Tips to a Healthy Home

Keeping the home spic and span is a tough task, but even the tidiest of homes can still be a little unclean – they can harbor illness-causing germs. So how can you prevent the build-up of bad bacteria, and keep yourself and your family safe from harmful germs?

There is no need to tackle the entire house right away, but you could start with a few key areas that need more attention than others. You could start with the following trouble spots with the help of this handy house cleaning tip sheet:

The Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it is also at the heart of germ attack in the house. Research shows that the kitchen contains more germs than the rest of the house, so the following house cleaning tips can up the ante on your kitchen hygiene game.

• Damp cloths and sponges allow bacteria to settle and breed if they are not cleaned and stored properly. You may end up washing your plates with a dirty sponge, or wiping harmful germs on to a clean worktop. It is important to sanitize your kitchen sponge after use, and to change it regularly.
• The kitchen sink contains several potentially harmful germs. These arise out of washing raw food, cleaning dirty utensils and rinsing dirty sponges in the sink. Be sure to disinfect your sink, tap and the surrounding surfaces regularly to prevent germ build-up.
• Worktops, chopping boards and all surfaces used for food preparation can easily become contaminated. Make sure you prepare cooked and raw foods separately, and that you disinfect the area afterwards with a clean cloth and disinfectant cleaner or disinfectant wipe.
• The trash can is a hotbed of harmful germs. Do disinfect the bin regularly both inside and out, and wash your hands after you empty the garbage bag.
• Practice good hand hygiene in the kitchen – wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap.

The Bathroom

The bathroom certainly does not harbor as many germs as the kitchen does. But there is no denying the fact that it creates warm and moist conditions for bacteria to breed in. Though keeping it clean can be a challenge, you can add a few small changes to your bathroom cleaning routine to make a difference to its cleanliness levels.

• Regularly wipe down toilet seats, sinks, taps, flush knob, bath areas, shower rails and walls with disinfectant cleaners or wipes to kill germs and prevent mold build-up.
• Store tooth brushes separately so that the bristles of one don’t touch those of another. This will stop the spread of bacteria between family members. Replace your toothbrush once the bristles go awry, and especially after you have been ill.
• Always put down the toilet lid before flushing so that polluted water vapor does not escape into the air. It contains nasty bacteria which causes illness.
• Clean the cleaning cloths and towels in hot water (60 degrees or more) to rid them of germs.
• Clean your hands thoroughly after using the toilet with Dettol hand wash and running water to for premium germ protection.

Other Surfaces

Some surfaces in the home are hotbeds of infectious germs, since they are constantly touched by different hands. Give these areas a quick germ blitz or a wipe down with a disinfectant wipe.

• Doorknobs
• Mobile phones
• Television Remotes
• Computer keyboards

Maintaining a hygienic home environment only takes a few additions, and regular practice can perfect a house cleaning regime that can make a big difference to your family’s health. Use cleaning products such as Dettol Antiseptic Liquid which is a versatile cleaner with infection-control properties.