As winter approaches, viruses and infections spike. Common cold and flu bugs and new strains of COVID-19, such as Pirola or BA.2.86, are creeping back into our homes and sticking around. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus can be contagious for longer than 10 days and the Norovirus for up to two weeks. One way to help prevent getting sick or spreading an illness between family members is by keeping your home clean and as germ-free as possible. From tackling bacteria hotspots to simple tricks for cutting down contamination, click or scroll on for practical hygiene ideas to keep a healthy home this winter and beyond.

It’s no secret that the battle for the TV remote is a regular event among families, but did you know controllers can hold millions of bacteria? Nic Shacklock from Online Bedrooms says, “We’re constantly touching these things with our hands, which means it's possible they could harbour more germs than we think.” To prevent spreading germs if someone in the household is sick, be sure to wipe TV remotes and other controllers down at least once a day and clean away any dirt that gets between the buttons regularly.

Cinch Home Services swabbed various toys in homes and discovered they can carry substantial amounts of germs. The analysis found that plush toys can carry 13,000,000 CFUs (colony-forming units) and building blocks were worse at 1,200,000 CFUs. Give children’s soft toys a regular visit to the laundry to sanitise fur and stuffing, and pop plastic toys in the dishwasher on a hot wash.

There is no question about it, leaving dirty tissues around the house is a very bad habit. When you cough, sneeze and blow your nose into a tissue, the secretions are teaming with the same microscopic bugs that are making you sick. They can survive several hours after they have left your body so it's important to dispose of them promptly. Try placing more sealed-lid bins around the house to catch the little virus grenades before they infect someone else.

Toothbrushes can carry germs like the flu virus for days. That said, according to the American Dental Association (ADA) you probably don’t have to worry about the germs re-infecting you. However, should a sick person’s toothbrush touch another, it could pass on the lurgy. So while ill, keep your toothbrush well away from others and NEVER share. 

Due to transmission via respiratory droplets, verywellhealth.com states that influenza can be transmitted from a person up to six feet away. Air purifiers have the technology to help eliminate bacteria and viruses including COVID-19, E. coli, Salmonella, VOCs, mould and odours, ensuring clean air and sanitised surfaces.

Reportedly, almost half (49%) of UK homes have a dishwasher, so during winter months when germs are rife, it’s wise to use its sanitising benefits to your advantage. A dishwasher's water temperature runs much hotter than what a human hand could tolerate in a washing-up bowl, so will kill far more bacteria.

If you are lucky enough to have more than one bathroom – such as an ensuite or cloakroom – in your home, designate that space for an ill family member. That way, towels, toothbrushes and toiletries can be used without any risk of cross-contamination. Deep clean the allocated bathroom regularly.

In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that plain soap was found to be just as effective as anti-bacterial, however, liquid soap is recommended as germs can grow on the surface of soap bars and be easily transmitted between people. Make sure there is a liquid soap and hand sanitiser by each sink. Remember that the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that washing your hands properly takes about as long as singing 'Happy Birthday' twice.

If you are updating your internal doors, think about opting for brass knobs or handles instead of chrome, aluminium or nickel. Interior expert and founder of Knobbles and Bobbles, Lucy Chadwick, explains: "Raw brass is a copper-based alloy and can reduce the spread of disease-causing bacteria by up to 58%."

While keeping your home as germ-free as possible is one practical method to lessen the chances of winter infections, a strong immune system will fight off any virus that gets through before it attacks. A healthy and balanced diet will have a positive effect on your immune system – check the NHS Eatwell Guide for a refresher course on what nutrients are most important. If you are vegan or have food allergies, consider taking additional supplements, such as Vitamins C and D.

Warm, fluffy, folded towels in the bathroom are a winter delight. But, it’s important to remember that during colder months sharing isn’t caring. Diana Gall of Doctor4U told Metro.co.uk. "Damp warm towels are the perfect environment for germs. And if towels are being used repeatedly by different people, they may never get a chance to dry completely, allowing bacteria to thrive." Moreover, research conducted by Drench found that 90% of towels are contaminated with faecal bacteria, which carry E. coli and can cause urinary tract infections.

As the chill sets in, we tend to stay indoors with closed windows for longer and so germs linger and multiply. Opening a window is one of the easiest ways to control bacteria and viruses in your home as the easy task will then release air-born particles outside. If it is too cold, try to do it once a day for a short period and keep a trickle vent open where you can.

It’s important to stay hydrated, especially when ill. According to a study by waterfilterguru.com, reusable water bottles can contain an average of 20.8m CFUs (colony-forming units). Reusable bottles are not only handy to carry with you but are good for the environment, so washing them every day should be part of your daily routine even when we are not in flu season. 

The cost of living crisis has made us all more energy-conscious. However, conserving energy by turning lights off can lead to the constant flicking of switches, making them a germ haven, especially in the bathroom. Be sure to add 'cleaning light switches' to your weekly list of chores and if a member of the household is ill, wipe them down every day. Remember to never spray detergent directly onto an electrical socket.

If you have recycled paper cups left over from a recent party, why not make the switch to disposable while germs are lurking around? Obviously, it's so much better for the environment to thoroughly wash reusable tableware, but for a temporary time, recyclable paper cups and plates will ensure transmission or cross-contamination is kept to a minimum.

If you are on a mission to kill germs, the washing machine should be your best friend. Laundry brand, Persil, recommends washing at a higher temperature than usual for an extra hygienic clean. For bedding, towels, or underwear, high temperatures such as 40-60°c are usually recommended to reduce the risk of germs that are lingering on the fabric. If you prefer to wash lower than 60, add an antibacterial laundry sanitiser.

As well as floors, steam cleaners can tackle bacteria on multiple surfaces in the home. The NHS recommends using the power of steam on curtains, carpets, mattresses and soft furnishings to deep clean and eradicate germs. Microbiologist Jason Tetro explained to Good Housekeeping why: "Heat at temperatures over 77°C is the best killer of bacteria and viruses, and the temperature of steam is much higher than that".

Thermal window dressings are an ideal way to keep your home warm during winter. But if there are germs circulating, try to keep curtains and blinds open on sunny days. Researchers from the University of Oregon found that sunlight can kill potentially harmful bacteria and improve air quality in indoor environments. "We don't need to open up our windows to let in the sunshine. We just need to make sure the shades are up or the blinds are set so that the sunlight can come in," Dr William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine told Healthline.

During winter months, why not make the most of your recent efforts to make your home cosy for autumn and stay warm indoors? While cold weather alone won't make you ill, many viruses thrive in winter conditions and your body's defences may become weaker. That being said, Healthline recommends exposing your skin to 10-30 minutes of midday sunlight several times per week in order to maintain flu-fighting Vitamin D levels in the blood.

In a TikTok reel by @Whatmightgrow, microbiologist Tim Call cleaned his sink with soap and hot water and found 45,000 bacteria samples still sitting on the washing bowl surface. Cleaning sinks and surfaces with the right cleaning fluids is important to kill harmful bacteria. The New York Times reported that most cleaning products that claim to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria don’t include noroviruses, so after cleaning with soap and water, disinfect using a weak bleach and water solution. Remember to always follow the dilution directions on the bleach bottle and never mix bleach with ammonia or any other household cleaners as it can release dangerous vapours.

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