If germs and bacteria are running rife in your home, then it could be time to tackle them and protect your health. This is especially important if there are vulnerable individuals in your household, such as very young children or the elderly. While some bacteria can present a very real threat to your health, it’s important to realise that the issue is easily tackled and need not cost you the earth, either. Here are some simple and cost-effective ways of fighting household bacteria:
Let your toothbrush dry thoroughly between uses:
Did you know that each time the toilet is flushed and the lid isn’t down, a plume of dirty water is sent sometimes as high as 15 feet into the air, and whatever is left out in the vicinity can attract and retain that soiled, germ laden fluid. If your toothbrush is kept next to the sink and close to the toilet, then there’s every chance that it’s becoming soaked with bacteria every single time the toilet is flushed. One simple solution is to store your toothbrush in a cupboard where it’s not exposed to the toilet debris but can still dry out thoroughly.
Sanitize your cell phone:
You may not realise just how dirty your hands are, but if you were to perform a swab test on the touch screen of your cell phone, you’d be shocked to find out how many harmful germs are lurking there. Even if you’re a hand washer, there’s no way that you would wash your hands before every time you use your phone, especially not when you consider that the average person touches their phone up to 50 times a day. To prevent too many germs from accumulating on your phone, wipe it with a moist (but not wet) disinfected cloth, sponge or specially designed sanitizing cloth at least every couple of days.
Don’t neglect your television remote controller:
In much the same way that your mobile phone can gather germs, so can your television remote control. Clean your remote at least once a week to eliminate harmful germs and be sure to get in between all the buttons, too; use a Q-tip dipped in a cleaning solution to do this effectively.
Steam clean your wooden floors:
While hardwood floors are less prone to attracting germs and bacteria than rugs or carpets, they can still get grubby and hold on to potentially harmful microbes. For instance, if you walk into your home wearing shoes that you’ve worn outside, then whatever you might have stepped in outside, can easily be transferred to your floors, not to mention the dirt from pet paws and other grime. For this reason, it’s a good idea to sanitize wooden floors with a steam cleaner, at least once a month to prevent anything untoward from breeding on them.
Wash rugs and carpets at least twice a year:
Carpets and rugs can attract and retain more harmful bacteria than your toilet, surprisingly, and while you don’t eat your meals off your floors, it’s still a good idea to keep then hygienically clean by cleaning them either at home, or professionally, at least once every six months.
Eliminating all household bacteria can be tough and time consuming, but if you hire a cleaner to help you, the hard work will be greatly reduced and you’ll feel far more protected from germs while enjoying time in your home.