Stay healthy by keeping bacteria at bay
Posted by Knowledge Guy in Family and Home Life, Health and Well-Being, Hobbies and Activities, Infants and Child Care, Medical and Doctors, Parenting and Child Raising, Society Issues, Technology and Science, tags: Amount Of Time, Antibacterial Soaps, Bacteria, Cleaning Agents, Computer Keyboard, Fingers, Freezer, Germs, Hand Washing, Kitchen Table, Long Fingernails, Microorganisms, Person To Person, Phone Computer, Refrigerator, Sinks, Soap And Water, Sponge, Two Minutes, VirusesStay healthy by keeping bacteria at bay
Bacteria
We all know that most bacteria are not good for us. In fact, bacteria are those microorganisms that cause germs and viruses to attack our bodies.
For this reason, it is only logically that we try to avoid bacteria as much as possible. This means we need to clean our homes better. We need to wash our hands more. Plus, we definitely need to be careful in the kitchen as we prepare foods and clean.
We also need to learn all we can about how to keep from spreading this bacteria from person to person and place to place. In learning how to do this, we can also learn the easiest practices in doing so.
First, let’s start with the easiest task we all can do, wash our hands.
This may sound easy enough, at first. But most of us are not washing our hands correctly and we are not washing our hands for the amount of time we should.
Getting our hands wet with water is not enough to kill bacteria. We need to be using soap. We don’t have to buy fancy soaps. We don’t even have to use antibacterial soaps. But we need to be using a soap of some sort.
Next, we need to make sure that soap gets in between our fingers and around the beds of our fingernails. Women, who have long fingernails, should also wash underneath them.
Finally, we need to wash for at least a minute, preferably two minutes. As we are washing, we need to be gently rubbing our hands together with the soap and water to help loosen any bacteria that may be on our skin.
Hand washing is a good first step in learning how to stop the spread of bacteria. Another step we should do is to actually look around our home at the places that could easily be harboring bacteria germs. Some places that need to be washed regularly with a damp sponge and antibacterial cleaning agents are:
Doorknobs
The refrigerator and freezer handles
Faucets (sinks and tubs)
The toilet handle
Your phone (including your cell phone)
Computer keyboard
The Kitchen table
The kitchen counters
The bathroom sink
We also need to learn how to handle our foods properly.
Once we get home from the grocery store, all refrigerated and freezer items should be put away immediately.
You should use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables (even though you clean them).
You should wash all of your fresh fruits and vegetables.
We should make sure that we do not reuse a knife or other kitchen utensil that came in contact with any uncooked meats before washing.
Yet, the kitchen is not the only one room in your home that contains bacteria and it lurks everywhere in every corner. For this reason, we should be aware of some additional hiding places for bacteria that most of us may never even consider.
Our toothbrush harbors tons of bacteria. Think about it. You use it at least twice a day to remove bacteria and germs from your mouth (hopefully). Isn’t this reason enough for it to be filled with bacteria. You could replace it weekly. Yet, if you want to save money by some ordinary hydrogen peroxide. Fill a cup about half full with it and fill the half with water. Now soak your toothbrush for a few minutes. Rinse and reuse.
Did you ever notice a strange smell coming from your sink drain? What you smell are bad bacteria. Want to kill it without spending a lot of money? Mix one teaspoon of bleach to a quart of water and pour down that drain. Soon it will sell a lot better and the bacteria will be dead.
Love your sponge or sponges? Do you use them until they won’t soak up anything, anymore? Then you can believe that there are bacteria hiding in them. Don’t worry. Just stick them in the microwave and allow the microwave to nuke away the bacteria germs for 30 seconds. (Be sure to never put in sponges that have metal in them and to allow the plastic ones to cool before removing). To prevent fire, make sure the sponge is wet and stay close (just in case). Yet, you should still replace them about every month.
Follow some of these simple tips and soon your home and life will have fewer bacteria in it, which may keep your healthier and happier.