Tips to a Healthy Home

Even the tidiest of homes can harbour unwelcome germs which could spread potential illness and make you unwell. So what can you do to prevent the build-up of bad bacteria, stop the spread harmful of germs at home and keep your family healthy?

You don’t need to tackle the entire house straight away but there are certain areas that require a little more attention when it comes to home hygiene. We’ve taken a look at the key trouble spots and put together some house cleaning tips which will help to protect your family’s health.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, and this is certainly the case when it comes to germs. Research shows that the kitchen contains more germs than any other room in the house, so take note of the following house cleaning tips to up your kitchen hygiene, and keep your family protected from illness causing germs.

• Damp sponges and cloths harbour bacteria and act as a breeding ground for germs if they are not cleaned and stored properly. You don’t want to be washing your plates with a dirty sponge, or wiping harmful germs onto your worktop so it’s important to sanitise your kitchen sponge or cloth after use, and to change them regularly.
• The kitchen sink comes into contact with a lot of potentially harmful germs. Washing or preparing raw food, cleaning dirty utensils and rinsing contaminated cloths/sponges will all leave their fair share of germs behind. Disinfect your sink, tap and surrounding surfaces regularly to prevent the build-up of harmful germs.
• Worktops, chopping boards and any surfaces used for food preparation can easily become contaminated with bacteria. Make you prepare cooked and raw foods separately, disinfecting the area afterwards with a clean cloth and disinfectant cleaner or a disposable disinfectant wipe.
• The rubbish bin is a hotbed for harmful germs so regularly clean and disinfect the bin itself both inside and out, and remember to wash your hands after you have emptied the rubbish bag.
• Practice good hand hygiene in the kitchen by washing your hands regularly with water and soap such as Dettol Gold.

The Bathroom

Although the bathroom doesn’t harbour as many germs as the kitchen, warm and damp conditions make it the perfect breeding ground for germs, so keeping it clean can be a challenge. Luckily a few small changes to your house cleaning routine can make a big difference in helping to keep your bathroom safe for you and your family to use.

• Regularly wipe down sinks, toilet seats, taps, toilet flush, baths and shower walls with disinfectant cleaners or wipes to kill germs and prevent the build-up of mould.
• Store tooth brushes separately so that the bristles don’t touch, this will stop spreading bacteria between people. Replace your toothbrush regularly, especially after illness because germs can remain even if you have recovered.
• Always close the toilet lid before you flush to prevent polluted water vapour from escaping into the air. This will contain nasty bacteria which could result in illness.
• Wash your cleaning cloths, flannels and towels on a hot wash (60 degrees +) to rid them of germs. For extra protection against germs you can add Dettol Antiseptic Liquid to your laundry.
• Clean your hands thoroughly after using the toilet using Dettol Gold and water to get rid of any germs and prevent passing on potential illness between family members.

Surfaces in the home

The following surfaces in the home are hotbeds for germs because they are constantly being touched by lots of different hands, for a quick germ blitz try wiping them down with a disinfectant wipe.

• Doorknobs
• Mobile phones
• Television Remotes
• Computer keyboards

Maintaining a clean and hygienic home environment might seem a little overwhelming, but a few small additions to your house cleaning regime can make a big difference when it comes to protecting your family from illness-causing germs. Make use of products such as Dettol Antiseptic Liquid. Dettol Hygiene Liquid provides expert protection against more than 100 illness-causing germs and can be used on many surfaces in your home for infection control purposes and for general disinfection. Dettol Disinfectant liquid can also be used for personal hygiene, always use as directed.