I have mentioned in some of my columns that I’m a “pinner” on Pintrest. For those of you who have not experienced that particular social network, there’s a lot of stuff about a lot of things. It’s chock-full of ideas, information on just about anything, photos, arts and crafts – you name it, and you can probably find something about it on Pintrest.
One of the things I follow is how to make your household chores easier. I’m all for that.
I found this information the other day – but not on Pintrest. I just thought it was interesting enough to share.
Below are some startling facts about bacteria in your home. I say “startling” because the numbers are huge. I wonder, though, who sat and counted all of them. And was it done before or after the house had been cleaned? If after, we’re all in trouble, and there’s probably no amount of bleach that will help the situation! However, if before the weekly cleaning, when all the kids, friends, dogs and cats have been in and out all weekend, then these numbers aren’t so scary.
Some bacterial experts from the Lysol company visited 35 homes and studied their germs. (The only way I would let them do this in my house is if they gave me a lifetime supply of Lysol and a promise to keep it clean for me!) Surprisingly, there were more bacteria in a bathtub than in the trashcan. Yuk! Not only that, but there were more bacteria on the kitchen counter than on the toilet seat! Of course, the study didn’t say if the kitchen counter had just been cleaned or not.
Performed by the Hygiene Council, which is funded by Reckitt Benckiser from the Lysol company, this is how it was done: Researchers visited 35 U.S. homes, swabbing for bacteria in 32 locations in each home. The spots rank in terms of the average number of bacteria per square inch.
1. Toilet bowl: 3.2 million
2. Kitchen drain: 567,845
3. Sponge or counter cloth: 134,630
4. Bathtub, near drain: 119,468
5. Kitchen sink, near drain: 17,964
6. Kitchen faucet handle: 13,227
7. Bathroom faucet handle: 6,267
8. Bathroom sink, near drain: 2,733
9. Pet food dish, inside rim: 2,110
10. Kitchen floor, in front of sink: 830
11. Toilet floor, in front of toilet: 764
12. Kitchen countertop: 488
13. Bathroom countertop: 452
14. Garbage bin: 411
15. Dish towel: 408
16. Toy: 345
17. Kitchen tabletop: 344
18. Home office phone or refrigerator door: 319
19. Toilet seat: 295
20. Bathroom light switch: 217
21. Microwave buttons: 214
22. Kitchen chopping board: 194
23. Child-training potty: 191
24. Infant changing mat and infant high chair: 190
25. Kitchen phone: 133
26. Bathroom door’s inside handle: 121
27. Toilet’s flush handle: 83
28. TV remote control: 70
29. Home office computer keyboard: 64
30. Home office computer mouse: 50
Here are some good cleaning hints:
Using a mixture of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to one quart of water, or a 5 percent solution of vinegar (from the supermarket) to kill 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).
To freshen room air, dampen cotton balls with oil of wintergreen and place out of sight but where air will reach them.
To clean candles and telephones, sponge with a piece of cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Clean your computer, printer, fax machine, and other office equipment with vinegar and water. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Wet a cloth in the solution and wring it out. Turn off the electronics, then wipe all surfaces. Use cotton swabs to reach the small areas.
Vinegar is great at removing smoke smells. Place a small bowl filled three quarters full of vinegar in the room where the smell is the strongest. For fresh cigarette smoke, wave a cloth that’s been moistened with vinegar around the room to absorb the smell. Vinegar actually removes the odor.