Post Sickness After Clean - When the Sick Days End (and the Clean-Up Begins)

Ever reached the end of a sickness stint with your family and thought, ‘Yep, I could absolutely just light a match and start over’?

Whether it's been gastro, RSV, hand-foot-and-mouth, the flu, or one of those never-ending daycare coughs — when sickness rolls through your house like a wrecking ball, it can feel like the germs are living in your walls.

The aftermath?A battlefield of spew-covered sheets, snot trails, sticky remotes, and a faint smell of electrolytes that lingers like a bad memory.

We get it, and while burning it all down might be tempting, there’s a better (and less illegal) way to reclaim your space and your sanity.

The Clean-Up Routine You Didn’t Know You Needed!

Hot wash everything that moved. This is includes things like Towels, bedding, PJs, couch blankets, soft toys — if it touched a sick kid, it needs a hot wash. 60°C+ is your best bet to kill germs, and drying items in the sun adds an extra layer of bacteria-busting UV magic.

Something I like to call Toy triage. Toy triage means sorting and sanitising toys based on how they've been used during illness — deciding what needs washing, what needs disinfecting, and what might need a temporary time-out to stop germs from spreading. Hard toys can be soaked in a diluted disinfectant solution (check your label for ratios), rinsed, and left to dry in the sun. Soft toys? Pop them through a hot cycle in the washing machine, or if that’s not possible, isolate them in a sealed bag for 48 hours so lingering bugs can die off.

Eco-friendly is cute… but sometimes you need the big guns. We’re all for low-tox living, but after a solid run of sickness, it’s okay to bring in the heavy hitters. Choose a disinfectant that states clearly it kills viruses and bacteria. Look for “hospital-grade” or similar wording to make sure you’re getting a proper germ-killer.

High-touch = high-priority. Toilet buttons. Door handles. Light switches. Taps. Toys. Fridge handles. Wipe them down daily during illness and again once everyone’s well. These are the places bugs love to linger.

Don’t forget the ‘forgotten zones’. Phones, tablets, TV remotes, thermometers, baby monitors — the things that follow us (and our germs) from room to room. Give them a proper wipe-down with a safe disinfectant.

Don’t forget your toothbrush… seriously (Yes, just like the old TV show — but this one’s not for laughs.) Once illness has passed, replace toothbrushes or brush heads for everyone. Bacteria and viruses can cling to bristles and reintroduce germs when you least expect it.

Clean the carry-in culprits. School bags, daycare backpacks, lunchboxes, and water bottles go everywhere — and bring back all sorts of invisible extras. Wash drink bottles daily, wipe out lunchboxes, and give bags a good weekly clean, inside and out.

Shoes off at the door. Setting a family rule (and sticking to it) of shoes off inside, helps eliminate germs entering the home. Why? Because shoes can track in bacteria and viruses from playgrounds, shopping centres, public toilets, and everywhere in between. Leave the germs at the door — literally.

Wash those hands like it’s your part-time job. Hot, soapy water is still the MVP. Especially after gastro. Sanitiser has its place, but it’s no replacement for a thorough 20-second scrub.

Open every window and let the air do its thing. Fresh air works wonders. It dilutes airborne germs, removes that sick house smell, and brings some life back into your space. If it’s safe to do so, throw open those windows and reset the room.

You’ve Survived the Sickness — Now Let's Own the Recovery

Getting through a week (or more) of family illness is no small feat - so well done!. While the washing pile may still be taller than your toddler, every wipe, wash, and open window is a step back toward your normal.

So light a candle (not a match), pour yourself a hot drink, and give yourself a massive high five. You’ve done the hard part — now it’s time to refresh and reclaim your space.

Disclaimer:

This blog is intended to provide general cleaning tips based on evidence-informed hygiene practices. It is not a substitute for medical advice or professional infection control guidance. Always follow manufacturer instructions when using cleaning products, and seek medical advice if you have concerns about your child’s ongoing symptoms or illness. If a child is unwell or deteriorating, contact your GP or local health service immediately, or call 000 in an emergency.