Keeping bacteria at bay

Bacteria can be a source of both illness and anxiety in the home. Eating from dirty surfaces can cause stomach upsets and over time, you may become paranoid about the dirt growing in your house. Bacteria spreads rapidly. In certain conditions, it can divide every 20 minutes.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to prevent bacteria growing in your home. First, you have to identify problem areas!

The dirtiest areas in your home and how to clean them

The Kitchen – Dish towels and sponges can cause problems due to the moisture they hold. The kitchen sink needs lots of attention, as the faucets and fittings can easily attract dirt and should be kept under control.

How to clean: Wash your sink and drainage area with a solution of bleach and water. Let the solution drain and then rinse the sink off. Finally, wash your hands to make sure you don’t carry the bleach elsewhere. Wipe down worktops with anti-bacterial wipes. Every so often, you’ll need to do a deep clean of the kitchen to really get things in tip top shape. If you’re in an office environment, I think it’s worthwhile getting a professional cleaner to come in once a month to thoroughly clean the space, including all cooking tools, coffee machines and the fridge. If no one takes responsibility for these areas, they can wind up getting really dirty and become a health risk – which is not what you want, especially at work.

The Bathroom – The bathroom is full of danger for bacteria build-up. Even your toothbrush can become dangerous if you leave it near the toilet, where the spray from the flush throws up bacteria and virus-ridden water droplets into the air.

How to clean: Towel down wet areas after use. Clean your surfaces with disinfectant wipes such as Azo Wipes from Premier Healthcare. Store your toothbrush somewhere it can air out but away from the toilet. Replace it frequently, especially after being ill.

Home Office – Your computer can be a source of lots of nasty germs. You sneeze, eat, cough and more at your desk without realising it. There can be a huge concentration of germs growing on your keyboard at any one time without you knowing it.

How to clean: wash your hands before and after using your PC. If you’re eating at the desk, make sure you don’t spill crumbs into the keyboard. You should clean your keyboard frequently by using a vacuum on the keys. You can use wipes on the keyboard but ensure the PC is off before doing so, and make sure the keys aren’t too wet or they’ll disrupt the electricity. You should also wipe the mouse.

General tips for objects

There are some other easy tips you should be aware of when cleaning the home.

• Where possible, use disposable cloths or paper towels. Disinfect any reusable towels.
• Wash any brushes you use for washing up with detergent.
• Limescale should be removed from problem areas with a descaling product.
• Clean floors to remove visible dirt with warm water and detergent.
• Regularly throw rubbish away instead of keeping it in the home to avoid pests and bacteria building up.