10 Tips to Help Prevent the Common Cold Virus From Spreading

It’s bad enough when someone comes home with a cold, but it gets even worse once everyone in the house is miserable. Does it have to be this way? Do you have to spread the common cold virus around or can you prevent the cold from spreading? The following are ten simple tips to help prevent colds from spreading whether you’re at home or on the go.

1. Wash Your Hands

It’s common sense, but your best form of defense. When someone comes home sick, everyone in the house should be washing their hands as frequently as possible. The same goes for when you’re out and about – wash your hands as everything you come into contact with probably has germs!

2. Keep Sanitizing Wipes handy when on the go

The common cold virus can’t keep some of us down, especially when it’s just Mom or Dad who’s feeling sick. It’s important to keep surfaces clean, as well as our hands and face and Kleenex Wipes are perfect for that.

They are gentle enough for face, but strong enough to clean hands of dirt and germs and are free from dyes, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

3. Teach Good Manners

This Winter has wreaked havoc when it comes to sickness and, unfortunately, it looks like a bit of warmer weather these past few weeks in most areas hasn’t really slowed it down. It’s time to take it into in your own hands, literally, to stop spreading germs. These tips are great when you’re at home, or even on the go, and so many of them start with teaching your children how to behave when they are sick or when people around them are sick.

You want to teach your children to cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow to avoid spreading germs. You also want to teach them to never use their sleeves as a tissue. Something else you can teach is to have your children avoid touching their eyes and mouth to help prevent the spread of germs.

I recently did this fun activity with my girls to show them just how easily germs spread – try it with your kids. Since germs are too small to see, kids sometimes have a hard time understanding the concept. All you need is a little glitter and lotion for a fun learning experience.

4. Sanitize

One of the best things you can do to help prevent the spread of cold and flu germs is to sanitize as much as possible. For example, after dinner, put the dishes in the dishwasher and run the sanitize setting, even if you don’t have a full load. Another great tip is to wash the bedding of the sick person in hot water frequently. Use gloves when handling bedding and dishes to help keep germs at bay.

5. Disinfect

Remotes, smartphones, doorknobs, light switches, toilets – disinfect everything a few times a day. This can greatly help prevent the spread of germs. You should also want to wipe down your child’s backpack and lunchbox when they come home from school.

6. Put Dirty Clothes in the Wash

Cold and flu season is not the time to think about cutting back on laundry by wearing items more than once. When you get home, place your clothing in the washing machine and put on a clean set of clothing or pajamas.

7. Stop Sharing

In some cases, sharing is NOT caring. Colds can easily be spread through the sharing of bath towels, wash clothes, snack containers, etc. Make sure everyone is throwing their towels and wash clothes in the laundry.

8. Avoid the Mountain of Tissues

A cold that comes with a runny nose can quickly result in a mountain of tissues, but it doesn’t have to. Keep a small waste basket handy for those that are sick to put their used tissues and Kleenex Wet Wipes in. This will greatly help cut down the amount of germs gathering on surfaces.

9. Cut the Stress

Stress can have a negative side effect on your immune system. Those that are stressed are often sick much more often. Finding ways to relax in the evenings after a stressful day can greatly cut down on how often you get sick.

10. Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Last, but not least, take the time to take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising. Those that live healthier lifestyles have better immune systems.

You don’t have to allow the entire household to get sick. In fact, you may be able to keep colds out of your home period by making some simple changes, keeping Kleenex Wet Wipes on hand when you’re on the go, and being proactive when you’re at home and on the go!