatricians for kids). They can prescribe flu medicine that is to be taken in mostly a 7-day period. By having a check-up afterward, your doctor can finally tell whether your cold is still contagious or not (and if you’re free to get back to work or school, for that matter).
Unfortunately, some people don’t completely follow the doctor’s orders and forget or abandon their medicine just because they don’t see the symptoms anymore. However, when you do get back to school and work, you may still be harboring a small bit of virus in your system, and that small bit can still make a difference, so it pays to stick to the prescription and ask your doctor about it if you have any concerns.
Conclusion
Summing it up, disinfecting a room after the flu is important if you don’t want to share the virus to others, especially if you have kids and elderly people around the house. Aside from regular cleaning and hygiene habits, air purifiers can also have a good effect to disinfect the indoor air.
However, it’s still best to talk to your licensed doctor about the actual ways you can get yourself out of flu fast and to prevent it from happening, such as getting flu shots.
