Sick FIL in my house, what to do?

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
So, we just got back from out of town, and DH's father was in our house waiting for us to get home because we had his car..

Anyway, he is sick as a dog, hacking away disgusting phlegmy stuff...and told me he was napping on our couch


Especially with this whole H1N1 thing going around, what do I do to get the germs outta here?!

Eek!
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
Have any lysol spray? I wouldn't soak the furniture with it, but a light mist might do the trick - though I THINK it's intended for hard surfaces. Maybe try an inconspicuous spot first.
 

sandtigress

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 26, 2005
Messages
2,597
Purraise
4
Location
Texas
Steam cleaners ought to be great for bacterial stuff, but I don't know how much they'd do for a virus since viruses aren't techincally "alive". I got my little Scuni cleaner for around 30-50 bucks, I think, and it does a pretty good job with upholstered surfaces.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Stick yourself in a bubble! That way you won't be exposed to it the rest of the day at work and shopping like you have for weeks.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Originally Posted by strange_wings

Stick yourself in a bubble! That way you won't be exposed to it the rest of the day at work and shopping like you have for weeks.
Well, that is isn't helpful.
 

crazyforinfo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 26, 2006
Messages
6,773
Purraise
4
Location
Philly
Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Well, that is isn't helpful.
I think the point is there isn't much to do in close quarters.
Lysol door knobs & toilet handle. Buy hand sanitizers.
 

snake_lady

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
7,218
Purraise
13
Location
ON./Canada
Originally Posted by strange_wings

Stick yourself in a bubble! That way you won't be exposed to it the rest of the day at work and shopping like you have for weeks.
LOL....thats what my hubby says to me all the time...... I have no doubts that one day he will get me a bubble.



Nat, I'd lysol things that you can (if you can handle the smell) and just do general santisation stuff.

(I'll start a different thread).
 

pami

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
17,482
Purraise
17
Location
Birmingham
Natalie, be careful with Lysol around Trout. It contains phenol which is toxic to cats.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

I think the point is there isn't much to do in close quarters.
That was the point, actually. She's already exposed whether she knows it or not. Why live in fear or paranoia? Hope your body does what it should, take care of yourself, and seek medical care if it gets bad.

I really really dislike lysol. It's not allowed in my home. I'd prefer to get sick than send DH to the ER because I set off terrible inflammation in his lungs that his asthma medication cannot control. Aside from that the stuff sends me into near asthma attack like fits. As mentioned by Pami, you have to beware what use around pets.
 

snake_lady

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
7,218
Purraise
13
Location
ON./Canada
Originally Posted by Pami

Natalie, be careful with Lysol around Trout. It contains phenol which is toxic to cats.
do you know if the wipes are the same way?

I don't use the spray...its a migraine trigger.... but I do use lysol or clorox wipes.
 

starryeyedtiger

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
22,317
Purraise
20
Location
USA
Originally Posted by Pami

Natalie, be careful with Lysol around Trout. It contains phenol which is toxic to cats.
I second this. You never want to use Lysol around animals. The phenol can cause them harm.

Instead use, Tek-trol,Trifectant Disinfectant, Target's Seventh Generation products, and Clorox Wipes should do the trick if you have any of that handy! You can also use a diluted bleach solution for your hard surfaces.
 

catmom2wires

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
1,429
Purraise
212
Location
Texas
I'd just open up the windows and air out the house and not sit on the sofa for 24 hours and let the viruses die. No need to go nuts spreading toxic cleaners (lysol and clorox are HORRID).
 

littleraven7726

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 1, 2002
Messages
3,339
Purraise
12
Location
Next to the World's Largest 6-pack
I use Clorox wipes and Clorox Anywhere Spray on hard surfaces. Anything else you can't really do much about unless it's something you can toss in the washer. If you had throw blankets out, I'd wash them on the hot cycle and dry in the dryer.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

trouts mom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
23,949
Purraise
16
Location
Snowy Santa Land
Well I bought some antibacterial febreze and put some on the couch...Trout doesn't normally go there unless we are on it so it should be good. I opene the window too!

I understand germs are all around me at all times..but something is extra gross about knowing they are seething in my couch in my own home where I lay and cuddle my family.
 

littleraven7726

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 1, 2002
Messages
3,339
Purraise
12
Location
Next to the World's Largest 6-pack
Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Well I bought some antibacterial febreze and put some on the couch...Trout doesn't normally go there unless we are on it so it should be good. I opene the window too!

I understand germs are all around me at all times..but something is extra gross about knowing they are seething in my couch in my own home where I lay and cuddle my family.
I totally understand, I would be disinfecting my house too.
I didn't know that there was an Antibacterial Febreze. Good to know.
I periodically freshen our sofa with the allergy Febreze.
 

fwan

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
13,279
Purraise
2
Location
Australia
do you have dettol over there??

get a small tub and add one - two caps and fill half of the tub with water grab a clean cloth and clean the couch and everything down!
 
Top