A clean house can prevent you from contracting an infection in your own home, says Groningen physician-microbiologist Andreas Voss. But according to him, an extremely clean house is not better for your health. “It is especially important that there is no accumulation of dirt and food remains in your home, or that a lot of moisture remains permanently present. These are conditions under which bacteria and fungi can grow well. But some daily pollution can’t hurt.”
Shoes off
There are some common dirt in the home that can cause health problems. Such as mold in the bathroom or other parts of the house. And unhygienic handling of food. Voss: “Raw chicken can be contaminated with Salmonella – a bacterium that can cause diarrhea and vomiting. When you fry chicken, it is safe to eat. You must first wash the board and knife before you cut anything else with them.” For people who are allergic to dust mites or cats, it is also wise to be extra alert to dust and cat hair in the house.
Toxicologist Paul Scheepers, who works at Radboud University, also points out harmful substances that we can bring in from outside. Such as fine rubber particles from wearing car tires, which you can inhale. Or pesticides from agriculture, the health risks of which are not yet fully known, according to him. “In Scandinavia and Japan, people immediately take off their shoes when they return home. This way you prevent yourself from bringing these harmful substances into your home. We should do that more often in the Netherlands.”
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All-purpose cleaner sufficient
And can your house be too clean? “Actually not,” says Voss. “Although many people have gone a bit too far with cleaning their own homes.” According to Voss, it is an illusion that you can make your home bacteria-free. “Microorganisms are everywhere on and in your body, but also in the environment, and on all surfaces in your home. So immediately after you disinfect a surface, bacteria will be present again.” According to Voss, articles regularly appear with titles such as ‘There are even more bacteria on your phone than on your toilet seat’. “This mainly concerns your own bacteria that are present everywhere on your body, so that is nothing to worry about.”
It is also good for your health to pay attention to which cleaning products you bring into your home and how you use them. Voss: “Some people use disinfectants everywhere in the house. But the extra effect they have compared to standard cleaning products is not necessary under normal circumstances. And some of these substances are more harmful to our environment.” For most cleaning jobs, he says, some all-purpose cleaner or a microfiber cloth is sufficient. Scheepers agrees with this.
Toxic cloud
If used incorrectly, cleaning products can cause poisoning. In 2022, more than 3,000 poisonings from cleaning products were reported to the National Poisons Information Center in Utrecht. According to Scheepers, these poisonings are often caused by people using cleaning products incorrectly. “A common mistake is combining bleach with vinegar or ammonia in the hope of getting something extra clean. When these substances mix, a toxic cloud is created, which causes violent coughing fits and watery eyes.” It is therefore good to always read the instructions for use.
“Always look at the symbols on the packaging,” says Scheepers. “An exclamation mark warns of irritation when the product comes into contact with the skin.” Then it is wise to wear gloves. “And a flame warns of flammability. Flammable agents often evaporate easily. By properly ventilating your home you prevent you from inhaling too much of this.” One remedy that he never brings into his home is unblocker. “That drug can be very harmful to health and almost always has a disappointing result. In the event of a blockage, prevention is always the best choice, otherwise you can opt for a mechanical solution such as a plunger or unblocking spring.”
2023-11-17 07:55:45
#Watch #house #dirty #clean
