How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home During Illness

It’s that time of year… the season of colds and flu. Whether it’s the flu, a stomach bug, or a common cold, chances are you’ve faced something in the past few months. In this article, I’ll share how to clean and disinfect your home during illness. These are some tips I follow to help prevent the spread of germs. Sometimes they work perfectly ; sometimes it’s already too late. Call it BlumSpace’s “My Kids Are Sick” Cleaning Routine.

Note: Naturally, my children come first. I usually tackle these tasks while the sick child is napping or watching a movie on the couch. I believe a diet rich in whole foods, plenty of hydration, and rest is the best way to keep your immune system strong , but sometimes, illness still strikes.

General Approach

Here’s the order I follow when cleaning during or after illness—pick what works for you, follow it step by step, or adapt it as needed.

Cleaning Plan During Illness

1. Let in fresh air.

Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, opening a window is crucial. Once I start feeling a little better, I open windows, toss bedding into the washing machine, and collect towels.

2. Quick surface refresh.

Take the opportunity to dust and do a fast wipe-down with a portable MiniMop—perfect for a quick surface refresh.

3. Change towels daily.

Continue changing hand and bath towels every day (part of my routine, especially during cold and flu season) until everyone is better.

4. Wash your hands.

Remind kids to wash their hands thoroughly—30 seconds, sing “Happy Birthday,” wash beyond the wrists, etc. Lead by example and wash your hands frequently too.

5. Contain used tissues.

Give children a small paper or plastic bag (for safety, starting at age 4) to collect used tissues—keep it on the couch or wherever they are to prevent tissues from being scattered everywhere.

6. Focus on bathrooms.

If you only have a few minutes, clean faucet handles and toilets. I can clean all my bathrooms in 15 minutes using an efficient method—especially handy when everyone is sick. Once recovery comes, do a deeper, full cleaning.

7. Clean light switches.

Wipe down all frequently touched switches with a disinfecting cloth or alcohol pad.

8. Set up a “sick station.”

If you have young children with stomach bugs, consider laying old towels as a path to the bathroom to minimize mess. I keep a plastic bucket in the garage lined with a plastic bag for accidents and have extra vomit bags on hand.

9. Disinfect high-touch surfaces.

Use a cloth or alcohol wipe to clean remote controls, phones, gaming controllers, light switches, door handles, and refrigerator handles. Replace wipes often—don’t reuse the same one.

10. Wash bedding.

I usually change pillowcases while kids are sick and keep sheets until the child recovers. Don’t forget pillows, duvets, comforters, and couch blankets.

11. Deep vacuuming.

After illness, mattresses and sofas can harbor allergens and germs. Use a cordless anti-mite vacuum like the Pure-Lit Vacuum to effectively remove dust and mites.

12. Sanitize toothbrushes.

Soak them in hydrogen peroxide for 15–30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Consider replacing toothbrushes after illness to prevent reinfection. A UV toothbrush sanitizer is a great, effortless solution.

-> I’m always grateful to have a cleaning routine for unexpected situations—the house stays relatively organized because of daily tasks. Missing a few days isn’t a big deal. Never stress about skipping a task for the day:

a) you can do it later

b) it’s just cleaning

c) you can catch up on Friday or next week.

And of course, I’m always ready for extra snuggles with my little ones.