Even if you clean your house regularly, germs like Staph and E. Coli, and cold and flu viruses can still be present unless you disinfect regularly. You know about high-risk areas like toilet handles, door knobs, and changing tables. But what about areas more likely to be forgotten, like TV remotes, telephones, washing machine buttons, dish washer knobs?
I'm not a germ-o-phobe, but I do take keeping my family healthy very seriously.
Here are some areas I suggest taking a few minutes to wipe down.
Cellphones: Because your cell phone spends much of it's time near your mouth or in your hand, it can harbor more bacteria than a toilet seat. Alcohol and ammonia-based disinfectants can damage touch screens. Be sure when wiping down the surface of your phones that you do not get any liquid in the phone's openings! Just spray a little disinfecting spray on a microfiber cloth and wipe the surfaces*.
Sinks: Your kitchen sink contains about 1,000 times more bacteria than the average American toilet! Wipe your kitchen and bathroom sinks regularly with disinfecting wipes to kill bacteria and viruses*.
Dishcloths: In one study, 10 percent of household dishcloths contained salmonella; 32 percent contained E. coli. During flu season, 60 percent are positive for influenza. Launder dishcloths after every day's use using a disinfectant additive in your laundry*.
*Kelly Reynolds, Ph. D, is a microbiologist at the University of Arizona
Zuckerman College of Public Health.
If you are concerned about the effects on the environment, the products I recommend are all natural and non-toxic. They care highly concentrated and one 16 -24 oz bottle makes gallons of cleaner. It can be used in your kitchen, your bathroom, your garage, your trash cans, your toilets, and your laundry! This is especially good for families who use cloth diapers. Often times the water in the home is not hot enough on it's own to kill the bacterial on those diapers. It just gets spread around to the other clothing for other family members to share.
Basic G: one quart makes up to 64 gallons of disinfectant. And it's also EPA registered! Basic G kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can wreak havoc on your family's health. Basic G tackles over 40 pesky microbes, including several animal viruses like swine flu. Basic G is also safe to use around pets!
For smaller jobs, I recommend Germ Off Disinfecting wipes. These wipes kill odor-causing bacteria found on hard and non porous household, kitchen, and bathroom surfaces. Great for cleaning around the toilet! Leaves your bathroom and your kitchen fresh and clean.
*Kills 99.9% of Salmonella choleraesuis(ATCC*10708),
Escherichia coli(ATCC*11229), and Escherichia Coli 0157:H7(ATCC*43895).
Here's hoping you stay healthy and happy during the holiday season,
Only By His Grace,
Billie