8 Things to Clean — or Toss — After Being Sick

Getting sick affects more than your body and mind. It affects your living space, too, and all the things you touch.  

The cold virus can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours, flu for 24 to 48 hours, and COVID-19 can stick around between a few hours to a few days, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This is bad news for older adults, who are more prone to complications from these common respiratory bugs, and especially those with underlying health conditions, “such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immune disorders or diabetes," says Gonzalo Bearman, M.D. chief of the Division of Infectious Disease for VCU Health in Richmond, Virginia.

The house is a germy place on a good day, but even more so when someone is sick. Here’s what you can do to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses the next time you’re getting over an illness.

1. Clean the bathroom

The stomach bug, or norovirus, can cause vomiting and diarrhea and is highly contagious. Plus, an infected individual can spread the virus for two or more weeks after feeling better, which is all the more reason to stay on top of cleaning after the illness.

Let’s not forget plenty of people experience gastrointestinal issues with other infections, too. Research suggests that around half of people with COVID-19 experience symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

To get rid of lingering germs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a bleach solution (5 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of room temperature water) to disinfect surfaces. “We know that this is effective against a huge range of bacteria and viruses,” says Alexandra Seguin, an infection preventionist at Rush University in Chicago.

Also, if you’ve been blowing your nose a bunch, make sure your trash can is lined and take that outside each day.

2. Replace your toothbrush

You’re not likely to reinfect yourself after recovering from an illness — strep throat is one notable exception — but it’s still a good idea to replace your toothbrush once you’re feeling better to reduce the likelihood that any bacteria stick around. (And with strep, replace your toothbrush after you finish your antibiotics, the Cleveland Clinic says). To keep people who share a bathroom from getting each other sick, you might give everyone their own toothpaste.

3. Wipe down the kitchen

Any shared surfaces need a good cleaning with soapy water and a disinfectant. “High-touch surfaces such as kitchen counters and doorknobs may be wiped down with bleach wipes,” Bearman says.

Are dishes and mugs of herbal tea piling up? Wash everything with hot, soapy water to clean them. While you’re at it, toss the dish sponge, which can harbor a host of germs.

If you don’t have any replacements on hand, you can clean your sponge by microwaving it. Even still, some bacteria can stick around, according to a 2022 article published in the journal Microorganisms, so your safest bet is to throw it away and use a paper towel or disposable wipe until you get a new sponge, Seguin says.