16 Places to keep clean this cold and flu season (INFOGRAPHIC)

Cold and flu season is no joke, but you can lessen your chances of catching one of these nasty sicknesses by being proactive.

Know the places in your home where most germs reside, and do your best to keep them clean and bacteria-free.

When you get to cleaning, skip the sponges and cloths — those items tend to spread germs around rather than pick them up. Instead, grab your disinfectant wipes or spray and start scrubbing any hard surfaces. Everything else should be run through the washing machine with hot water, if possible.

Check out our list below for the places you should target.

Sources: WebMD, NY State Department of Health

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