Staying Ahead of Cold & Flu Season

Less than one in three Americans (27%) plan to step up cleaning and hygiene habits for cold and flu season, according to new survey data released by American Cleaning Institute (ACI). The survey showed that 32% of Americans said they won’t change their cleaning habits, underscoring a gap in taking the simple but necessary steps to stay healthy.

Cold and flu season is something most families, schools, workplaces and healthcare settings prepare for every year. Despite these preparations, an estimated 60 million days of school are lost annually, and more than 100,000 hospitalizations occur annually, which amounts to US$5 billion in costs to the U.S. healthcare system including doctors’ visits and treatments, according to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC).

Following common-sense cleaning and hygiene practices is one way to reduce your risk. Proper hand hygiene reduces respiratory colds by up to 21%, according to the CDC. However, the new ACI survey revealed that most Americans (78%) are less than 100% confident that those around them are taking appropriate measures to reduce germs, highlighting the need to reinforce proper hygiene and cleaning practices.

“As family physicians, our goal is not just to treat illness but to promote health and wellness within our communities,” said Andrew Carroll, M.D., Intracare senior medical director, Arizona Academy of Family Physicians past president, and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) past board director. “During cold and flu season, it is crucial that preventive measures are taken—get your annual flu shots, remember proper hand hygiene, and stay home when you are sick.”

Since 2020, Americans’ awareness of the importance of cleaning has increased, specifically its role in keeping individuals and communities safe and healthy, according to an ACI survey.  Despite this awareness, only 25% of Americans will change their cleaning habits if they or someone else in their home gets sick.

“Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the simplest and most inexpensive actions you can take to keep healthy, especially when cold and flu season hits hard,” said Brian Sansoni, ACI senior vice president of communications and outreach. “Cleaning is a way of caring for ourselves and others, especially during the fall and winter seasons when the spread of germs increases. It is crucial that we continue to follow proper handwashing practices and understand how to effectively clean and disinfect surfaces to protect our health and prevent illness.”

Some key cleaning and hygiene steps to take this cold and flu season include:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to help prevent the spread of germs.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you don’t have a tissue.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer as an alternative. Be sure to use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces per CDC guidance (door handles, light switches, and countertops).
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school except to seek medical care and limit contact with others.