There’s no denying that a healthy family is a happy family. People tend to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on family care products to strengthen their family’s ability to combat harmful germs and promote their health.This is all in quest to healthy and happy family. While these products are indeed made to help you take care of your family in the most efficient way possible, there are certain basic rules for taking care of yourself and your children. Here are eight simple hygiene tips for your family that all happy, healthy families share in common as their ‘habits’. “You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae.” – Paul Walker 1. Make Regular Hand Washing a Habit to keep a Healthy and Happy Family We know this may sound too basic an advice because you must’ve been taught to do it in your school days. But hand washing is hands down the best way to keep those germs at bay! It is extremely important to teach your kids to wash their hands, especially on the following occasions: Before and after each meal Before heading to the playroom After coming in from the playground After using the toilet After sneezing and coughing After petting an animal You and other adult family members should also make it a habit to wash your hands regularly. This won’t only ensure that you stay healthy but will also help the kids learn the habit quickly. After all, kids do what they see their elders doing, right? 2. Dispose of Dirty Tissues Right Away to keep a Healthy and Happy Family. Tissues can come in handy when you’re suffering from flu and coughing and sneezing after every few minutes. You must teach your kids to use tissues for nose-blowing so that they don’t have to sneeze or cough into the inside of their hands. However, what’s even more important is to dispose of the tissues right away and teach your kids the same. Some germs, bacteria, and viruses can live for two hours or even more outside the human body. So, dirty tissues lying around the house is a big NO! To encourage the habit of using and wasting tissues, you should consider placing trashcans in each room. 3. Some Things Are Not for Sharing While you may always be looking for ways to teach your children the etiquettes of sharing their toys and taking turns while playing with friends, you must understand that there are certain exceptions to this rule. When it comes to ensuring the health of your children, you must teach them to NOT share a few things, including combs, toothbrushes, hats, cups, spoons and forks, drinking straws, whistles, tissues, and basically anything that they’re likely to put in their mouths. And the same goes for you as well! Make sure everyone in your family has their own hairbrush and toothbrush. 4. Bathrooms are High-alert Red Zones! You may only go in and out the bathroom for a few minutes each time but it tends to be one of the most favorite places of germs to lurk behind after the toilet flushes. Make sure you clean the bathroom sinks, countertops, toilet seat, bathtub, and the bathroom walls on a regular basis with a high-action disinfectant or wipes. In addition to this, the bath toys also need regular cleaning. You may wash them in a water-bleach solution at least once a week. Apart from this, make sure that all toothbrushes are placed at least one inch away from each other so that their bristles don’t touch. This will decrease the chances of germs spreading from one brush to another. Also, replacing the toothbrushes regularly is critical, especially after recovery from an illness. 5. Focus on Kitchen Cleanliness As an adult, you may not worry about foodborne illnesses, as they usually are not dangerous. However, these illnesses can be more than just unpleasant for your kids. The reason why you should pay special attention to food safety and kitchen cleanliness is that your children’s immune system is not as developed as yours is. Make it a habit to wash your hands thoroughly before cooking any meal, particularly when you’re handling raw meat, fish, or eggs. Moreover, keep separate cutting boards for the mentioned proteins and for the produced. Cracks in the cutting boards provide a great hiding place for bacteria, so consider replacing them regularly. In addition to this, make sure that you wash the kitchen towels, rags, and sponges, and wipe the countertop and cabinet handles with disinfectant from time to time. 6. Be Prepared to Fight Allergens Allergens, such as dust mites, molds, and pet dander can pose a serious health issue, especially if your family has a history of allergies or asthma. It is crucial that you fight these allergens by vacuuming on a weekly basis. For maximum protection against germs, consider using a High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) vacuum, as it works wonders for trapping allergens. Additionally, you need to change and wash bed sheets and pillowcases regularly. Sometimes, germs like residing in stuffed toys– so, consider giving them a regular wash too. 7. Get Your Family Vaccinated to keep Healthy and Happy Family. To keep your family healthy, you should not only consider getting your children vaccinated but you and your partner as well. Yearly flu shots and Tdap vaccine protect against flu, tetanus, and pertussis. While pertussis may not be a serious illness for adults, it can make your kids very sick. 8. Stick to an Exercise Schedule Exercise is a great way to keep both the body and mind healthy. No matter how busy your everyday schedule is, you must take out some time for exercise. As simple an exercise as brisk walking or jogging can make a world of a difference in upgrading your health game. Also, teach your children the importance of regular exercise. Take them cycling or running –