A sniffle at the dinner table or a scratchy throat when your child returns from school can have the entire family suffering from colds and coughs as droplets spread and hide in hotspots.

“If one family member gets ill, the viruses that cause colds and flu can easily spread through a family and attach to surfaces. These surfaces become hotspots for harbouring germs. This happens frequently in the colder months as everyone spends more time indoors and in close contact with one another,” comments Lindie Pretorious, brand manager for Linctagon^®.

airborne droplets are the problem

Most families know that colds and flu can spread from person to person. However, some places and objects – hotspots for germs – are often overlooked. “Cold and flu viruses spread mainly through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks,” Pretorious explains. “These droplets can land on nearby surfaces or be inhaled by people nearby.”

Once entering the home, illness circulates quickly. This is why many families turn to immune-support products during the cold and flu season to help support the body’s natural defence system while managing exposure.

Find our winter health guide here.

hotspots for germ spread

“Shared bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, towels and appliances create opportunities for viruses to move from one person to another. Children, especially younger ones, are often efficient spreaders because they touch surfaces frequently and may not consistently practise proper hygiene,” says Pretorius.

Pretorius lists the following locations within your home as overlooked germ hotspots:

TV remotes, gaming controllers and streaming devices

Frequently shared, remotes, controllers and streaming devices attract germs. During illness, people often use them while resting, sneezing, coughing or touching their face.

Light switches and lamp buttons

Present throughout the home, light switches and lamp buttons attract germs easily.  Every time someone enters or leaves a room, they unconsciously touch a light switch. In shared bathrooms, hallways, and bedrooms, this creates a continuous chain of contact between multiple people.

Fridge and microwave handles

Food is a major “movement point” in households. Sick individuals still open the fridge or heat drinks, leaving germs behind on handles that everyone else touches multiple times a day.

Bedside tables and shared surfaces in bedrooms

When someone is sick, they tend to rest in bed for long periods, placing their phones, tissues, medication, cups and remotes on bedside tables, creating germ hotspots.

Phones and chargers

Constantly handled, placed on surfaces, and used while eating, resting or during illness, phones can easily become germ hotspots. Charging cables and plugs also pick up contamination and are rarely cleaned.

Kitchen sponges and dishcloths

Sponges stay damp, creating a perfect environment for germs to survive and transfer to plates, counters and utensils. 

Stair railings and hallway touchpoints

These become shared “highway” surfaces, especially when people move between rooms or carry items like laundry or dishes.

Shared towels and hand towels

Often used by multiple people before being washed, these become a direct transfer point from hands to face during cold and flu season.

Car keys, handbags and everyday “grab items”

Items that are often handled after public exposure and then placed on kitchen counters, tables or beds, spreading germs into clean spaces.

Read more about steering clear of the sniffles.

lessening the spread

Completely avoiding colds and flu is nearly impossible, especially in busy family households, but small daily habits, such as regular handwashing, keeping indoor spaces ventilated, staying home when unwell and cleaning frequently touched surfaces, can significantly reduce the spread of illness.

Ultimately, homes are built for connection and closeness, which also makes them ideal environments and hotspots for viruses.

While no prevention method is perfect, understanding how illness spreads through households can help families respond faster, protect vulnerable loved ones, and, hopefully, avoid the domino effect of everyone getting sick at the same time.