Places germs thrive in your home
Keeping the house germ free contributes towards better health for all the members of the family, especially that of your children whose immune systems are still developing. A germ free and clean house also gives a sense of cleanliness.
Here is a guide on germ breeding places around your house and how to keep them clean:
Kitchen sinks
Dr Umarashid Guloba at Makerere University Business School Clinic says normally, when people think about household germs, they think of the toilet. The truth is your kitchen is probably dirtier. Sponges and dishrags are common hosts for bacteria because of the damp environment and scraps of microscopic food. Drains and sink bowls are also common germ spots.
How to Clean
• Pour hot water mixed with bleach or bleaching powder down the sink drain. Allow it to stay for a minimum of half an hour before washing it down.
• Scrub down your sink every time you finish the dishes with a drop of dish detergent.
TV Remotes and Controllers
Solomon Mugisha, a cleaner, says; TV remotes are dropped on the floor, coughed on, sneezed on, and touched by everybody in the house. It is a common breeding-ground for germs and is seldom cleaned.
How to Clean
Use alcohol or sanitising wipes. Maintain a clean remote with good hand-washing habits and a weekly wipe down.
Others
Towels
Beacuse they are usually kept when damp, towels can transfer germs to your clean body.
How to keep clean
• Put your towels in the sun to dry after your bath every day.
Door knobs
These are used by many people everyday and usually with dirty hands.
How to keep clean
• While deep cleaning a room, make sure you spray the door knob with a cleaning spray and wipe it clean.
Laptop
These have keyboards that trap dust.
How to keep clean
• Unplug your laptop. Wipe the lid and the bottom with a damp cloth.
• Carefully wipe the screen with a soft dust cloth.
• Use a dust remover spray to gently dislodge the dust in between the keys.
Mattresses
If you are not cleaning your mattress regularly, dirt, dust mites, dead skin, bodily fluids, bacteria and bugs are a cause for concern.
How to keep clean
• Air dry your mattresses every month especially during the rainy season.
• Dry clean the mattresses every year.
• Replace old mattresses once in five years.
Other items to consider
Fridge handles
Dr Guloba says fridge handles also breed germs. This, he says, is due to the fact that many people, especially children, use the fridge without washing their hands. Also, when items spill in hard-to-reach places inside the fridge and it is not cleaned thoroughly, they become breeding spots for germs that eventually lead to infections.
Other electrical appliances that act as germ-breeding spots and are sometimes ignored are blenders and microwaves.
Dr Guloba advises washing your blender well after use and allowing it to dry before storing. Wipe the microwave with a damp cloth after every use and leave the door open until the microwave is dry.
How to clean
• Turn off power from the main switch before starting to clean.
• Wear your rubber slippers to avoid shock.
Take a damp cloth with a drop of dish detergent and wipe down the switches.
•Make sure the switches are completely dry before turning them on again.
Toothbrush holders
Cheptoris Ashar, a dentist at Sinai Dental Practice in Kamwokya advises that just like your dentist recommends changing your toothbrush after every three months, it is equally healthy to clean the toothbrush holder.
“When you don’t change your toothbrush after three months, they do not only begin to attract germs but the holder where they are kept also begins to store germs,” Ashar explains, adding that cleaning your toothbrush holder should be a daily routine, just like brushing your teeth.
Tips
Clean the kitchen before the bathroom. The sink and shower should be cleaned before the toilet.
Separate cleaning cloths for the kitchen, bathroom, the toilet and the bath/sink.
