Home Germ Inspection: Unexpected hot spots in your home
We all try our best to maintain a clean, healthy living space for ourselves and our families. But there are many germs lingering around our homes that we could be missing.
Of course it’s impossible to avoid coming into contact with all germs and viruses but if you are aware of what is in your home, you have a better chance of defending against them. Here are some of the hot spots in your home you may not have considered:
Hand towels
In home bathrooms with heavy foot traffic, shared cloth towels are often damp and germy due to overuse. Even if a towel looks clean, it may have viral, bacterial or fungal contaminants which can be transferred to hands when drying them. Health Canada recommends not using a common hand towel to dry hands. Instead, use a one-time use towel so you know you are getting a clean, fresh, dry towel every time.
Pet food dishes
Pets don’t always practise good hygiene, nor do we when it comes to their dishes. Pet bowls are often left unwashed for longer than they should be and as a result they collect germs and bacteria. Be sure to wash Fido’s dishes regularly to keep both pets and family members healthy.
Light switches and door knobs
Light switches (including lamp switches) and door knobs see a lot of hand traffic each day and that makes them a hot spot for germs. Cleaning them off regularly – once a week when people are healthy or daily if someone is ill – with antibacterial wipes or sprays will help keep the spread of germs down.
Purses, briefcases and backpacks
When we are out and about we often place our bags on the floors of restaurants, offices and even public washrooms. By doing this our bags can pick up all kinds of germs and bacteria, so make sure you wipe off bags regularly to avoid tracking contaminants into the home.
Salt, pepper and spices
Most of us are good about making sure the utensils, cutting boards and plates we use when cooking are properly cleaned to avoid the spread of bacteria like salmonella. But what about spices, and salt and pepper shakers? Make sure whatever you touch when you are handling raw food gets a proper wipe down to avoid any unnecessary illness.
Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com
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