As a home caregiver, you try to do everything in your power to keep the senior in your life healthy and safe. However, there just might be a few things that you are overlooking if your loved one is still getting sick. Here are five household items that should be sanitized in order to help your elderly loved one stay healthy:
Pillows
It is important to know where and what you are resting your head upon every night. If your senior loved one suffers from allergy symptoms, their pillows might be the culprit. Dust mites are the most common cause of allergies and problems with asthma. These mites bury themselves in mattresses and pillows. They live off the body's skin flakes shedding. Washing pillows regularly in a warm cycle will get rid of debris and dust mites buried in pillows. Pillows should also be replaced after one to two years.
Vacuums
If your house has carpet, then most likely you use a vacuum often as a way to reduce airborne allergens. However, this method might not be as effective as you think. Dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens can not be removed efficiently with a regular vacuum. In fact, the allergens just circulate back into the air when vacuuming. This can be avoided by using a vacuum that requires a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. These filters are known to work at a 99.9 percent rate in reducing pollutants in the home.
Doorknobs
Doorknobs are easy to overlook when cleaning, even though they get used and touched frequently. Bacteria and viruses survive on doorknobs for hours. It is a good idea to get in the habit of cleaning all doorknobs regularly. Use a product that fights against colds, staph, strep bacteria, and flu viruses. It is important to read the label directions to learn how individual cleaning products are intended to be used. For example, some disinfectant spray products need to sit for a few minutes before being wiped.
Television Remotes
Remotes are probably among the household items with the most germs. Most remotes get sneezed on, dropped on the floor, and rarely come in contact with a Clorox wipe to be sanitized. However, when cleaning a remote, use a cotton ball to rub it down with alcohol weekly or a Clorox wipe. A small Q-tip can be used to get around and between the buttons on the remote. Consider keeping the television remote in a plastic Ziploc bag until the senior in your home is feeling better.
Sponges
Sponges appear to be ideal when cleaning in the house, but did you know they can also be among the dirtiest objects in your home? A damp sponge is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. When you use the same sponge used before to clean dishes and countertops, you are just spreading bacteria all over your surfaces. This mistake can easily lead to illness.
It may be impossible to entirely free your home of allergens and bacteria, but sanitizing these items can make a significant difference. To find out more about providing consistent senior care at home in Lancaster County, including Manheim, New Holland, and Mount Joy, contact us.