How to Stop Germs From Spreading

Cleanliness experts say that a system of targeted hygiene will help prevent germs spreading in the home.

Overview

Germs can be passed from person to person or indirectly by contact with unclean equipment or surfaces.

'Targeted hygiene' (also called hygienic cleaning) means getting rid of as many germs as possible, where and when there’s a risk of them spreading and causing infection.

Targeted hygiene means more than just removing visible dirt by vacuum cleaning, dusting or washing with warm water and detergent. It means removing germs and reducing them to a safe level.

You should use either soap and hot water (rinsing the germs away) or a disinfectant to kill the germs on the spot. Surfaces should be thoroughly dried after cleaning. Dampness helps any residual germs to survive and, if there's enough water, multiply.

“You can achieve targeted hygiene with soap and water,” says Professor Sally Bloomfield of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH) and honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "For surfaces which you can’t rinse, such as a large work surface in the kitchen, you must use a disinfectant.”

She says that cleaning aids such as cloths or mops need to be germ-free, otherwise they will merely spread germs on to other surfaces.

Germs can multiply easily. Within eight hours, one bacterium on a damp cloth can multiply to six million. Germs stick to cloths and are difficult to remove by rinsing, so all cleaning materials should be disinfected and then dried after use.

“Targeted hygiene means recognising that good hygiene is not a ‘once-weekly, deep-down clean’,” says Bloomfield. “It needs to be an ongoing part of our daily lives, where hygiene measures are targeted where and when necessary.”

Here are some general hygiene tips, recommended by the IFH to minimise the spread of germs in the home:

Cloths and sponges

• Use disposable cloths or paper towels when possible.
• Reusable cloths should be disinfected after each use.

Washing-up brushes

• Wash brushes in a dishwasher regularly, or,
• Clean with detergent and warm water after each use.

Mops and buckets

• Use two buckets for mopping, one for detergent and the other for rinsing.
• Mops and buckets should be cleaned, disinfected and dried after each use.

Lavatories

• Keep the U-bend and lavatory bowl clean by flushing after each use.
• Use a lavatory cleaner and brush every few days.
• Limescale should be regularly removed using a descaling product.
• Keep the lavatory seat, handle and rim clean by using a disinfectant.

Baths and sinks

• Hygienically clean baths and sinks frequently.
• Use disinfectant if they’ve been used by someone who is ill.

Showers

• Clean shower trays as for baths and sinks.
• If a shower hasn't been used for a long period, let it run with hot water before using it.

Tiles and shower curtains

• Keep tiles and grout in good condition and clean them often.
• Hygienically clean or launder the shower curtain frequently, depending on usage.

Kitchen

• Ensure food preparation surfaces are hygienically clean.
• Use separate chopping boards for meat (including fish and poultry) and vegetables.
• Wash and dry your hands after handling high-risk foods such as raw meat.
• Hygienically clean surfaces immediately after use.

Floors

• Clean floors regularly to remove visible dirt with warm water and detergent.
• If soiled with vomit or excreta, the floor should be cleaned using a disposable cloth and warm water and then disinfected. Ensure the floor is dry before allowing children on it.

Carpet and soft furnishings

• Periodically clean carpets and soft furnishings using a suitable product.
• Carpets and furnishings can be hygienically cleaned by steam cleaning.
• Curtains can be cleaned by laundering or disinfected by steam cleaning.

Pets and other animals

• Keep pet food separate from human food.
• Always wash your hands after touching animals, their food, toys, cages and litter trays.
• Dishes, utensils and tin openers used for pet food should be stored separately.

Toys

• Clean hard or plastic toys by washing them and storing them once they're clean and dry.
• Some soft toys can be cleaned in the washing machine.
• All toys and equipment should be added to a regular cleaning rota.

Laundry

• Wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
• To prevent the spread of germs, all underwear, towels and household linen should be washed at 60ºC (140ºF), or at 40ºC (104ºF) with a bleach-based laundry product.
• Run the washing machine on empty once a week, either at a high temperature or with a chemical disinfectant to prevent the growth of germs.
• Don’t leave laundry in the washing machine as any remaining germs can multiply rapidly.

Waste disposal

• Foot-operated bins are better for hygiene because they reduce the risk of hands picking up germs when they touch the bin lid.
• Always wash your hands after handling waste material.
• Do not discard waste carelessly as it attracts vermin and insects.

Last reviewed: 28/11/2008

Next review due: 28/11/2010

Related Videos

In this video from the CDC, learn how to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy. It's easy when you 'Put Your Hands Together'.