KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds-Eight things in your home that could be making you sick
Member Center:
By Yalanda Young - bio | email feedback
JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - Many of us clean, and clean, and clean. But what if the very thing you use to clean, could be harmful to your health? We found 8 things in your home that could be making you sick.
Your kitchen sponge - You use it to clean up messes or wash the dishes and then rinse it out. Right now, there could be as many as 20 Million Microbes on it right now!
Dr. David Gilmore, a Biology Professor at ASU, says sponges are a breading ground for germs.
"It's moist and there are all kinds of food particles that we pick up that bacteria can use for nutrients."
Researchers at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service found that some common cleaning methods for sponges - soaking them in a bleach solution, lemon juice, or water - did not eradicate the germs.
The Solution? - the best ways to clean a sponge they say, are in the microwave (on high for one minute) and in the dishwasher, which will kill 99.9 % of all germs.
Your Bed - Have you traveled recently? If so, bedbugs may have tagged along. Health experts say bedbugs are hosts to organisms that cause hepatitus B and Chagas disease. Many also experience allergic reactions and infections from bedbug bites.
The Solution? - Experts say clean and scrub your suitcase, wash all bedding, and vacuum.
Your Laptop - Although you may be the only one using it, your laptop can carry thousands upon thousands of germs.
"You're constantly touching it and if you touch anything else, shake hands, wipe your hands, touch anything else, you're back at the keyboard just constantly putting the bacteria on there."
A study by researches at the University of North Carolina Health Care System found that while the average toilet bowl contains 41 germs per square inch, the average personal computer can contain 5 times as many!
Dr. Gilmore says the reasoning is simple. "You clean your toilet bowl, you don't clean your keyboard."
The Solution? - Gilmore says gently wipe down your keyboard daily with disinfecting wipes.
Your Shower Curtain - There are always germs that breed in a moist environment and there's few better places than your wet shower curtains.
"Fungus is amazing that it can easily grow in places where there are hardly any nutrients and that's not necessarily wet all the time."
The Solution? - Use a bleach solution to clean your curtain once or twice a month. (Many brands can be washed in your washing machine)
Your Humidifier - Watch out for the humidifier... experts say if not cleaned properly, it can cause respiratory infections. And changing out the water may not be enough.
"Bacteria will coat the insides and create what's called a bio-film. They absorb any nutrients that are available and the bio-film will build up over time. so even if you change the water out, those bacteria still attach to the inside and they continue to grow."
The Solution? - Make sure you clean your humidifier with a bleach and water solution at least twice a week.
Your Doorknob - How many people have touched your doorknob today?
"The bacteria that we encounter, especially those that can cause disease, we carry on ourselves. You have germs on your hands that live there all the time, and you can't get rid of those."
The Solution? - Dr. Gilmore says use antibacterial sprays and disinfecting wipes daily. An added bonus if you have a copper doorknob-- Researchers in England found that copper door handles had 95% fewer microorganisms on them compared to other doorknobs. Scientists believe that many germs, including MRSA, may not be able to survive on copper.
Your Salt and Pepper Shakers - When was the last time you cooked with raw chicken? Many times we are using our salt and pepper shakers to season our chicken, but when you wash your hands... do you wash your salt and pepper shakers?
The Solution? - Wipe down your salt and pepper shakers after handling raw foods before touching anything else. Better yet, use one set for cooking and another for the dinner table.
Your Pets - That's right, man's best friend could be making you sick. Dr. Gilmore says pets have been known to have staphorious, and transfer it to their human owners.
The Solution? - Wash your hands after cuddling with your furry friend, especially before cooking.
Take this at home quiz and test your knowledge about what you learned in our story, "8 things in your home that could be making you sick".
1. Which has more germs on it - Your keyboard or your toilet seat?
2. True or False - A kitchen sponge could have as many as 20 million microbes on it.
3. Which of the 3 items is best to clean your sponge? A.) Lemon Juice B.) Soaking in Bleach C.) Microwave for 1 minute on high
4. Dr. Gilmore, a Biologist at ASU, says one part of your hand doesn't get washed as much. Is it A.) your palms B.) Your thumb C.) the top of your hand
5. True or False - Bed bugs aren't anything to worry about, they are just annoying.
6. We use salt and pepper shakers while we cook and then pass them around the table. What is the safest way to keep from spreading bacteria? A.) washing our hands before you cook B.) using one set of shakers to cook with and one set for the table C.) wipe down the outside of the shakers with the sponge you just cleaned the sink with
7. Which is more dangerous - bacteria and germs found on the average floor or the bacteria and germs found on ourselves?
8. True or False - You've got germs that live on your hands all the time and you can't get rid of them.
Answers: 1. Keyboard 2. True 3. C-Microwave 1 min. on high 4. B- Your thumb 5.False 6. B 7. germs found on ourselves 8. True
©2009 KAIT All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
