5 Tips From Doctors to Keep Your Family From Getting Sick

Hacking all night long. Noses that drip like a leaky faucet. The dreaded stomach bug. Dealing with illness is a nonstop job when you've got kids, and stopping the spread of germs can feel impossible. "When a child comes home with a virus on [their] hands, within four hours, that virus is on 90% of the surfaces in that home," says Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. Yikes!

But before you throw in the hand towel, know this: There are ways to squash those buggers. While we can't promise all your days will be symptom-free, these doctor-approved, stay-heathy-secrets can help keep your whole family humming.

Tip #1. Wash Your Hands and Use Sanitizer, Too

You know that frequent hand-washing is the first and most effective defense against germs, but that alone is not enough. "Most people—kids and adults—don't wash their hands long enough or thoroughly enough to kill all the germs," says Dr. Gerba. "You need to wash for a minimum of 20 seconds, but research shows most people only do it for 11 seconds."

Teach your kids to keep at it and ensure the soap and water reach the back of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails. Then, apply a hand sanitizer afterward to kill any germs left behind. An alcohol-based sanitizer is the most effective, but alcohol-free versions are still helpful if you prefer them.

"Our research shows that adding hand sanitizer to your routine between one and three times a day cuts down on contamination in the home by more than 90%," Dr. Gerba notes. It also helps to use liquid soap because germs can remain on soap bars. Dry hands on a disposable paper towel or designate a specific hand towel for each family member.

The most important time to wash and sanitize hands: Whenever a family member comes home from somewhere else such as school, work, the backyard or playground, or a birthday party—you get the idea—because they're bringing new germs home with them.

Other times to wash your hands include:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

Tip #2. Disinfect as Often as You Can

Ask anyone where the germiest place in the house is, and they'll likely say the toilet seat, but the kitchen counter, sink, and sponge are worse because they harbor germs from meat and produce and our hands.

Clean these surfaces frequently with disinfecting wipes or sprays, and use paper towels instead of sponges to wipe down counters—ditto for bathroom surfaces. Replace kitchen sponges often and microwave them for one to two minutes between uses to kill germs. Don't forget shower sponges either—those cute poufs you use to clean yourself can get pretty nasty.

Which Cleaning Products Should You Use?
Type	How It Cleans	What to Look For
Disinfectant	Chemical that kills both viruses and bacteria	Look for products that contain alcohol, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide.
Sanitizer	Chemical that kills only bacteria but not viruses	Look for products that say "sanitizer" on the label; you can use a dishwasher to sanitize some objects.
Surface Cleaner or Surfactants	Chemical that physically removes dirt and debris like dust, soil, and particles	Look for soaps, cleaning sprays, and detergents.
Hand Sanitizer	Chemical that kills pathogens on the skin	Look for hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol to kill viruses and bacteria.

If that seems like a lot of work, consider this: In a surprising study, researchers found that microwaving a kitchen sponge killed more bacteria than chemical applications including bleach, lemon, and deionized water alone. And According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 48 million Americans get sick every year from foodborne illnesses. So, keeping your kitchen as clean as possible is an important defense against illness.

And that's not all: "Electronics can be hotbeds for the spread of germs," says New York City pediatrician Dyan Hes, M.D. "Even in months when colds and flu are less likely, it is good practice to use disinfectant wipes on the devices and controllers frequently." The worst culprit in this category may be your family's cell phones because they travel everywhere, making the germs they carry more mobile.

Old-fashioned, low-tech toys need sanitizing too: Launder soft toys in the washing machine, and others in a dishwasher, or use disinfectant wipes, especially after a child in the house has been sick.

More germy things to clean and disinfect often include:

• Door handles
• Stove knobs
• Refrigerator and microwave handles
• Faucet handles
• Light switches
• Toothbrush holders
• Purses
• Backpacks
• Bath towels
• Pet bowls and toys

Tip #3. Clear the Air

There's a reason winter is the sick season: Everyone's cooped up in close proximity, and heaters recirculate the same contaminated air. Take advantage of unseasonably warm days and open windows to air out your house, says Dr. Hes, and when you can't do that, an air purifier is the next best option.

If going the air purifier route, be sure to get a model with a HEPA filter and change it as often as the manufacturer recommends, otherwise, it will spew the same pathogens back into the air instead of cleaning it. A humidifier is another good choice because dry air allows germs to survive longer—and the moister air will also help relieve coughs and congestion.

According to the American Lung Association, indoor air can be hazardous to your health if not maintained properly. Here are a few ways to keep your air clean:

• Prevent mold from growing on surfaces.
• Avoid smoking indoors.
• Cut down on dust and pet dander with regular vacuuming.
• Regularly clean carpets and upholstery.
• Ventilate when painting, cooking, or kicking up dust from moving furniture.

Tip #4. Don't Share Drinks or Utensils

"We all have mouths teeming with bacteria and viruses even when we seem well," notes Denver pediatrician Nancy Broady Lataitis, M.D. "A bad germ might not cause symptoms for another 24 hours, as it incubates. And while you may have antibodies to that germ that keep you from getting sick, the family member who just took a sip might not have the same protection."

"Do your best to avoid sharing drinks, utensils, or objects that come into contact with saliva. And please don't pop that pacifier in your mouth to 'clean' it before giving it to your baby!" she adds. Dr. Lataitis also recommends sending kids to school with their own water bottles so they can avoid the drinking fountain.

Tip #5. Eat a Nutritious Diet and Stay Hydrated

A healthy diet keeps the immune system strong to fight off infections from bacteria and viruses, says Robert Danoff, D.O., a family medicine physician in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and program director of the Family Practice and Emergency Medicine Residencies at Aria–Jefferson Health in Philadelphia. Lean proteins and a colorful diet featuring lots of fresh fruits and vegetables provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Drinking plenty of water is also key: Staying hydrated has a huge impact on the immune system because it helps carry oxygen to cells so the body functions properly, allows the kidneys to flush out toxins, and produces lymph, a fluid that carries infection-fighting white blood cells throughout the body.

Minimizing your family's added sugar intake is also essential to staying healthy. "Excess sugar contributes to chronic inflammation in the body, which, in turn, lowers the immune system's ability to fight off illness," notes Dr. Danoff. Naturally occurring sugars in fruits and vegetables are fine; it's the added sugars in beverages, processed foods, and sweet snacks that are the problem. Check labels for sugar content and keep everyone's sugar consumption to 25 grams (6 teaspoons) a day or less.