Far too many of us treat our cars like second homes: We eat, drink, spill things and create piles of clutter inside.

But stop and think about it. When was the last time you really gave your car a thorough cleaning on the inside? And think back to the last time you hopped into your car with a bad cold and sneezed, spreading germs throughout your car's cabin. Did you bother to wipe down surfaces afterwards? Didn't think so.

Germs run rampant all around us, including in our automobiles. Fortunately, there's much you can do to keep those pesky little microbes in check. Here are some tips from the country's leading germ experts on how to sanitize your ride's interior.

Daily Wipe-down
When you and your kids get in your car, you inevitably come into contact with surfaces that are covered with germs," says Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University's Doisy College of Health Sciences."Then you touch your eyes, nose and mouth. That's how little germies from unclean surfaces make their way into our bodies."

Stay healthy by wiping down the frequently touched areas with a disinfectant (e.g., a sanitizing or disinfecting wipe) that kills viruses and bacteria. (You may have to read the fine print on the label to be sure.) Look for a wipe that does not contain bleach -- some are labeled as being "bleach-free" -- so you can use them to clean hard, nonporous surfaces like steering wheels, dashboards, knobs, chrome accents, door handles and even mirrors.

Make wiping down the interior of your vehicle part of a daily routine, especially when someone in your family has been sick.

Sneeze on Wheels
We are becoming a nation of families eating on the go -- most often in our cars. Inevitably, food particles end up on the vehicle's upholstery, floor, seat belts, steering wheel and knobs. These crumbs are a breeding ground for bacteria, which love a warm, dark and moist environment.

What's more, during allergy season you're also likely tracking irritating outdoor allergens into your car, exacerbating those sniffles and sneezes.

Vacuum what you can with a handheld portable vac after returning home from any outing during which you or the kids were eating in the car. "Then wipe down surfaces with a disinfectant wipe and dry them completely to eliminate any lingering moisture," says Philip Tierno, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center and the author of The Secret Life of Germs: Observations and Lessons From a Microbe Hunter. "Failing to do so allows organisms like mold to grow, which can make you and your children sick," warns Tierno.

And even if your family doesn't eat in the car, make a regular habit of vacuuming the floor and seats to pick up pollen and other sneeze-inducers you might have inadvertently welcomed into your car.

Sanitizer at the Ready
Once you get into the habit of wiping surfaces and vacuuming food spills in your car, why not attack germs' main entry point into your car: your hands?

Hand sanitizers should be kept in every single vehicle, advises Duberg. After you use the handle at the gas pump or press the buttons on the ATM, your hands are covered with germs from the people who touched these surfaces before you.

After touching commonly used surfaces, apply a hand sanitizer to avoid passing germs onto the surfaces inside your car. Go with sanitizers that contain at least 60 percent alcohol concentration. Look at the list of active ingredients for ethyl alcohol, ethanol, isopropanol or another variation. Apply to all parts of the hands (i.e., palms, nails, knuckles) and continue to rub your hands together until they are completely dry.  

Car Seat Care
Little ones can equal big messes in the car -- bottle spills, leaky diapers, unidentifiable crumbs. Luckily, the majority of child safety seats are made from fabric that can be removed and washed. A recent study conducted by Charles P. Gerba, Ph.D., professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona and a leading authority on germs, found that car seats often have bacteria on them -- and enough to make a child sick with an ear infection or strep throat.

And that's not all. They also typically have some mold growth, which can be particularly worrisome if you or your child suffers from allergies or asthma. Gerba suggests washing your child safety seat cover a few times per month.

He also recommends wiping down the plastic shell and harness of the child safety seat with water and a mild soap on a weekly basis -- or more often if your child is sick. Between washings, be sure to vacuum or shake out the car seat as often as possible to remove food droppings.

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Search “cold remedies” online, and more than 35 million results pop up. But it turns out that one of the most effective ways to beat the sniffles is also the simplest: Get moving! According to a recent study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, people who walk for 40 minutes a day take half as many sick days as their sedentary counterparts. That’s because exercise bolsters the immune system, which helps you fight off viruses, say experts.

But when you finally succumb to those sneezes and coughs, is it smarter to soldier on or toss in the sweat towel? To help you decide, here’s what the experts have to say about staying healthy: 

Cold tip No. 1: Do a neck check.
If you have symptoms below the neck, such as chest congestion, diarrhea or body aches, or if you have a fever, stay home to rest. Your body needs all of its energy to recover.

But if you just have a head cold (runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat) and you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours, go ahead and exercise if you feel up for it. But dial down the intensity: Instead of your usual run or group cycling class, opt for yoga or a restorative walk. And stash a few tissues in your pocket in case you need to wipe your nose mid-workout.

Cold tip No. 2: Wipe down the gym equipment.
A study of fitness centers published in Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that 51 percent of aerobic machines and 73 percent of strength-training equipment were infected with cold viruses. Before you hop onto that elliptical or grab those dumbbells, wipe it down with an antibacterial wipe. Don’t have one on hand? Ask the gym staff to spritz some cleaner on a few tissues, and use a towel to cover benches and mats.

Also wash your hands thoroughly before and afterwards, and make a conscious effort to avoid touching your face during your workout.

Cold tip No. 3: Ease back into your routine.
Once you start feeling better, it’s tempting to try to make up for lost time at the gym. But working out full-force may lead to a relapse: Scientists from Canada’s McMaster University found that intense exercise can actually impair immune function, which can prolong your cold and leave you vulnerable to another one.

A smarter move: Start out with moderate workouts to give your body a chance to readjust. If you begin to feel worn down or tired again, stay home to fully recuperate – it could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

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As a parenting expert, I often teach one simple, free way to get your kids to stress less, fend off colds, and sleep more soundly. It sounds too good to be true, right? But these are just a few the benefits of one simple action: touch.

Children need physical touch as much as they need the air they breathe. After all, it's the only one of the physical senses that humans can't live without. That's because our skin plays an important role in the stimulation of hormones and function of the internal organs. In fact, a growing body of research shows that touching has many rewards, such as

• Healthy growth and development. Research from the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute found that infants who received regular massages from their moms grew more and gained more weight after a month.
   
• Less stress and anxiety. Touch can improve the relaxation response, lessening stress and anxiety, reports a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience.
• Better sleep. Need more shut-eye? Give a few more snuggles. According to a study published in Infant Behavior and Development, babies who were given regular massages slept more soundly than those who didn't.
• A stronger immune system. Massages boost the production of natural killer cells, cells that fight off viruses and other invaders, reveals a study from the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute.
• Reduced aggression. In a study of 17 teens, those who received 20-minute massages twice a week reported feeling less hostile after about a month. Their parents also said they seemed calmer and less aggressive.

But even with all these proven benefits, children receive little physical contact from their parents -- and even less in day care and preschool settings. According to a study published in the journal Early Child Development and Care,  preschool children receive physical contact less than 12 percent of the day, and boys receive much less than that amount.

To foster more contact with infants and toddlers, I recommend that parents incorporate the following actions into their daily routine:

• Bathing

• Breathing

• Breastfeeding

• Giving kisses

• Gently massaing your baby or toddler with soft strokes

• Snuggling

• Engaging in physical play, like tickling

Holding and/or carrying your child in a soft baby carrier (just keep in mind that the overuse of strollers, swings and plastic carriers can prevent young children from getting the physical touch they need every day)

As children grow older, it's only natural that they begin to pull away. But their need for touch always remains. While you want to respect your kids' developing individuality, you won't want them to stray too far. To stay in touch (literally), try changing it up with:

• Snuggling

• Back rubs

• Neck and shoulder massages (and don't forget to ask for one yourself!)

• Rough-and-tumble play -- without competitiveness or aggression

• An occasional kiss, but respect the child's cues as to what makes him or her comfortable

What About Dad? 

It's just as important for fathers to make physical contact with their children. Rough-and-tumble play is one way that even the most reticent dad can handle touch, without feeling too uncomfortable.

If you didn't receive a lot of touch when you were a child, this may all seem a little too much. But just remember that our bodies need the sensation -- just like they require food to eat. So if your kid is feeling a bit under the weather, make an effort to comfort her with some extra snuggles; you just may speed up her immune system and help her get more of the quality rest she needs. And with time and practice, those hugs, snuggles and massages will become a natural and joyful part of your daily routine -- and that will help your kid stay happier and healthier year-round.

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Each year, American parents hustle their kids to the doctor for 25 million disappointing -- and ineffective -- consultations. Why? They're looking for a cure for the common cold that's yet to be found.

It's considered the most common illness in the world, and Americans alone sneeze, sniffle and cough their way through about a billion colds a year, according to National Institutes of Health. And contrary to popular belief, antibiotics don't help, because antibiotics treat illnesses caused by bacteria -- not viruses like the common cold.

Unfortunately, most experts say we're likely still far from a cure for the common cold. However, scientists have recently uncovered two new exciting discoveries to give cold sufferers hope.

Possible Cures
Brand-new research at the University of Ghent in Belgium found that attaching small particles of silver to good bacteria and introducing them into the body -- perhaps using a nasal spray -- appears to destroy both the common cold and flu viruses. However, scientists warn it's too soon to glean too much from the findings; much more research is required to determine the procedure's effectiveness and safety before any treatment is available to the public.

In 2009, the University of Maryland and the University of Arizona energized the medical community by decoding the genomes of 99 strains of the common cold virus. As a result, scientists can now begin to develop vaccines to target these strains. Surprisingly, however, pharmaceutical companies haven't jumped on this development -- perhaps fearing the public won't buy an expensive drug for a typically minor ailment. Of course, patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who catch a simple cold can suffer a chain of more serious health problems. These individuals would greatly benefit from the cold vaccine promised by this research. But without funding for further research, cold vaccine development is at a stalemate.

Vitamins
What's the scientific community's insight into the preventive promise of vitamins? Indecisive, at best. Numerous studies have failed to prove that vitamin C can cure, prevent or shorten a cold. Research into zinc has also seen mixed results; most studies show no benefit -- although some seem to indicate it can be helpful if taken within 24 hours of the first cold symptoms. Similarly, researchers have found mixed results on the effectiveness of Echinacea -- and some users have noted unpleasant side effects including upset stomach and diarrhea.

Until There's a Cure
For now, experts say there's not much we can do to avoid getting the common cold except wash our hands, get plenty of rest and accept the fact that we'll probably still catch a cold or two this season. If you do, find comfort in the fact that most colds run their course in one or two weeks.

To ease cold symptoms:

• Drink plenty of fluids (water and juice)
   
• Skip alcohol and caffeinated beverages
• Gargle with warm saltwater, which may help ease a scratchy throat and expel fluid caught in the throat
• Try over-the-counter cold and cough medicines and antihistamines (check the label for age restrictions)
• Use a humidifier to moisten mucous membranes, which may decrease the risk of a stuffy nose and scratchy throat
• Go with a soft tissue so you don’t irritate the skin around your nose

And of course, always call a doctor if you're concerned or your child has a cold lasting more than 10 days, severe ear pain, an extremely sore throat, trouble breathing or a fever that lasts more than 48 hours.

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Chicken soup? Check. Lots of rest? Double check. You have a plan when someone in your house comes down with a cold or flu. Some of the things you do are the same that your mother did for you. That's because most remedies have withstood the test of time. But since upper respiratory infections are the most common illnesses in the world -- and kids are always getting them -- you're constantly on the lookout for new comforts and cures.

Luckily, researchers are on the same mission. They want your little one to feel better just as much as you do. They're out in the fields and in the labs collecting up-to-the-minute information for getting healthy and staying that way. Here are six new science-backed approaches that'll help your family feel better

Outdated Cold and Flu Tactic No. 1: Put off the doctor's visit.
New Approach: Call the office.
So your child has a few sniffles. Not a big deal, right? While it's true that the common cold isn't a life-threatening concern for most people, the flu is another story. On average each year, 20,000 kids under the age of 5 are hospitalized from flu-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The reason you should check in with your doctor ASAP? The sooner your child sees the pediatrician, the faster she can be diagnosed with either a cold or the flu, says Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Since both of these viral infections cause congestion, cough and tiredness, it can be difficult for parents to tell the difference between them (though the flu often brings on more severe symptoms more quickly, such as high fever, body aches, chills and sore throat). And if you catch the flu soon enough -- or within 48 hours of infection -- prescription antiviral medicines can stop the virus from spreading, so the misery won't last as long.

But what if it's just a cold? Then you'll feel assured that everything will be OK when the virus runs its course within about seven to 10 days, says Dr. Rocco Costabile, a family practitioner in Philadelphia. Ask your pediatrician for individual instructions for the antihistamines, cough suppressants, pain relievers and TLC that will make your child feel more comfortable.

Outdated Cold and Flu Tactic No. 2: Lower the fever ASAP.
New Approach: Mild fevers are OK.
Fevers are scary: A recent study showed that 83 percent of parents believe a fever is harmful to children, and 92 percent experience fear when their kids have one. But running a temperature is actually a sign of a healthy immune system. "The body works more efficiently at fighting infections at higher temperatures," says Adalja. A mild temperature -- below 101 F -- can actually be beneficial for fighting a cold or flu.

You do have to be on top of fevers when your child is younger than 2 months old, explains Dr. Carol J. Baker, a pediatrician and chairwoman for the Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition. Babies need to go straight to the doctor when they're registering above 99 F, she says. Kids younger than 5 -- especially newborns -- are prone to febrile seizures with high fevers of 102 F to 105 F. Below that is usually not a worry, says Adalja.

If you've got a 5-year-old with a runny nose, take her temperature, but don't get too excited until it's above 101 F," explains Baker. At that point, call the doctor and give the child a fever reducer like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (but never aspirin, which may result in a rare but life-threatening condition in kids called Reye's syndrome). Baker adds that sometimes if your little one really feels bad, you may decide to lower the fever with medication simply to make her feel better.

Outdated Cold and Flu Tactic No. 3: Feed a fever, starve a cold.
New Approach: Drink up!
Feed a fever, starve a cold is definitely an old wives' tale, explains Costabile. The truth is that kids may not feel like eating when they're sick. But it's very important that they drink, especially if they're running a fever, because that makes them burn through calories faster.

"The immune system works better when it's hydrated rather than dehydrated," says Costabile. When cells are dehydrated, they contract, explains Baker. Achy muscles will feel worse, and loss of fluids causes headaches. Get kids to drink anything, according to their preferences, but encourage beverages that contain water, sodium and other salts. Electrolyte drinks are best, but if all the child will drink is soft drinks for two days, that's OK, says Baker.

Then offer up the old standby: chicken noodle soup. Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center completed a study that shows that this time-tested favorite does, in fact, make sick people feel better. "There's nothing special about it in terms of magic antiviral activity," says Baker. "But when you feel bad, you want someone to sympathize with you and love you. Chicken noodle soup works for me.”

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