7 Ways to Keep Germs at Bay ...

Germ-X is great to keep with you at all times. Bath & Body has these really nifty hand sanitizer bottle holder that attach to your purse or diaper bag. Use it religiously - wherever you go!

I carry both "Wet Ones" and "Clorox To-Go" wipes with me in my purse all the time. The "Wet Ones" are great for those little hands that cannot help but to touch everything they see! And I use clorox wipes to wipe down tables at restaurants, the buggy at Walmart, and anything else I deem necessary. Stores like Walmart are in the top three places you can get sick!

Echinacea is a natural herb that is a great preventative for colds and such. Take it regularly every day to lower your chances of getting sick! You can find it at walmart. If you do happen to get sick, you can get the Echinacea Goldenseal complex as a natural antibiotic - just don't take this with any doctor prescribed antibiotic.

Wash your hands religiously, and teach your kids to do the same. Wash your hands after doing anything! You should be going through a bottle of antibacterial soap every two weeks at least! Wash hands before and after preparing food, before and after tending to a sick person, after going to the bathroom, or helping a child potty, after blowing your nose, coughing and sneezing, after handling garbage, and any other time you think necessary. You can't wash them enough! Just be sure to use lots of lotion too, so they don't dry out your hands!

Not only surfaces that encounter germ-y hands, like sink and counters in the bathroom, but also kitchen counters after preparing meats and poultry. Clorox wipes can become your best friends!

I know that it's hard to put your kids through that pain and torture of a shot, but that second or two of pain is worth so much more in preventing serious illnesses along the way. Check with your doctor if you're not sure whether they are up to date or not.

Lysterine or salt water are great things to gargle after a day in a germ filled environment. Germs are airborne just as they are on surfaces. As you breath, many find their way into your body. So, clean them out every night!

Germs can't be seen and sometimes we take for granted that things are bacteria free because they appear so clean. Don't take chances! Especially if you have little ones around, who tend to put everything in their mouth! How do you protect yourself against germs?

Top Photo Credit: Gladstone Clayworks Studio