How to Clean Up After Sick Kids

Whether your children are coughing, sneezing, dealing with stomach problems or something else, keeping your house clean is critical. You are understandably concerned about spreading germs to other members of the family. At the same time, you might be dealing with bathroom accidents and other mishaps. Let’s look at how to clean up after sick kids.

How to Clean Up Quickly and Safely to Keep Your Home Healthy

When your child spikes a fever of 103 or comes home from school vomiting, your attention is focused on giving him or her your care and love. However, the thought of germs spreading to other members of the household will quickly come to mind.

Cleaning and disinfecting are top priorities when you’re fighting germs at home. However, sanitizing your entire home can take a significant amount of time and energy. The good news is that you can clean up messes and disinfect your home more quickly and easily than you might think. You simply need the right strategy.

What to Do First: Gear Up & Prepare

As a first precaution, confine your sick child to the bedroom. This limits their ability to spread germs throughout the entire house. Wear a mask when you walk in and out of the bedroom, and clean your hands thoroughly after being in contact with your child. If possible, prevent other family members from using the same bathroom as your sick child.

With these safety precautions in mind, you can then focus on fighting germs. To prepare, gather your cleaning supplies. Keep these items nearby until the illness passes. Regardless of the illness, you need disinfecting wipes, cleaners or sprays. If your child is emitting fluids, such as vomit or diarrhea, you may also need upholstery and carpet cleaner.

Cleaning Different Types of Messes

There are a seemingly endless number of illnesses that your children can bring home from school or a friend’s house. This means that you’ll likely contend with all types of messes over the years. How do you clean up these different messes?

Vomit

Cleaning up vomit can be a disgusting chore. Depending what your child ate last, you might be dealing with tough stains on upholstery and carpet. Use paper towels to pull up as much of the vomit as possible.

Once the bulk of the vomit is gone, use liquid dish soap, warm water and a material-safe disinfectant to remove stains, germs and odors. A solution made with vinegar and baking soda works well on many surfaces.

Diarrhea or Bathroom Accidents

Diarrhea and other bathroom accidents are common, and they should be cleaned immediately. For messes on the floor and counters, remove as much of the mess as you can using paper towels.

Then, use a strong disinfectant and cleaner to finish decontaminating and cleaning the surface. For the toilet, use a strong disinfect to clean the bowl, seat, base and handle. Check the floor and any nearby walls as well.

Sneezes, Mucus & General Germs

Germs can spread many feet across a room when they are expelled by coughing and sneezing. Germs also spread even when a sick person breathes on nearby surfaces.

Confining your sick child to their bedroom will minimize the spread of germs. Inside their bedroom, you need to disinfect the space. Depending on the type of furniture in the room, you could use diluted rubbing alcohol, diluted white vinegar or a solution made with water soap and vinegar to disinfect hard surfaces.

Laundry and Bedding Protocol

Your child’s bedding, clothes and towels should be washed frequently. They likely are contaminated with mucus, fluids and more. Use high heat settings when washing and drying them. Depending on the nature of the illness, you might need to run several loads a day.

Disinfect High-Touch Areas

Your child will get out of bed to use the bathroom. He or she may even wander into the kitchen or other rooms searching for you.

Germs inevitably will spread to high-touch areas, such as doorknobs, toilet handles, faucets, light switches and more. Each time your child touches these areas, sanitize them with a strong disinfectant cleaner.

Handwashing & Hygiene for Everyone at Home

Washing your hands is one of the best steps that you can take to minimize the spread of germs in your house.

With symptoms like coughing and sneezing, covering your mouth and nose are essential. If you cover your mouth and nose with your hands, wash your hands immediately afterward.

Be Ready for Next Time

Illnesses crop up unexpectedly, so it makes sense to be prepared at all times. After all, if you or your children are sick, you don’t want to be faced with the need to rush out to the store at a moment’s notice to pick up supplies. Things to keep on hand are carpet cleaning solution, disinfecting cleaners, baking soda, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, tissues and paper towels.

When your child gets sick, germs and illness often spread to other members of the household. You undoubtedly have your hands full caring for everyone. You might even be sick yourself. Nonetheless, it’s critical to keep your home clean. With maid services in Boston, your family will benefit from a clean home environment. More than that, you’ll have more time to care for them and take care of yourself. To learn more about maid services, contact Cleanzen today.