Bacteria are present in every home, and through paying attention to correct cleaning and hygiene practices, you can easily help to significantly reduce the threat that they pose. Some bacteria are responsible for causing nasty health problems. Fortunately, harmful bacteria are easy to control, but it is very important that you ensure your home is kept as clean as possible through following some basic hygiene practices.
What Are Bacteria?
Bacteria are microscopic organisms that are invisible to the naked eye. They often consist of no more than a single cell, but they can multiply very quickly under the right conditions, and this is when they can lead to serious problems.
Not all bacteria are harmful. In fact, many are essential for our bodies to work properly. For example, some types of bacteria live in our guts and help to break down food. Others, however, can cause illnesses, which can sometimes be serious. These are the ones that you want to avoid in the home, and the reason why you should have a strict cleaning process in place to keep your home free of bacteria.
Common Bacteria in the Home
Many types of harmful bacteria can cause problems in the home. However, here are some of the most common that you should be aware of.
E. coli – the full name of E. coli is Escherichia coli, and it is found in meat that has not been cooked properly. It can also cause problems when people fail to wash their hands after going to the toilet, and it causes a nasty upset stomach.
Listeria – this is a type of food poisoning that can be caused by eating vegetables that have not been washed properly, raw meat, milk that has not been pasteurised, and some soft cheeses.
Salmonella – this is another type of food poisoning that is mainly found in eggs and poultry, but it can also be found in water, meat and milk. It is a very nasty bacteria and cases can be serious.
Staphylococcus aureus – this is found in water, dust and food equipment, and it can cause skin infections and food poisoning.
How to Reduce Problems from Bacteria in Your Home
All of these harmful bacteria, and many others besides, can cause problems in your home if you do not follow some basic hygiene rules. Keep your home safe by:
– Making sure you and everyone else washes their hands after going to the bathroom, handling pets or touching raw meat.
– Keeping the food preparation areas especially clean.
– Regularly cleaning the entire home, including floors and surfaces, with an all-purpose disinfectant that kills bacteria.
– Cleaning out your pet’s bedding and washing its food bowls on a regular basis.
– Regularly washing all clothing and bedsheets in the home.
Avoid Problems with Bacteria
Follow the above tips to prevent problems from bacteria in your home. There is no reason why you should put yourself and the other people living in your home at risk. Food poisoning and other bacterial infections can be really nasty, but by following a few simple cleaning tips you can keep your home cleaner and safer.
