Afraid of getting the flu? Five things you can do at home

Coughing, sneezing and misery are a part of many households these days as cold and flu season kicks into high gear.

We spoke to Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Home Appliances, Cleaning Products, and Textiles Lab, about simple things you can do to try to prevent the spread of germs.

1. Wash your hands. Often.

Forte says this is the single most important thing to do to prevent the spread of germs. Scrub for about 20 seconds. You can use any soap, but she prefers a liquid pump bottle.

2. Isolate toothbrushes.

Once a household member has a cold, it’s best to separate their toothbrush from the rest of the pack to avoid germ contamination. After the person gets well, replace the toothbrush or toothbrush head with a new one.

3. Launder bedding often.

The best thing is to put the sick person in a separate room to sleep, preventing the spread of germs. If you must share the same bed, wash your sheets frequently in hot water. Also wash the pillowcases every few days for extra safety. Bath towels should be washed every day.

4. Consider disposables.

Paper towels and paper cups can be your friends when germs are an issue. Give the sick person a roll of paper towels to use when washing hands in the bathroom, instead of using a communal towel. There is usually a lot of water-drinking and pill-taking, so instead of having to wash glasses in hot water, switch to paper during the illness.

5. Keep the remotes wiped off.

Flu sufferers spend long hours couch surfing, sniffling and feeling sorry for themselves. Keep a container of antibacterial wipes around so you can clean the remotes daily; and also clean light switches and doorknobs with them.