12 Germy Places in Your Home and How to Clean Them
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“Even the cleanest house will have bacteria and viruses,” says Ernesto Abel-Santos, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “Most of them are actually beneficial to us.” People need to watch out for the ones that are harmful, however. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The preparation of raw food makes the kitchen a breeding ground for microbes — the scientific term for and bacteria. The bathroom and laundry room also are hot spots, says Lori Delorme Banks, an assistant professor of biology at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Why? Germs like warm, moist environments. Water and the absence of sunlight help bacteria grow. Touching germ-covered surfaces is the main way colds, and spread. People with diseases that weaken the immune system, like , may be at higher risk of contracting these illnesses. The , for example, can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces, according to the Hygiene Council, an international group of infectious disease experts. Hardier bacteria can even last up to a week. Although the can live for days on some surfaces, research has found that’s not typically . The virus mainly spreads by air — droplets of saliva from person to person as they sneeze, cough or speak. “Maintaining clean surfaces at home is important because it’s the first line of protecting your family,” Banks says. Soap with hot water is OK to clean many surfaces, but she recommends using an alcohol-based cleaner (70 percent of higher) or a diluted-bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) daily or a couple of times a week. You also can buy disinfecting wipes made with bleach. Here are 12 of the germiest household areas and how to clean them.
12 Really Germy Places In Your Home and How to Clean Them
Don t let viruses and bacteria spread or make your family sick
Getty Iamges You can’t see them, but your home is teeming with microscopic germs that can spread illness among your family and guests.“Even the cleanest house will have bacteria and viruses,” says Ernesto Abel-Santos, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “Most of them are actually beneficial to us.” People need to watch out for the ones that are harmful, however. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The preparation of raw food makes the kitchen a breeding ground for microbes — the scientific term for and bacteria. The bathroom and laundry room also are hot spots, says Lori Delorme Banks, an assistant professor of biology at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Why? Germs like warm, moist environments. Water and the absence of sunlight help bacteria grow. Touching germ-covered surfaces is the main way colds, and spread. People with diseases that weaken the immune system, like , may be at higher risk of contracting these illnesses. The , for example, can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces, according to the Hygiene Council, an international group of infectious disease experts. Hardier bacteria can even last up to a week. Although the can live for days on some surfaces, research has found that’s not typically . The virus mainly spreads by air — droplets of saliva from person to person as they sneeze, cough or speak. “Maintaining clean surfaces at home is important because it’s the first line of protecting your family,” Banks says. Soap with hot water is OK to clean many surfaces, but she recommends using an alcohol-based cleaner (70 percent of higher) or a diluted-bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) daily or a couple of times a week. You also can buy disinfecting wipes made with bleach. Here are 12 of the germiest household areas and how to clean them.