Beware of the Germy Stuff You Touch Every Day!
Household Items with the Most Bacteria, According to Goryachev
While we go about our daily lives, we unknowingly come into contact with loads of germs lurking on common objects around us. This article sheds light on the primary culprits and offers advice on how to keep them at bay.
According to Alexander Gorachev, an expert in public health and disease prevention, there are numerous objects in our surroundings that attract plenty of microorganisms, such as light switches, door handles, remotes, kitchen cloths and sponges. These often become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and viruses that can lead to infections.
Particularly risky are handrails in public transport, payment terminals, and elevator buttons. Since they're frequently touched, they accumulate flu viruses and bacteria responsible for gastrointestinal infections. That's why touching one and then your face could potentially make you sick.
To safeguard yourself from diseases, Gorachev suggests being mindful of where you place dirty objects around your kitchen, frequently disinfecting your hands and items, and paying special attention to toys kids pass around, as they can be a petri dish for germs.
Another good practice is to wash your underwear and clothing that touches your body daily, and keep coat hangers away from food preparation areas, to minimize contamination.
Washing hands is crucial; Gorachev recommends doing it six to ten times a day to avoid drying and irritation. Be sure to wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, and after touching animals or cleaning—and don't forget to remove your jewelry before washing to prevent the accumulation of microorganisms.
When drying your hands, use paper towels instead of cloth towels, since they're more hygienic. If you're out and don't have access to soap and water, alcohol wipes and antiseptics can be a quick solution, but they can't replace a good soap-and-water hand wash.
Remember, by following simple hygiene practices and regularly disinfecting items we frequently interact with, we can significantly reduce the chances of getting sick from those pesky germs!
Details to Consider:
- Daily Life Items: Regularly touched items like mobile phones, computer keyboards, remote controls, doorknobs, and handrails are breeding grounds for germs.
- Kitchen Utensils and Clothing: Food preparation areas can harbor bacteria like Listeria, while clothing and bedding may carry molds and yeasts, especially if they're damp.
- Sharing: Sharing personal items like towels, makeup brushes, and razors can spread germs, while sharing toys between kids can lead to the spread of viruses and parasites.
- Hand Hygiene: Regularly washing hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds, avoiding dryness and eczema, and using alcohol wipes or antiseptics as alternatives is essential for good health.
- Food Safety: Always wash raw vegetables under running water and cook food thoroughly to prevent foodborne infections.
- Maintain Clean Environments: Regular cleaning, especially in damp areas like bathrooms and kitchens, will prevent mold and yeast growth.
- Disinfection Practices: Frequently clean high-touch surfaces with disinfectants, disinfect kitchen tools and utensils, and isolate and wash contaminated clothing or bedding.
- Despite our daily interactions with objects teeming with microorganisms, one can lessen the chances of contracting diseases by frequently disinfecting hands and items.
- Commonly touched items such as mobile phones, computer keyboards, remote controls, and handrails, if not regularly disinfected, can become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and viruses.
- Kitchen utensils and clothing that come into contact with our body can also harbor harmful bacteria like Listeria and mold or yeast spores, respectively.
- Sharing personal items like towels, makeup brushes, and razors, as well as toys between kids, is a significant source of germ transmission, potentially spreading viruses and parasites.
- Maintaining good personal hygiene is crucial, with regular hand washing using warm water and soap for 20 seconds being essential to prevent foodborne illnesses and other infections.
- Personal finance plays a role in maintaining good health, as the cost of medical conditions, chronic diseases, respiratory conditions, and even mental health therapies and treatments can be mitigated with proper planning and management.
