How Clean is Your House?

Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. Coli are all unfriendly forms of bacteria. In fact one of these bad bacteria can multiply into 7 million cells in as little as 24 hours. Germs can spread fast, sickness can be transferred and infections can spread from a number items such as cutting boards, light switches and door knobs, but there are a host of other unlikely places in the home which breed germs. Thankfully there are precautions that can be taken to minimise the risk of germs spreading. How to Fight Germs in Your Home Kitchen sponges are home to millions of germs which can make you unwell. Unfortunately one of the main reasons that make them such good cleaning devices actually also makes them the perfect breeding ground for germs. The micro-crevices on a sponge protect them from disinfectant. To eliminate germs on sponges you can simply put them in a microwave for a couple minutes. Cross contamination is one of the main causes of germs and sickness spreading in homes. For example, you could wipe down a kitchen top which has meat juice on it, rinse the sponge with water and re-use it on something else later. What you actually have to do to ensure bacteria do not spread is to wipe the kitchen top down with a proper kitchen cleaner or homemade solution consisting of lemon juice and vinegar. Germ Filled Places in Your Home The kitchen sink is one dirty place, food and dishes are cleaned in it and sometimes liquid waste is thrown down the drain. In a typical sink there can be as many as 500,000 bacteria per square inch. In order to keep it as clean as possible you should clean it using disinfectant at least twice a week. Dirty underwear can spread E. Coli and contaminate rest of your washing, to make sure you are not infecting the rest of your clothes, wash your underwear separately. Also immediately dry your underwear as soon as possible to ensure all E. Coli is gone. Staphylococcus bacteria is a common cause of serious skin infections and is commonly found in bath tubs, which can typically hold more than 100,000 bacteria per square inch. This type of bacteria is actually a less drug resistant form of MRSA which is found in hospitals. Other bad bacteria can also be the cause of a number of illnesses such as sinusitis, fatigue, nausea, depression, dermatitis, sore throats and food poisoning. To ensure your bath is as clean as possible give it a good scrub at least once or twice per week using a good bathroom cleaner. It's hot and steamy the bathroom is a haven for bacteria. If you do not put the lid down before you flush the vapour from faeces and urine can be shot up into the air and nestle on your toothbrush, soap and towels, which is highly unhygienic and can spread germs very quickly. All you have to do to combat this is to put the lid down before you flush. There are lot of other places that house bacteria such as remote controls, mobile phones, switches, handles and door knobs. These are the places where germs and sickness can easily spread because multiple people touch them. To help minimise the spread of germs go around with some disinfectant wipes once a week to ensure they are clean. Another good tip is when you come home from wherever you have been; remember to wash your hands immediately for a good 20 seconds using antibacterial soap. This way you wash away all the nasty germs you may have picked up from public places. The Top 10 Most Bacteria Filled Places (Bacteria Per Sq. Inch) 1. The toilet bowl is number one with around 3 million bacteriarn 2. Kitchen drains house about 560,000rn 3. A kitchen sponge or wiping cloth has over 130,000 bacteriarn 4. An average bath can have over 100,000 bacteriarn 5. A kitchen sink is considered cleaner than a bath with around 17,000rn 6. The kitchen faucet is a favourite for bacteria with over 13,000rn 7. A bathroom faucet is unexpectedly cleaner with 6,000rn 8. The sink in a bathroom has about 2,700, which is about 6 times less than a kitchen sinkrn 9. Considering how bad pet food dishes smell they only have around 2,000rn 10. The kitchen floor at any given moment can have around 830rn