Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Safe Ways to Kill Deadly Germs

Sep 06, 2004

Safe Ways to Kill Deadly Germs

Kimberly M. Thompson, ScD
Harvard University School of Public Health

Special from Bottom Line/Health


he infectious diseases that make the headlines, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pose very little risk to most Americans. You're far more likely to get sick from microbes that already live in your own home.

Examples: A kitchen sponge can harbor 7 billion organisms... and a "clean" cutting board might have 62,000 bacteria per square inch.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that food-borne microbes alone cause 76 million illnesses a year. We can't even begin to estimate how many people get sick -- or die -- from bacteria and viruses found in the home.

Many families automatically reach for antibacterial products or heavy-duty cleaners. But don't overdo it. Antibacterial products can weaken your resistance to harmful bacteria, which may ultimately increase your risk of getting sick.

Smart idea: Use an antibacterial soap after handling raw meat -- probably the most common source of household infection -- or if someone in your home is sick or living with a compromised immune system due to chronic illness.

Otherwise, plain soap and water are fine for handwashing, and homemade natural cleaners can be just as effective as cleaning products that contain harmful chemicals.

KITCHEN

The sink is the most germ-ridden space in the house -- and often contains more fecal matter (from washing meats) and E. coli bacteria than the average toilet.

Rinse the sink with hot water after every use. Clean it twice a week with a scouring powder, such as Ajax or Comet. Disinfect it weekly with a mild bleach solution -- one tablespoon of bleach mixed with one cup of hot water. Also...

Replace sponges once or twice a month -- and run them through the dishwasher each time you use it. They're a perfect breeding ground for harmful germs.

Stock up on dishtowels... and change them every other day to prevent germs from passing among members of the family. Washing them in hot water -- and running them through the clothes drier -- will kill bacteria as well as viruses.

Use separate cutting boards for meats, poultry and seafood -- and scrub them with dish detergent, such as Joy or Dawn, and hot water after each use. Clean plastic cutting boards in the dishwasher.

BATHROOM

Even if you wear gloves when cleaning the toilet or tub, it's a good idea to wash your hands afterward. This eliminates bacteria from water that may get on your hands as you take off the gloves. Also...

Clean the bathtub at least once weekly with scouring powder or a solution made with one-half cup of bleach and one gallon of water.

Sweep the bathroom floor at least once weekly and clean with a basic cleaner, such as Lysol, or a solution made with one gallon of hot water... two tablespoons of borax... one teaspoon of dish detergent... and five drops each of patchouli and lavender essential oils. These oils contain effective natural disinfectants.

Wipe the bathroom sink and counters after every use. Once a week, use a disinfectant made with one-quarter cup distilled white vinegar and one-half teaspoon of dish detergent in two cups of warm water. The bathroom sink is a bacterial hot spot because germs on your hands can spread to faucets.

Disinfect the toilet bowl, seat and outer surfaces weekly with a commercial cleaner or with a solution made with one-half cup of baking soda... one-half cup of borax... one-quarter cup of distilled white vinegar... one teaspoon of dish detergent... three drops of sweet orange essential oil... and two drops of patchouli essential oil. Let it soak for an hour, scrub then flush.

Wipe and disinfect the handle daily because it's frequently touched by unwashed hands.

Close the toilet lid when you flush. During flushing, bacteria disperse into the air and can land on any surface within six feet -- including toothbrushes.

WASHING MACHINE

If there are young children in your household, every time you wash dirty underwear, millions of fecal bacteria are deposited on the inner surfaces of the washing machine -- and can spread to the next load. Every few weeks, disinfect the machine by running it empty, using hot water and adding one-half cup of bleach.

TELEPHONES

Many bacterial illnesses are transmitted by touching the telephone and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Wipe all phone surfaces every two weeks with a cotton ball moistened with rubbing alcohol or spray with a natural antibacterial. To make: Combine one tablespoon of borax... one cup of hot water... one cup of distilled white vinegar... one-half teaspoon of dish detergent... one-half teaspoon of sweet orange essential oil... and one-quarter teaspoon each of rosemary and lavender essential oils.

DOORKNOBS

Disinfect them at least once a month with rubbing alcohol or the natural antibacterial spray described above. Wipe them daily if someone in your family is sick with a cold or flu. Doorknobs are great locations for bacteria to be transferred from the hands of a sick person to other members of the family.

Other spots to disinfect frequently: Refrigerator handles, light switches and bannisters.