Catching a cold: Where do cold, flu & household germs hide?
We all enjoy spending time with our family and friends and spreading the love, but what we don’t want to spread is cold and flu germs. The common cold starts when a person is infected with the virus, and how people catch it varies from case to case. Typically, we come into contact with viruses by touching things that harbour germs like doorknobs or keyboards, and we then get infected by touching our nose or mouth.
That’s when our immune system notices something is wrong and starts to attack all the bad germs—leaving our bodies exhausted. Cold and flu viruses can survive up to 24-hours on some surfaces, which means those germs can linger in your home for longer than you might think. So, when you’re spending time with the people you love in and around your home, it’s important to make sure you are doing so without spreading germs.
Learn more about where cold, flu, and household germs hide to prevent the spread of cold and flu among your family and friends.
Places where cold, flu, and household germs hide:
- Computer keyboards
- Doorknobs
- Eating utensils
- Taps – there are approximately 229,000 germs per square inch on frequently used taps
- Work desks – up to 21,000 germs per square inch
- Kitchen sinks
- Escalator handrails
- Shopping trolley handles
- Light switches
- Remote controls
- Toys
- Pens, pencils, scissors etc.
- Public toilets
- Aeroplanes
- And more!
It's not just the home that you need to think about either. It’s safe to assume that any public area, such as bathrooms, elevators, meeting rooms, etc., might be contaminated with germs, and can contribute to you or your family catching a cold or the flu.
We may forget its importance sometimes but washing our hands can drastically reduce the number of people who get sick with colds. Be sure to wash your hands after using the bathroom with a disinfecting soap for at least 20 seconds. Also remember to wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
If you enjoy other activities such as baking with the kids or playing with your pets, you should be extra aware of the germs they could be bringing into your home. Keep a pack of antibacterial wipes nearby to help disinfect the areas before and after use – so you can be in the moment with your loved ones and have peace of mind while Dettol takes care of the germs.
Go over the surfaces in your home with disinfectant spray such as Dettol Surface Cleanser Spray to kill 99.9% of cold and flu viruses*. Use the spray on hard surfaces like bedside tables, countertops, and video game controllers.
How you catch a cold can seem like a mystery at times, but taking precautions to maintain a healthy home can help reduce your risk and help keep those germs far away from your loved ones.
*Enveloped viruses. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
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