Bacteria In The Household
Do you know where the germs and bacteria really love to hang out in your home? Some areas of the home are cleaned frequently as a matter of course as we know or assume they are dirty; toilets are an obvious example of an area that most people pay close attention to when cleaning.
There are however many more unexpected areas within our homes where germs are likely to be lurking at any given time. What’s more, given optimal conditions they are perfectly capable of dividing and multiplying at an alarming rate!
A healthy immune system is well equipped to cope with the majority of microorganisms we are exposed to, but some germs, bacteria and viruses are not quite so easy to fight off. It is important to be aware of the most problematic areas in the home where germs are likely to build up, as by cleaning them regularly, we are able to win the battle against germs and avoid illness.
The following items and areas in your home are usually the worst offenders:
COMPUTER KEYBOARDS
As an item that is right up there with the most frequently handled in your home, computer keyboards are typically one of the most germ-loaded surfaces in the home.
Various members of the household sit down at the computer without washing their hands, leading to a whole host of unwelcome germs and bacteria including E.Coli and staphylococcus making themselves at home on your keyboard.
Eating over your keyboard and dropping crumbs and residue over it, contributes to poor hygiene on the surface. Cold viruses are often present too, due to people sneezing over the keys and wiping their nose whilst using the computer (without washing their hands). The keyboard may not be the easiest surface to clean but it is nonetheless important to tackle this area regularly, to remove bacteria.
It is essential to keep the surface as dry as possible, so crumbs and dust can be removed by hovering very gently with a small brush attachment and then the area can be cleansed thoroughly with a disinfecting wipe containing either bleach or alcohol.
REMOTE CONTROLS
The chances are, it has been a long time, (if ever) since you cleaned the remote controls in your home, but these regularly handled devices are usually harboring all manner of germs, having been coughed and sneezed over, dropped on the floor and handled with sticky paws.
Give them a regular once over with an alcohol wipe, taking care to work your way around all of those fiddly buttons to keep your remote controls clean and hygienic, free from unwanted germs and bacteria.
DISH CLOTHS & SPONGES
These items are in regular use, taking care of a variety of different tasks and they create an excellent breeding ground for germs because they are so good at retaining moisture. Regularly soaking your cloths and sponges in a disinfectant solution to rid them of any bacteria they are harboring will prevent germs from spreading around your kitchen surfaces and utensils whilst you are cleaning.
THE KITCHEN SINK
Kitchen sinks are often overlooked when it comes to disinfecting and despite that people tend to think of the sink as being clean, this is often not the case. Bacteria deriving from food particles and residue thrive in many kitchen sinks and it is not unusual for sinks to contain traces of E.Coli and salmonella, even when they appear relatively clean to the naked eye.
Taking care to sanitise your sink regularly as part of your cleaning regime with an appropriate disinfectant will banish unwanted bacteria, preventing these germs from spreading and potentially making members of your household ill.
KEEPING THINGS CLEAN IS EASY
By washing our hands with soap on a regular basis and making good use of all of the incredible cleaning products we have at our disposal, including sanitizers and disinfectants, it is easy to keep our home environments clean and hygienic.