It may be difficult to think about flu season when the outdoor temperatures remain at 70-plus degrees, but it still is flu season. UGA Cooperative Extension offers a few tips to help beat the flu bug.
• Wash your hands properly. Hands should be washed for 20 seconds with warm soap and water to effectively clean them. Sanitizer is not a replacement for hand-washing. Sanitizer can be used in the event that soap and water are not available, but soap and water are always the best choice for hand-washing.
• There are different levels of clean. Cleaning is the process of removing physical dirt. It does not remove germs, mold or other harmful bacteria that make us ill. Cleaning is generally done with soap or detergent and water. It is also the lowest level of clean. When someone has been ill in your home, you may want a higher level of clean.
Sanitizing is the process of decreasing germs to levels at which illness does not occur. This process often involves the use of a sanitizing solution. To make a sanitizing solution, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends 1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 quart of water.
Disinfecting, the third and highest level of clean, is a two-step process. First, clean the surface. Then spray or wipe the disinfectant solution onto a clean surface and allow it to sit. If using a chemical disinfectant, the instructions for this “dwell” time should be on the package.
Source: UGA Cooperative Extension
