On the flip side, it seems as if fall is officially "sniffle season." As the weather gets colder, we hear news about the flu and even scarier viruses on TV and in the papers. It makes me think about how to keep my home as germ free as possible as my daughter Gia and I do our best to stay healthy.

While we're worried about outside germs coming into our home and what can happen while we're out in the world, there are places within our control where we can minimize germs and help ourselves stay well, beginning with the kitchen.

Because we spend so much time in the kitchen, it's easy for it to become a germ factory. Here are three of the biggest germ culprits there, and what you can do to keep them at bay:

1. The countertop - Think about all the different kinds of food that touch our countertops in the course of just one meal, from meat, to vegetables and raw eggs. If we're not very careful, it's easy to contaminate this surface. On top of that, how many of us walk right into the kitchen and place our handbag on the counter? If you take a moment to think about all the other places our handbags have been, you'll likely never do that again.
   
   Solution: Before and after cooking, take a quick wipe of your kitchen countertops with a disinfecting product. Make sure the label says that it kills 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria.
   
   
2. The faucet - As you're splashing dirty water and food in your sink, the water that splashes up can get all over the faucet and inside the filter. We wash our hands, but then put them right back on the dirty handle we just used to turn on the water for removing raw egg or chicken.  Yuk.
   
   Solution: Include the faucet in your daily clean up routine. Once a week, take the filter out of the faucet and soak it overnight in white vinegar. While you're at the sink, make sure you disinfect it with bleach and water right after cooking any raw meat, eggs or poultry,
   
   
3. The dishtowel and sponge:  We use both of these to wipe up everything from meat juices to toast crumbs, and then put them back on the side of the sink or on a hook in the kitchen.  It doesn't take long before they're filled with bacteria and germs.
   
   Solution: Soak your sponges every few days in a bowl of water with a teaspoon of bleach or zap them in the microwave, covered in a bowl of water, for two or three minutes. As for dishtowels, keep plenty on hand and start each day with a fresh towel.

There are a couple of other places to keep in mind while doing your best to keep germs under control in the home. A quick wipe with a disinfecting cloth over remote controls, phones and doorknobs will also go a long way toward keeping you and your family healthy.

As you enjoy all the pumpkin flavored goodies in the grocery store and take in the lovely colors of fall, use these quick tips to also keep your family safe this season.