Flu Season: Refresh Your Cleaning Routine

Flu season is a good reminder to take a closer look at the everyday places and habits that make up your cleaning routine. When more germs are circulating, frequently touched surfaces and shared spaces can see plenty of traffic throughout the day. Hands touch doorknobs, phones, faucets, counters, and remotes — and then touch other surfaces, too.

That doesn’t mean you need to deep-clean your entire home every day. A few consistent habits can help you stay on top of the areas that get the most use.

Think About What You Touch Most

Start with high-touch surfaces: the things multiple people handle throughout the day.

Think:

- Doorknobs and door handles

- Light switches

- Countertops

- Faucets and sink handles

- Appliance handles

- Remote controls

- Phones and frequently handled devices

- Tables and shared surfaces

- Frequently used bathroom surfaces

Give these areas regular attention, especially when they’re shared by several people. A quick wipe as part of your normal routine can go a long way toward keeping your home feeling fresh.

Don’t Bring Outside Germs Straight Into Your Home

Your cleaning routine isn’t just about surfaces. Everyday habits matter, too.

Wash your hands with soap and water when you get home, before eating, and throughout the day. Be thorough, scrubbing all areas of your hands rather than giving them a quick rinse.

It can also help to change out of clothes after spending significant time in crowded or shared environments. Wash frequently worn clothing regularly, and keep personal items like phones and keys clean.

Think of it as a simple “coming home” routine: wash your hands, put away or change out of clothes when appropriate, and clean the items you handle most.

Give Shared Spaces Extra Attention

Focus your efforts where people spend the most time together.

Kitchen: Wipe counters, refrigerator and cabinet handles, faucet handles, and shared appliances.

Bathroom: Pay attention to faucets, toilet handles, light switches, and other frequently touched surfaces.

Living and family spaces: Don’t forget remotes, tables, door handles, and shared electronics.

Entryway: Clean door handles, light switches, and frequently handled items that everyone touches when coming and going.

Your Flu-Season Cleaning Checklist

Daily

- Wipe frequently touched shared surfaces

- Clean kitchen and bathroom touchpoints

- Wash your hands regularly and after coming home

- Clean frequently handled personal items

After coming home

- Wash hands thoroughly

- Change clothes when appropriate

- Put worn clothing in the laundry instead of re-wearing it around the house

- Clean frequently handled items

Weekly

- Give shared spaces a more thorough reset

- Wash frequently used textiles

- Tackle less frequently cleaned high-touch areas

The goal isn’t constant cleaning. It’s building a few habits that are easy to repeat.

Make the Routine Easier

Keep your cleaning products where you actually use them, so a quick wipe doesn’t require a scavenger hunt. Build surface cleaning into routines you already have—like wiping the kitchen after dinner or cleaning bathroom touchpoints during your regular reset.

Keep hand soap readily available in key areas, too. The simpler the routine, the easier it is for everyone at home to follow.

Keep Your Cleaning Essentials Stocked

Having the right basics on hand makes everyday upkeep feel a little more manageable.  Puracy Dish Soap  can help with kitchen cleanup, while its Surface Cleaner is made for everyday cleaning in common areas and bathroom touchpoints. Keep Puracy Stain Remover  nearby for fresh and set-in messes, and use the Laundry Detergent for frequently worn clothing and everyday laundry.

A refreshed cleaning routine doesn’t have to mean cleaning more. It’s about paying attention to what gets touched most, keeping simple habits in place, and making everyday cleanup easier to stick with.