Of course, you don’t have to completely disinfect your home every day. However, there are a few hygiene mistakes that most of us make every day without realizing it. And they are quite disgusting. So follow these tips and you have the perfect environment for 22Bet.
SEVEN TIPS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW
1. hygiene mistake: flushing the toilet with the lid open
The toilet lid should be closed, especially during flushing. When flushing with the lid open, a fine mist of toilet water gets into the air – and with it bacteria and fecal germs. These can settle on surfaces and objects around the toilet: on toothbrushes, towels or cosmetics, for example. Not a pleasant idea.
2. hygiene mistake: contaminating cell phones
Cell phones are considered a germ-haven – after all, we take them with us just about everywhere we go. Hygiene researcher Markus Egert gives the all-clear to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The touchscreen’s smooth, dry and relatively nutrient-poor surface does not provide good living conditions for microorganisms.
Nevertheless, anyone who takes their cell phone into the bathroom should wash their hands thoroughly to avoid contamination with fecal bacteria. In most households, however, the bathroom and toilet are cleaner than the kitchen. There, the cell phone can easily become contaminated with food pathogens, the expert warns – for example, when watching a cooking video and defrosting a chicken at the same time, or when putting a finger in the mouth while tasting. He advises wiping your phone with a relatively damp cloth after cooking to check for germs, and washing your hands regularly.
3. hygiene mistake: storing toothbrush incorrectly
We put the toothbrush in our mouth every day – so it should be clean in any case. However, when it comes to the toothbrush, many make several mistakes:
Not rinsing the toothbrush cup (or not rinsing it often enough): germs can live in the cup and spread unhindered. The cup should therefore be rinsed thoroughly on a regular basis.
Store toothbrush in a cupboard: Bacteria spread particularly well in a moist environment. To prevent the toothbrush from becoming a hotbed of germs, it should therefore dry as quickly as possible. This takes much longer in a closed cupboard. Therefore: It is better to store the brush upside down in a jar and without a cover – and as far away from the toilet as possible.
Changing toothbrushes too infrequently: Every two to three months it is time for a new toothbrush – many of us change our brushes far too rarely. If you regularly use a new toothbrush, however, it adds up to a lot of plastic that ends up in the trash. A more environmentally friendly alternative are toothbrushes made of wood, for example bamboo.
4. hygiene mistake: cutting boards made of plastic instead of wood.
Wood is not only more environmentally friendly than plastic, it can also be more hygienic. Several studies show that certain types of wood have antimicrobial properties – that is, they can kill bacteria. When it comes to cutting boards for the kitchen, Expert:innen therefore recommends those made of wood, because plastic can’t do that.
Another disadvantage of plastic cutting boards is that they can leave grooves and cut marks when they are cut, which is where bacteria like to nest. Wood, on the other hand, can swell and thus at least compensate for small cuts. However, if a board has a lot of deep nicks, it should be replaced, regardless of whether it is made of plastic or wood. In the case of thicker wooden boards, it is possible to have the upper layer sanded off.
5. hygiene mistake: washing hands wrongly
Hands should be washed for 20 seconds – gladly also with cold water.
Probably the biggest hygiene mistake of all – not only during the Corona pandemic: not washing hands. According to experts, around 80 percent of infectious diseases are transmitted via the hands.
But even those who wash their hands regularly can make a number of mistakes. The most widespread mistake is to wash hands too briefly. It is also important to dry off thoroughly afterwards, as pathogens prefer moist environments.
By the way, the temperature of the water does not matter for the elimination of germs. So it is just as effective to wash your hands with cold water – and that saves valuable energy!
6. hygiene mistake: defrosting food too quickly
Leftover food, fresh fruits and vegetables, or a stash of pesto: freezing food is a great way to keep it longer and thus avoid food waste.
But beware: if frozen food thaws too quickly, germs and bacteria become active – and multiply faster than usual due to the heat. So don’t defrost food at room temperature or near the heater! Even if it takes longer, it is healthier to put the frozen food in the refrigerator or a cold water bath.
7. hygiene mistake: drying hands on a dish towel
Another mistake in the kitchen: using the same cloth to dry both dishes, other surfaces and your own hands. There are lots of germs and pathogens on your hands, and they get onto the dishtowel when you dry them. They get onto the dishes via the towel and spread further.
It is particularly problematic to wipe one’s hands on a cloth after cutting fish or chicken meat,- this is how potentially dangerous bacteria or salmonella can spread. According to a study by Kansas State University in the U.S., dish towels are among the biggest germ-spreaders in the kitchen.
However, this does not mean that kitchen roll and disposable paper towels are the better choice. You should just make sure that you only use the cloth for drying dishes – and that you wash the cloths regularly.