If you dropped a piece of fruit in your
kitchen sink while rinsing it, would you
think twice about popping it in your
mouth? What if you dropped it in the
toilet?Although the mere thought of
retrieving anything from the toilet bowl may be enough to make you sick,
your toilet may actually be cleaner than
your kitchen sink. And that is a fact. It would interest you to know that
germs live in some of the unexpected
spots — like your kitchen sink. Food
particles from plates left to soak or
rinsed from dishes, turn kitchen sinks
into perfect breeding grounds for some of the deadliest germs known. From
here illness-causing bacteri, including E.
coli and salmonella can get on your
hands or spread to foods. Dirty places: The kitchen sink rules
Most people take decisive steps to
sanitise and disinfect their toilet bowls,
scrubbing and wiping several times in
the day, yet few give their kitchen sinks
the same consideration. They simply rinse with water and assume they are
clean. But they’re not. Worse still, quite
a large number of napkins, wiping
cloths and sponges used in kitchens are
heavily contaminated with harmful
bacteria, meaning proper clean-up can be difficult. In one particular study, independent
environmental scientists found that 90
percent of kitchen cloths, 46 percent of
kitchen sinks, 38 percent of bathroom
sinks and 14 percent of children’s toys
in 20 homes with children in the US, UK, Germany, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia
and India, failed the test. They had a
total bacteria count of more than
100,000 per square centimeter. Toilet and kitchen sink Generally, there is a lack of appreciation
that kitchen sinks can be contaminated
with fecal organisms, either coming in
with fruit and vegetables or from pets
and children. Tip: Wash sink with a
solution of bleach and water once a day and then let the solution run down the
drain. Remove the drain plug and clean
it, too. Sterilise sponges with a one-
minute high-powered blast in the
microwave. Or simply forget sponges
entirely and clean food spills with a paper towel and dump it. Then wash
your hands. Other dirty places in the home Your toothbrush You put it in your mouth twice a day.
You rinse it off after using it and put it
away damp, but do you ever think of
all the germs lurking on it? Bacteria like
the moist area and grow on it. If you
keep your toothbrush in the toilet, it could be contaminated for at least two
hours after each flush. Tip:Place your toothbrush where it can
air out and dry between uses — but
not too close to the toilet. Replace your
toothbrush often, particularly after
you’ve been sick, and close your toilet
lid before flushing. Salt and pepper shaker Tests on 30 salt and pepper shakers
found viruses on 41 percent of the
surfaces tested, and every one of
shakers tested were positive for cold
viruses. Tip: When you wipe the kitchen table
after eating, wipe off the salt and
pepper shaker too. Wash your hands —
before and after. TV remote control It’s dropped on the floor, stuffed
between the sofa cushions, coughed on
and sneezed at. Everyone in the house
handles it. Anything people touch a lot
has germs on it. The remote control’s
surface is among the germiest. Tip: Wipe your remote with bleach or
alcohol wipes. Regular hand-washing is
the best way to protect you against
these germs. Computer keyboard If you eat at your computer, sneeze on
your keyboard, or sit down to surf the
Internet without first washing your
hands, your computer keyboard could
be a health hazard. Tip: Wash your hands before and after
using your computer. If you must eat at
your desk, don’t drop crumbs into your
keyboard. Gently shake out the crumbs
or vacuum it. Wipe the keys with
alcohol or bleach wipes, but nothing too wet. Wipe the mouse. The bathtub The place where you clean yourself is
not so clean itself. Staphylococcus
bacteria is found in 26 percent of tubs. Tip: Clean and disinfect your tub with
bleach or bathroom cleaner after
bathing, then dry with a clean towel. Wash your hands Lots of germs are harmless; many are
even good for your health. But you can
help protect yourself from those that
aren’t by keeping your hands clean.
Hands transfer bacteria and viruses to
eyes, nose, and mouth. They can also transfer germs to others. Regular hand
washing with soap and water is the
best protection.
By Shola Ogundipe
www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/your-toilet-may-be-cleaner-than-your-kitchen-sink/