How to Control the Spread of Germs at Home

It’s impossible to completely rid your home of germs. However, if you want to keep your family safe, it’s important to control the spread of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Germs commonly found in houses include MRSA, E. Coli, Norovirus and clostridium difficile. If you’re not sure how best to prevent a buildup of bugs in your household, take a look at the following tips. Regular and thorough cleaning is a must First and foremost, stock up on cleaning and hygiene products. Having the right resources to hand makes keeping your property spic and span much easier. It’s now easy to buy a range of hygiene and medical supplies, including antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizers, detergents and more. Bear in mind that when you clean surfaces in your home, it’s important to dry them thoroughly afterwards because any remaining water can serve as a breeding ground for germs. Disinfect and dry your cloths and sponges too. In the space of just eight hours, one bacterium on a damp cloth can multiply to six million. Focus on the danger areas for germs when you’re cleaning too. For example, your bathroom and kitchen should be your main focus of attention, and it’s important to keep the floors throughout your home free from dirt. Also, if one of your family members falls ill with an infectious illness like a cold, the flu or a stomach bug, take extra care to sanitise your home. Try to keep your kids’ toys clean too. Plastic items should be washed on a regular basis, and bear in mind that many soft toys can be cleaned in the washing machine. Encourage regular hand washing Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently. You should make sure your tots wash after going to the toilet and before and after they handle food. Getting them into good habits from an early age can help to control the spread of germs around your home. Take care in the kitchen Certain foods should raise alarm bells when it comes to germs too. For example, fish and meat, particularly raw poultry, must be handled with care. Always wash and dry your hands after handling these high-risk products, and clean down your surfaces immediately after use. It’s also best to use separate chopping boards for meat and vegetables.  Be pedantic when it comes to your pets Pets may look cute, but they often have more than their fair share of germs. Cats and dogs can be particularly problematic because they are often given virtually free rein within homes. Whether you have a feline or a canine companion, or indeed any other type of pet, make sure you wash your hands after you’ve handled them or touched their food, toys, litter trays or other objects. Also, keep pet food away from human food and store any dishes, tin openers and other products that you use for pet food separately. You’ll never be able to eliminate germs from your home, but by following basic principles like these, you can boost hygiene and help to keep your family safe.   
This post is brought to you in association with Steroplast.