Busting Bugs in the Bathroom

by Angelique Gervais

60 million days of school and 50 million days of work are lost to the common cold each year in the US. That parleys out to 5 billion spent each year trying to deal with those infections. Let's look at bathroom vanities, cabinets, sinks and fixtures and how to keep these "bug" free.

The importance of dryness

Infection causing germs can live on dry surfaces for several hours but they can live and breed on moist surfaces for up to 3 days. There are a few things to keep in mind in your daily care of bathroom vanities, cabinets, sinks and fixtures to help prevent this build up of bacterial or viral armies:

• Open bathroom windows daily to let out the germs and assist in drying
• Wipe down shower stalls after use
• Launder towels daily

Toothbrush terrors

Most people store their toothbrushes on top of the bathroom vanity or sink where each flush of the toilet hurls fresh deposits of germs onto the bristles you will use to "clean" your mouth. In fact, when tested, most tooth brushes were found to harbor e-coli bacteria. To help limit this hazard, keep your toothbrushes under cover. Using a toothbrush case is excellent. The use of a toothbrush disinfectant is advisable. Many reoccurring infections such as sore throats, cols and flu can be halted by this practice.

Additional ideas

• Keep paper towels and spray disinfectant in the bathroom cabinet so you can do a quick clean of all bathroom fixtures, including door knobs daily
• When wiping up water or spills use disposable towels rather than cloth to prevent storage of damp materials
• Use disposable cups rather than those that sit out on the bathroom vanity for rinsing

It doesn't take great life changes to keep your bathroom vanities, cabinets, sinks and fixtures safer for your family; just some small shifts to insure better health.

About the Author

Angelique Gervais owns and operates a graphic design business serving rural areas in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. She recently completed editing and compiling an anthology for her local Writers' Group, of which she is an active member. Angelique holds a degree in Biblical Studies, and she is currently expanding her education in the areas of psychology and human development at the Masters level.

Sources

• Official Safety Site of the Internet
• University of Florida IFAS Extension