Holidays are Haven for Germs( THE MAIDS(R) offer tips to clean and...),Health

THE MAIDS(R) offer tips to clean and disinfect to minimize spread of germs

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- If your home will be holiday headquarters for family and friends, it may also be a haven for germs and viruses. Follow these tips provided by THE MAIDS Home Services to help battle pesky germs before, during and after your holiday celebrations.

-- Wash your hands regularly in warm, soapy water. Place antibacterial hand sanitizer in plain view for guests to use. Make an effort not to touch your mouth, nose or eyes without first washing your hands.

-- Spray disinfecting spray on a cloth and wipe all hard surfaces -- doorknobs, appliance handles, keyboards, remote controls, light switches, phones, facial tissue box covers, tables, chairs and counters. Viruses can live for up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.

-- Keep germs at bay in the bathroom by stashing disinfecting wipes near the toilet and sink for easy, quick clean up whenever needed.

-- Hosting overnight guests? Wash items like towels and bedding in hot water with soap. Be sure not to share these items until they are thoroughly cleaned.

-- To keep children safe, an effective way to clean and sanitize toys is to put them through a dishwasher cycle. Make sure items are dishwasher safe and are placed securely on the racks away from the heat source. Turn off "heat dry" and run the wash cycle as usual.

About THE MAIDS Home Services:

THE MAIDS Home Services, founded in 1979, is a premier residential cleaning service in the U.S. and Canada. Rated as the fastest-growing residential cleaning franchise in Entrepreneur magazine for the past four years, THE MAIDS is one of the oldest and largest residential cleaning franchisers, serving over 40 states and four provinces in North America. For more information, visit THE MAIDS Home Services' web site at http://www.maids.com, "Nobody Outcleans The Maids."