Getting rid of germs around the house

Adrianna Mejia

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Getting rid of germs around the house
Some germs make your family more susceptible to illness. Here’s a guide to cleaning up the most germ-prone parts of your house

MANILA, Philippines – Your home is your family’s safe place.

It’s where you can be yourself. It’s where you start if you want your children to grow up happy and healthy.

To make your home safe and comfortable for your loved ones, you’ve got to keep it clean and tidy at all times.

There are practical benefits to maintaining a clean home. It’s difficult to welcome unexpected guests when your home isn’t tidy. One study suggests that clutter affects your ability to focus on important things.

But aside from these, a dirty home gives microbes or harmful germs more room to spread.

Though germs are invisible and we cannot actually observe them as they multiply, your kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom could already be full of them. Not all germs are bad, but when your family gets exposed to certain germs, they can get sick.

Having germs in the house is inevitable, but you can always do something about it. Put time and effort into keeping your entire house clean and safe for your family.

Pay attention to these areas where germs are most likely to thrive:

Bathroom

Children equate bath time with playtime. But when you think of how the bathroom’s moist environment becomes a breeding ground for germs, you might reconsider letting your child stay in the bath for a long time. (READ: Your toilet and personal health: What’s the connection?)

Let your kids enjoy bath time and keep your bathroom clean with these steps:

  • Put down the toilet cover every time you flush
  • Disinfect countertops, the sink, and the toilet with specialized toilet cleaners
  • Air out the bathroom after use to prevent the growth of mold
  • Replace towels every other day

Kitchen

The largest amount of germs can be found in the kitchen. We place raw food on countertops when preparing meals, the sink is used to clean utensils, plates, and food items, and there’s always waste present.

Keep your kitchen clean with these tips:

  • Replace your sponges every week to avoid bacteria build up, or wash them with hot water if you can’t replace them weekly
  • Use separate knives and cutting boards for raw food and ingredients
  • Disinfect your sink and countertops regularly with a product that has bleach to effectively kill bacteria
  • Wash your hands when handling different types of food
  • Clean any spills immediately
  • Avoid blockages and residue build up in pipes by unclogging your sink regularly

Bedroom

The bedroom is where your family rests to regain their strength and energy. But a germ-filled bedroom may have the opposite effect – shelves, furniture, and toys can all gather dust, which may trigger allergies or asthma.

To keep bedrooms clean, wipe down the floor and surfaces regularly to decrease dust build up. Change bed covers and pillow cases every week. To kill any existing germs, avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals especially for your children’s rooms.

Beyond the home: school grounds and your backyard

You can’t prevent your family from being exposed to germs outside of the home. But you can teach them proper habits to protect themselves.

Teach your children to wash their hands properly before and after eating or using the bathroom. This will instill discipline and also teach them to be independent when it comes to personal hygiene.

A clean home isn’t just nice to look at. It’s also a place where your children can learn and grow with less threat from germ-related illnesses. What’s more, your children can learn from your example and develop good personal hygiene habits for life. – Rappler.com 

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