Cold and Flu Disrupts Daily Life for 9 in 10 Americans – But Simple Cleaning Steps Can Help
New survey finds 87% take preventive cleaning steps, yet 28% wait until illness is already in the home
American Cleaning Institute, American Academy of Family Physicians offer practical guidance families can use before illness enters the home
WASHINGTON, October 20, 2026--Cold and flu season is taking a major toll on Americans' daily lives. A new survey from the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) finds that 91% of respondents say these illnesses cause significant disruption. Parents report feeling the disruption across nearly every part of family life, including:
61% experiencing missed work or school,
55% reporting impacts to after-school activities, and
52% dealing with disrupted sleep schedules.
The findings arrive as the country heads into another closely watched respiratory-virus season. The previous two cold and flu seasons produced an estimated 1.1 million combined hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; CDC), and the CDC projects this winter's peak hospitalizations from flu and other respiratory illnesses could rival last season, when flu alone accounted for roughly 390,000 hospitalizations.
Against this backdrop, Americans recognize that cleaning matters: 86% agree it is essential to preventing illness and protecting their health or ensuring healthy public spaces and workplaces. Yet the survey reveals a gap between awareness and action. Only one in four Americans adjusts their cleaning habits proactively throughout the season. Meanwhile, 28% wait until someone in their home is already sick, which may be too late to help prevent transmission.
"Disruptions from illness can upend daily routines, and cleaning is one of the simplest ways to help stay healthy," said Jessica Ek, Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications at the American Cleaning Institute. "Americans recognize that cleaning is essential for healthy homes and communities, relying on trusted cleaning products to protect their families during cold and flu season."
"Every fall, I see one sick patient followed days later by a spouse or child with the same illness," said Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, MS, board-certified family physician and founder of Clinicians Who Care. "Germs can remain on the surfaces families touch throughout the day, making it easier for illness to move through a household. Routine cleaning and regular handwashing are practical steps families can take to help protect one another."