- The American Cleaning Institute and the American Academy of Family Physicians remind Americans how to stay safe and healthy this fall and winter
- New survey findings reveal how Americans plan to prepare
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) are joining forces to remind Americans about best practices for cleaning and hygiene during cold and flu season.
According to new survey data released by ACI, less than one in three Americans (27%) plan to step up cleaning and hygiene habits for cold and flu season. The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of ACI, also shows that 32% of Americans say they won’t change their cleaning habits, underscoring a gap in taking the simple but necessary steps to stay healthy.
Cold and flu season is something most families, schools, workplaces and healthcare settings prepare for every year, but an estimated 60 million days of school are lost annually, and more than 100,000 hospitalizations occur annually, which amounts to $5 billion in costs to the U.S. healthcare system including doctors’ visits and treatments. (CDC) Following common-sense cleaning and hygiene practices is one way to reduce your risk.
In fact, proper hand hygiene reduces respiratory colds by up to 21% (CDC). However, the new ACI survey revealed that a majority of Americans (78%) are less than 100% confident that those around them are taking appropriate measures to reduce germs, highlighting the need to reinforce proper hygiene and cleaning practices.
“As family physicians, our goal is not just to treat illness but to promote health and wellness within our communities,” said Andrew Carroll, M.D., Senior Medical Director of Intracare, Past President of the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians and Past Board Director of the AAFP. “During cold and flu season, it is crucial that preventive measures are taken – get your annual flu shots, remember proper hand hygiene and stay home when you are sick.”
Since 2020, Americans’ awareness of the importance of cleaning has increased according to an ACI survey, specifically its role in keeping individuals and communities safe and healthy. Despite this, only 25% of Americans will change their cleaning habits if they or someone else in their home gets sick.
“Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the simplest and most inexpensive actions you can take to keep healthy, especially when cold and flu season hits hard,” said Brian Sansoni, ACI Senior Vice President of Communications and Outreach. “Cleaning is a way of caring for ourselves and others, especially during the fall and winter seasons when the spread of germs increases. It is crucial that we continue to follow proper handwashing practices and understand how to effectively clean and disinfect surfaces to protect our health and prevent illness.”
Some key cleaning and hygiene steps to take this cold and flu season include:
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to help prevent the spread of germs.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you don’t have a tissue.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer as an alternative. Be sure to use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces per CDC guidance (door handles, light switches, countertops).
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- If you get sick, stay home from work or school except to seek medical care and limit contact with others.
Cold and flu season is a good reminder for parents, teachers, families and communities to look for opportunities to be equipped for illnesses for a healthier and cleaner year ahead. Family physicians are trusted partners in keeping communities healthy.
For more information and to learn more about ACI’s cleaning and proper hygiene resources, visit www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaningiscaring or follow @CleaningInstitute on TikTok. For more information about staying healthy during cold and flu season, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org/combat-cold-flu-season/.
The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.
Methodological Notes
The ACI Cold and Flu Season Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 Nationally Representative US Adults Ages 18+, between September 23rd and September 27th, 2024, using an email invitation and an online survey. Data has been weighted to ensure an accurate representation of nationally representative US adults ages 18+. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.