As children and adults head back into fall school and work schedules, keeping a healthy home and family can become more challenging. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Health Statistics, the two primary reasons for work absences are a worker’s own illness or that of a family member.
And, one-third of parents of young children surveyed are concerned about losing jobs or losing pay to take off work to care for their sick children, according to a study by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
“Seasonal illnesses brought home from school affect parents and even grandparents as much as they do the children,” says Peter Lowin, owner of Maid Brigade of Pasadena. “Preventative action can make the difference in keeping a healthy home, even when outside forces are battling against you.”
The green clean experts at Maid Brigade share the following tips to help you combat back to school germs and the seasonal illnesses that come with them.
AT HOME
Prepare lunch on disinfected surfaces: Cracks and crevices in your cutting board or even your counter can harbor more bacteria than the average toilet seat! Use separate cutting boards for different foods and disinfect them regularly.
Avoid multi-tasking while cooking: Doing the laundry, for example, while getting the kids lunches ready can transfer dirt (and worse) from your clothes into the lunchbox if hand washing between tasks is overlooked.
Clean backpacks and lunchboxes: Clean out backpacks regularly and wash them at least once a week. Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of lunchboxes daily before putting away or repacking. And pack lunches and snacks in sealed containers instead of loose in backpacks.
At School
Boycott germs: Provide your child with a reusable water bottle to take to school and although it may be a long shot, some sanitary wipes to wipe the lunch tray, lunch table, or other surfaces. According to a study of germs in schools water fountains and plastic cafeteria trays are germ hot spots!
Don't Share: You’ve been telling them to be good sharers since they were born, but school is one of the worst places to share food, drinks, ear buds, or sports equipment. In the classroom, there may be books and other items that they will have to share, but remind them to wash their hands after such activities.
Hang up backpacks, purses, and jackets in the restroom: Avoid setting down any personal items on bathroom floors. This is a good rule for anyone of any age. When that item returns to the house and is placed on the kitchen table, you can only imagine the amount of bacteria that comes with it!
EVERYWHERE
Wash your hands: All ages. All places. Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water, particularly before eating anything. Getting between fingers and around fingernails is important.
Philip Tierno, PhD, author of The Secret Life of Germs, says that in one study of middle and high school students, only about half washed their hands after using the bathroom and only 33 percent of the girls and 8 percent of the boys used soap. He also cites other studies that show that "people who wash hands seven times a day have about 40 percent fewer colds than the average person."
For more green cleaning and healthy lifestyle tips, check out the Maid Brigade Germs Infographic at www.maidbrigade.com/germs
