Germ Proof Your House

Want to keep your home cold-free this season? "Send your kids to Grandma's," jokes University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba.

"The best friend a germ ever had is a kid, because he brings his fingers to his nose and mouth up to 30 times a minute." Luckily, you can cut your risk.

The two steps? Wash hands and disinfect key surfaces. Both cut colds and flu by up to 50%. Gerba's research shows you'll find the most viruses on the phone. The remote control, kitchen faucet and refrigerator door handle aren't far behind.

Sick or not, use alcohol-based hand gels, and wipe down germy items every few days (do it twice a day when someone's ill). And don't forget the antiviral tissues, which kill germs you sneeze into the tissue.