How to Clean Your House When You’re Sick

Hello Flu Season!

We are smack in the middle of cold and flu season and for whatever reason this year it seems like the colds and illnesses are lasting forever. A lingering cough has been going around my house for over a month and despite a trip to urgent care, it still lingers. It’s true – when you’re sick, the last thing you want to is clean or do laundry. But, if your house is like mine, within 24 hours it goes from tidy to trashed. Empty juice bottles, tea mugs, blankets, dishes in the sink, socks, tissues, — all artfully arranged throughout the house. What will the place look like by the time you’re feeling better? It’s a scary thought.

When I have a cold, I still have to go to work, which I know is not ideal. The socially responsible thing to do when you’re sick is to stay home and keep your germs to yourself. Sadly, many jobs do not offer paid sick time and/or don’t have adequate staff to cover sick employees.

In my case, I do have sick time so I use it when I need to. With this horrible cough I ended up calling off 2 days – but still have a cough after a round of antibiotics. When I come home from a long day at work to a messy, germy house, the last thing I want to do is clean. So, how do you deal? Here are a few tricks I have picked up along the way that I do to help keep my house clean even when I am sick.

7 Tricks to Keep a Clean House When Sick

Use Paper plates/plastic silverware – I know, it’s not the greatest scenario or the best for the environment. However, the last thing I need or want to see when I am sick is to see a whole bunch of dirty dishes and glasses in my sink (I don’t have a dishwasher). So, I keep plastic silverware and some paper plates on hand and when I am sick I can break them out and don’t have to worry about the dishes.

Clean up for 5 minutes when you feel your best – For me, that’s right after a morning shower. Showers always make me feel better. I will take 5 minutes and do a quick clean after my shower. Five minutes is enough to put the trash in the trash, wash a glass or two, throw clothes in the laundry, and fix the blankets and pillows to make it a little neater.

Ask for help – If you’re totally miserable and helpless, don’t hesitate to ask someone for help. If you live alone, maybe a friend or family member can help. If you are in a relationship or married, enlist the help of your partner (if they haven’t already assumed the role). I’m sure that person would be happy to bring over some juice, vitamins, medicine, and soup. More than likely they will probably clean up around you without being asked. You know you’d do the same.

Fresh air – Depending on the temperature outside,  I crack the windows open whenever I’m sick. Germs are more active and grow in warm environments. Opening the windows a bit can help bring some cold fresh air in, kill those germs and make your place seem a little bit cleaner and healthier.

Tissue Boxes Trick – I love this trick. Rubber band an empty tissue box to a full one. Every time you use a tissue, you can place it inside the empty tissue box like it’s a trash can. This completely eliminates the issue of having dirty tissues everywhere in your house. It is super handy, especially when you’re laid out on the couch or stuck in bed.

Use Clorox Wipes – If you you have enough energy to clean – clean using Clorox wipes.  They are easy to use, do a good job getting things clean and they kill 99% of germs and viruses on contact.

Give Yourself a Break.  No one is perfect and when you’re sick – you can’t expect your house to be. Take some time, get rest (you won’t get better if you don’t), and DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT! This is a temporary situation, and it will all go back to normal in a couple of days. There’s no need to hold yourself to your normal housekeeping standards — be gentle on yourself.

So those are just a few tiny tricks, but I love to hear your ideas. How do you keep your house (reasonably) livable when you’re sick? Let me know in the comments!