Last Updated on December 13, 2019
© Romania InsiderSince it’s officially the flu season, many of us are being extra wary to avoid becoming a nice, warm host for a wandering virus, be it in an elevator, at work, or on an airplane, because it’s always awful to catch a cold.
Better safe than multiple sleepless nights with unbearable body aches, endlessly runny nose, and all the other awful cold and flu symptoms. But what if you still catch a cold even without leaving your comfy, clean house? Surprisingly, there are several ways you can get sick in the comfort of your own home.
In this article, we reveal 13 household items and spots where cold and flu viruses love to hide, in addition to expert advice on how to not catch a cold.
#8 – Pens, Pencils, and Markers
Touching pens, markers, and pencils can easily make you sick since these items are often shared by everyone in the house and also because cold and flu viruses can survive for days on plastic and other hard surfaces.
We all know it’s quite impossible to wash your hands each time you hold a shared item, but you can at least avoid touching your face or anything really until you wash and/or sanitize your hands.
No matter what you do, don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes because they’re the weak points from which the common cold and flu viruses can easily slip into your system. Although hard, just try to train your hands to avoid touching your face if you want to keep cold and flu at bay.
#7 – Coffee Mugs and Drinking Glasses
Everyone knows that we should never drink after a sick spouse or roommate, but not everyone would remember to wash their hands after carrying a sick person’s cup. According to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology, 50% of healthy people who touched cup handles that were grabbed by sick people ended up catching colds.
To avoid getting sick, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Don’t forget to keep a hand sanitizer within reach.
