How to Sanitize Your Work Space During Flu Season

This year, flu season is coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, making it more important than ever to do everything you can to prevent contracting either viral infection. The public health guidelines, designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, which include frequent handwashing, social distancing, and wearing a mask will also help defend against influenza infection.

But there is more than we can each do, even in our daily routine to prevent flu. Here is how you can sanitize your workspace during flu season, whether you’re working at home, or you’ve returned to your office.

Common Areas that Need to be Disinfected

In your home office or your office workspace, areas of high-contact should be disinfected regularly to help protect you, your co-workers, and your family from contracting the flu. From your desk to the kitchen, spend time sanitizing these common areas to safeguard against sickness.

Your Desk & Office Supplies

Wipe down the arms of your chair, the edge and top of your desk, your keyboard, and your mouse with a sanitizing wipe each morning, and after you’ve left your home or office to help keep germs at bay.

Also, take time to wipe down office supplies you use regularly, such as your stapler, pens, tape, printer, and/or any remote controls.

Your Cell Phone & Tablet

All touch screen devices should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, according to the CDC. This is especially true when it comes to smartphones, as one recent survey showed that more than 65% of Americans check their phones 160 times per day. To disinfect your smartphone or tablet, the CDC recommends adding a wipeable cover that you can clean, or using an alcohol-based wipe, or spray, and then dry the device thoroughly.

Door Knobs & Light Switches

Doorknobs and light switches are another high-touch area that should be disinfected regularly. Keep in mind that the flu virus can live on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours, which is why the CDC recommends routine cleaning followed by disinfecting.

Kitchen

The kitchen in your home or your office is also a high-touch area, so be vigilant about keeping it disinfected. Countertops, microwave door handles, refrigerator handles, and stoves and ovens, along with the sink and faucets, should be disinfected throughout the day.

Bathroom

Like kitchens, bathrooms are full of hard surfaces, which the influenza virus can live for up to two days. Be sure to disinfect faucets, countertops, and the toilet throughout the day if you’re sharing the bathroom with others.

Products to Disinfect Your Workspace for Flu Season

It’s important to remember that there is a difference between cleaning your workspace and disinfecting your workspace. Cleaning refers to the process of removing germs, and dirt from objects and surfaces. Although cleaning doesn’t necessarily kill germs, it helps to remove them, thereby lowering the risk for infection. Disinfecting, on the other hand, actually kills the germs that cause the flu, which is why the CDC recommends disinfecting, in addition to cleaning during flu season. Products to disinfect your workspace for flu season should include ingredients such as:

• Alcohol
• Bleach

Disinfectants that Kill Viruses

There are many brands of household cleaners that will disinfect against the flu, with some of the more common being Lysol and Clorox. In addition, the EPA maintains a list of registered antimicrobial disinfectants that are effective against common pathogens.

Extra Steps to Take to Prevent the Flu

This year our healthcare providers are counting on us to do our part to prevent the spread of flu, during the COVID-19 pandemic, so as not to overwhelm hospitals. If you do feel sick, stay away from others, and contact your healthcare provider for guidance, before going to urgent care, or ER.

The best defense against the flu is a flu vaccine, which the CDC recommends all people get by the end of October. Flu shots are inexpensive, or in some cases free, and widely available at county health departments, pharmacies, urgent care centers, and from your healthcare provider.

It is also important to wash your hands frequently, refrain from touching your face, maintain at least 6 feet away from others outside of your household, wear your face mask in public, or when you can’t socially distance, and spend time each day disinfecting your home or office workspace.