October 2006

During the cold and flu season, it's not enough to just clean. It’s important to disinfect as well. Cleaning only removes germs from surfaces, while disinfecting actually destroys them.

Disinfectants are specifically registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and contain ingredients that destroy bacteria and other germs. When purchasing an item that disinfects, make sure the label has an EPA registration number and clearly says "disinfectant."

It's especially important to disinfect rooms where there can be a large number of germs, such as the bathroom and the kitchen. Consider the following tips when cleaning around the house:

• Clean and disinfect counters and other surfaces before, during, and after preparing food — especially meat and poultry.
• Follow all directions on the product label, which usually specifies letting the disinfectant stand for a few minutes.
• After cleaning, don’t let germs hang around. Use paper towels or disposable sanitizing wipes that can be thrown away. If you use cloth towels, wash them as soon as possible in hot water.

Be sure to clean and disinfect your home more often when someone in the house has any type of illness. More ways to reduce your risk of getting a cold or flu this season can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.



Your Desk – Germ Central

According to the American Dietetic Association, 75 percent of office workers eat lunch at their desks two or three times a week. But eating at your desk may contribute to an illness. A study done by University of Arizona researchers found that the typical desk has 100 times the amount of bacteria as the typical kitchen table. Keyboards and telephones tend to be even dirtier than desks.

Even more surprising is that the average office desk harbors 20,961 germs per square inch, which is 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.

When someone is infected with a cold or flu bug, they can transfer germs to the surfaces they touch. Since cold or flu viruses can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours, it's easy to see how illnesses spread. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting these surfaces may prevent you from getting sick this cold and flu season.