Have a Happy (and Healthier) Holiday!

As you are prepping for the holiday season there may be unwanted visitors coming into the home (and we don’t mean the in-laws).  A sneeze on the doorknob, dropped pie on the floor and dirty cutting boards sitting in the sink could all spread germs among friends and family. 

A recent Clorox survey found that amid the chaos of entertaining guests for the holidays, only 42% of women always spend time disinfecting. No one wants to be knocked down with a cold or flu during the holidays, so it’s important to use the right tools to help prevent the spread of these germs. Below is a holiday guide to help you know when to clean, sanitize and disinfect.

The Holiday Guide to Cleaning vs. Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting

Cleaning  

• Scenario: Soap and water remove dirt and debris—If Grandma drops her famous sweet potato soufflé coming up the stairs, this is where you might use soap and water to clean it up. While this is a sticky mess, it isn’t likely to contain bacteria and viruses.

Sanitizing 

• Scenario: Sanitizers reduce bacteria—You just finished stuffing the turkey and are turning your attention to the mashed potatoes. Before you start peeling and chopping, you’ll want to use a sanitizer to help kill any bacteria that could be lurking on the countertop and cutting board from the raw meat.

Disinfecting   

• Scenario: EPA-registered disinfectants kill viruses, bacteria and fungi—You had a great time with your favorite Uncle Jim who flew cross-country to stay with you for the holidays. That is, until he got sick and was coughing and sneezing all over the house. To help reduce the spread of viruses that can cause cold and flu and help keep your home healthier, you can disinfect hard surfaces in the bathroom and around the house that he may have touched.

This infographic also highlights some of the ways you can be sure you are spreading cheer, not viruses, this holiday season!   

This information in this post and coupons were provided to me by The Clorox Company.

GIVEAWAY - To help make disinfecting a snap, we are giving away coupons for a free canister of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to the first 10 people who share their holiday cleaning tips in the comments!