HEALTHY LIVING--PREVENTING HOLIDAY COLDS AND FLU

These cute holiday penguin guest towels could be harboring unwanted guests.

The holidays are upon us, and that means many of us are hosting family and friends in the coming days. It also means that it’s cold and flu season. Unless you’re a hermit who has been holed up in a cabin on top of a mountain or living in a cave somewhere without wi-fi, TV, or a daily newspaper, you know the importance of getting a flu shot and washing your hands well to ward off an onslaught of some nasty germs that want to invade our bodies this time of year. However, there are other steps you should take to avoid the spread of germs.

Even if you’re somewhat vigilant about washing your hands (really, how many of us actually scrub for the time it takes us to sing “Happy Birthday” twice, the suggested length of time for hand-washing?) you probably won’t kill every speck of e. coli or other illness-causing bacteria. Did you know those teeny-tiny specks of bacteria deposit themselves on your towels when you dry your hands?

Not only should you change your hand towels every day or two, it’s a good idea to assign a separate hand towel to each member of the family to prevent the spread of illness. Let each family member choose a color and stress the importance of them only using their own towel.

In addition, as pretty as your powder room holiday guest towels are, swap them out for disposable hand towels when you’re expecting guests. You never know what bugs your family and friends are incubating, and you don’t want them depositing unwanted gifts in your home.

Also, ditch the bar soap. Those cute snowflake and Christmas tree-shaped guest soaps you lovingly placed in a holiday dish on your powder room sink will also become a resting place for germs. Your best bet is to exchange the pretty soaps for a no-touch liquid soap dispenser.

Follow these simple rules, and you could avoid a lot of post-holiday coughing and sneezing.

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--GERMY KEYBOARDS

Did you know that the average keyboard has more germs than a public toilet? Euwww, right? Since cold and flu germs are spread through touch more than any other way, get in the habit of disinfecting your keyboard and mouse. Wring the excess liquid from a bleach-free disinfectant wipe, then rub it over your keyboard keys, mouse, and mouse pad. While you’re at it, wipe down the other items on your desk, such as pens, pencils, rulers, scissors, tape dispenser, etc.

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - GERMS ON CLOTHING

Health editor Janice Kerr has something for all of us to think about today and keep in mind the next time we go clothes shopping. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia!

Do you launder new clothing, towels, and linens before you use them? Frankly, I never thought to do so until I read a recent article, and it got me thinking about all those items I purchase off the rack at clothing and department stores. How many people have touched those items, leaving all sorts of nasty germs on them? Studies have shown that germs are lurking on those piles of silk panties and stacks of T-shirts at your favorite stores.

Have I made you uncomfortable? I made myself uncomfortable. There’s a certain ick factor here we just don’t think about but should. Common sense dictates that anything not sold in a sealed package should be laundered first before wearing. Keep that in mind the next time you purchase anything from undergarments to pj’s to bathing suits to T-shirts. Or just about any piece of clothing for yourself and your family. Towels, too.

Well, that certainly creeped me out! What about you, readers? Have you ever laundered new clothing items before wearing them? Will you now? Post a comment to enter the drawing for a copy of a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP