This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Abreva, Clorox, Theraflu and TYLENOL®. All opinions are mine alone. #AHealthyHolidays #CollectiveBias
November. That brief moment in time when the weather cools down, the air gets crisp, and when the falling leaves are replaced with holiday greenery. The time of year when the holiday season is just around the corner! But with all that sparkles this time of year, there’s also a few not so lovely parts of the season as well. Namely, the start to the germ season!
If your family is anything like mine, then you know what a damper the germ season can put on fun family festivities at home! Afterall, how can you be the hostess with the mostest this holiday season with a family in the throws of the germ season?
In my home, we’ve officially been in germ season for the past month and it’s been circling our family for the past several weeks. Starting with my husband’s students, then the kiddos and myself, and finally my husband.
Luckily, we’re all on the mend at home thanks in no small part to my family having been prepared to tackle the germ season. And thankfully, it’s super simple for you to get your family prepared at home for the germ season to do the same! With that in mind, here are my 5 tips to getting your family prepared for germ season at home.
1) Create a Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit. A month before the start of each germ season, I create for my family a Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit. In this kit contains:
- An easy-to-clean Metal 4-Compartment Caddy
- OTC Germ Season Medicines
- Cold Sore Medicine
- Reusable Tissues
- Thermometer
Making this kit was super simple as I was able to pick-up everything I needed, minus my caddy (which I already had on-hand at home), was available for quick pick-up at my local Kroger. With everything, I needed locating right on the pain relief and lip care aisles.
Here’s what I picked up for my germ season caddy at home:
Abreva: My family has never gone through a germ season without someone getting a cold sore, so I always make sure to keep an Abreva Pump in my Home Germ Survival Kit. Because when used at the first sign of cold sores (you know, the tingle on your lip that lets you know a present is on the way) delivers healing relief.
I love that Abreva is easy to apply, can heal your cold sore in as little as 2 1/2 days, and is the only FDA approved OTC medicine to shorten healing time. For us, nothing heals our cold sores faster than Abreva. Making it a staple in our germ season survival kit!
Theraflu: I like to pick up a box of both the Theraflu Multi-symptom Cold and Flu Relief and the Day Night Pack of Theraflu. This makes sure that no matter what symptoms crop up at home during germ season, my family is well taken care of.
Theraflu provides my family with powerful relief without a prescription and the Multi-symptom severe packets are the #1 cold & flu hot liquid brand for powerful symptom relief.*
TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid: For myself, I always pick up the TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid. It provides me with all day relief, of cold and flu symptoms at home and is the #1 doctor recommended pain relief brand to help stop your painful coughing, congestion & sore throat each germ season! It also does not have a harsh taste and the warming honey in the TYLENOL® Cold + Flu products provide relief to sore, irritated throats as well!
Even better, TYLENOL® comes with a Feel better or your money back, guarantees on adult products, that lets me feel assured in TYLENOL®’s commitment to my overall-wellbeing at home this germ season!
Once I’ve gotten home from my local Kroger, I start filling my caddy with all of the essential germ season essentials mentioned above I place the kit in a central location so everyone in my family knows that this kit is the place to come when they need germ season supplies at home!
2) I keep a stocked cleaning kit nearby: I keep a well-stocked cleaning caddy by our Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit to help me tackle the necessary cleaning that comes with germ season at home.
In my caddy, I like to keep Clorox products. Specifically the Clorox Scentiva Multi-Purpose Cleaner Spray and Wipes in the Tuscan Lavender & Jasmine scent. I’m also digging that these products carry Clorox’s Kill Claim, as the products help to kills 99.9% of germs that can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, kills 99.9% of Viruses* and Bacteria, and kills Staph, E. Coli, Salmonella, Strep on surfaces as well. Making these Clorox products my go-to cleaning aids each germ season!
Like with the products in my Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit, I was able to pick up these Clorox Scentiva products at my local Kroger in the cleaning product aisle.
Also in my caddy, I keep several reusable towels, disposable gloves, and a spray bottle of distilled water to wash down surfaces after disinfecting that come in contact with my kiddos at home. I also keep this cleaning caddy right next to Winter Survival Kit for easy access for everyone in my family this germ season!
3) Use a hot water bottle: One of my favorite ways to keep my family warm and cozy each germ season is by keeping each family member equipped with their own reusable water bottle. This allows my family the ability to stay extra warm and toasty when they might not be feeling their best!
We love hot water bottles. Especially the wide-mouth varieties, since it’s easier to fill them without splashing hot water on yourself or others. But the traditional red rubber models are fine too. In fact, they are my family’s favorites!
On an average winter night, I fill my bottle with hot tap water. But if it’s going to be one of those bone-chilling nights, I’ll heat up some water with my electric kettle and fill my bottle with a funnel. Making sure to be careful when pouring the water into the bottle and taking equal measure to make sure the bottle is extra tight to prevent leaks in bed!
Another thing I like to do to make sure that our hot water bottles stay warmer longer is by placing DIY Crochet Hot Water Bottle Covers on them! The cover absorbs any water that dripped onto the outside of the bottle, but more importantly, it keeps heat from escaping too quickly. And making crochet covers is super simple to make. Check out my 1-hour pattern below to get started:
Supplies you’ll need:
- 5.0 mm crochet hook
- 1 skein worsted weight yarn
- Darning needle
- 1 Hot Water Bottle (I used a 2-liter rubber one)
Pattern Terms Used:
- Chain: Chain Stitch
- DC= Double Crochet
- TR= Treble Stitch
Pattern:
Begin by chaining 66 stitches. You’ll want a chain long enough to loop around your bottle. Your bottle may be larger or smaller, just make sure to keep your base count a multiple of 3.
Row 1: Into the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1dc, then 1dc into each stitch working your way back to the starting stitch. You should have 64 stitches in total, or 2 less than when you started.
Row 2: Turn work & chain 3. Then 1tr into the first stitch. Skip the next 2 stitches, then 1tr into the 3rd stitch, then a set of 3tr, skip the next 2 stitches, then again another 3tr into the 3rd & so on to the end of your row. Follow this exact pattern, except only do 2tr into the final stitch of the row. The row should now start and finish with a set of 2 trebles.
Row 3: Turn work & chain 3, then work 3 trebles into the first chain space then 3 trebles into every chain space till the end of the row then 1 treble into the chain space of the row.
Row 4: Chain 3. Work 3 trebles into the spaces just like in row 3. Do this all the way along till the last space on the row and then treble only 2 stitches into the last stitch.
Row 5: Chain 3 & turn. Work 3 trebles into the spaces just like in row 3. Do this all the way along till the last space on the row and then treble only 1 stitch into the last stitch.
Row 6: Follow the instructions for Row 4 for the rest of the body of your work and until you achieve your desired length. My bottle is 30 rows in total.
When at the desired length, sew up the bottom and the sides of your work with your darning needle with matching yarn as the thread.
Next, place the hot water bottle inside the cozy so make sure that the bottle cozy will be snug and keep the bottle in place until finished.
To create the cozy’s neck:
Row 1: Starting at the neck, insert your hook into 1 of the chain spaces on the top row of your last row and chain 3. Add 2 more trebles into the same space. Then working around the neck, add 3 trebles into each space till you reach your starting stitch.
Row 2: Chain 3 and work 2 more trebles into the chain space, then 3tr into every space, working your way around to your first stitch of the row and then inserting hook into the top of the ch3.
Row 3-5: ch3 plus 2tr into the next starting row space and continue to work groups of 3tr into the spaces as in the previous rounds. I did 5 rows around the neck, but your neck might be longer or shorter, so amend your pattern as needed.
After you have reached your desired length, join with a slip stitch to the top of the ch3 and sew in the end. And you’re done with your hot water bottle cozy! You’ll notice that by adding the neck you will have created small pleats in the work. This is intentional as it gives you three 1/4″ bits of slack to allow you to move the bottle in and out of the cozy.
To remove the cozy, simply turn your bottle into itself, in a C-pattern. I like to keep my cozy in my bottle and keep it located by my cleaning caddy and Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit for easy access each germ season!
4) I make sure my family knows how to properly wash their hands at home: While most of us know that handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. But how many of us know the right way to do so?
Here are the 5 steps to washing your hands properly at home each germ season:
- Wet your hands with clean water and then turn off the tap. Apply soap to your hands.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails and cuticles.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. A tip: Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice to ensure you’ve had time to properly clean your hands.
- Next, rinse your hands with clean water.
- Finally, dry your hands using a clean towel.
Throughout the year, but especially during germ season, I constantly reiterate the point of proper hand washing to my family. I want them to not only know how to properly wash their hands but also the proper times to wash their hands as well. Such as before, during, and after preparing food, after eating, after using the bathroom, and after caring for someone who is ill.
Looking for a way to help your kiddos understand the best way to wash their hands at home? Right-click the infographic below to save and print your own safe hand washing printable at home!
5) Create a working Germ Season Shopping List: The final way I help protect my family at home during germ season is by keeping a working shopping list on my phone that allows me to know just what I need to pick up while in-store at my local Kroger!
I keep all of my above-mentioned home health and cleaning products as well as any last-minute holiday food items I might need as well to keep my family happy and healthy each holiday season! Be sure to right-click on my shopping list pdf below to make sure you’re prepared and stocked up for germ season at home too!
This past weekend when my husband came home from school fully inundated with germs I knew I was already prepared for everything my husband needed to start feeling his best again.
But I knew we were covered! Because as a family, we always tackle the winter germ season with our winter survival kit because we know that Abreva, Theraflu, TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid, and with the help of Clorox Scentiva cleaning products, we are protected at home this time of year.
Though my husband is on the mend, I’ll be sure to re-stock everything I’ll need for our next germy bought this season at my local Kroger. When it comes to germ season at home, you can never be too prepared!
Friends, be sure to stop by your local Kroger and pick up Abreva, Theraflu, TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid, and Clorox Scentiva cleaning products, and everything you need to help you prepare for this year’s germ season at home.
Be sure to check click here to find out about the savings you can currently score on the above-mentioned products at your local Kroger to help ensure your family has their healthiest holiday season yet from your local Kroger! Now I have to ask, what is your favorite way to tackle germ season at home? I’d love to hear about it below!
Disclaimer: Abreva – Use only as directed. Read and follow label directions. Clorox – Use as directed on hard non-porous surfaces. Theraflu – Read and follow label directions. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older. Use products only as directed.
TYLENOL® – ® Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2017. Use products only as directed. The makers of TYLENOL® remind you to use only one medicine with acetaminophen at a time.
*Influenza A Virus **On hard, non-porous surfaces. See product label for a list of organisms.
***Median healing time is 4.1 days, 25% of users healed in 2.5 days.
