Cleaning tips in light of new research

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Published on Sunday, 28 October 2012 14:00

Last Updated on 26 October 2012

Jasmine Joynson

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Last week Monica and I headed off to the amazing Ivy restaurant to find out more about cleaning our homes. Research from the lovely people at Zoflora has revealed some surprising things. Take a look and see what you think about these stats!

To paint a picture of the attitudes and habits of householders when it comes to cleanliness and tidiness, Zoflora commissioned a study of 2,000 adults from across the UK. Ninety percent of study respondents admitted their homes were not clean with just 5% noting their home was spotlessly clean and 6% highlighting that they were immaculately tidy.

· Two thirds (66%) of us reckon our homes should be cleaner than they are.

· One in five (19%) of us admit our homes are not clean at all.

The same research also found that 20% of people clean with the same cloth for over a fortnight without disinfecting it or replacing it and wet cloths are one of the biggest breeding grounds for microbes in the home!

Common microbes found in our houses include ‘superbug’ methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and bacteria like Campylobacter, a common source of food poisoning. A study commissioned by Zoflora found that a shower head had 300,000 times more bacteria than a set of front door keys – bacteria thrive in warm, damp places. Research has shown that flushing a toilet sends a spray of water droplets into the air which may be contaminated with bacteria and viruses, and that these germs can float around in the bathroom for at least two hours after each flush before landing on surfaces. A study of 60 kitchens where raw chicken was prepared found that bacteria were frequently spread around – and that cleaning with detergent and hot water had little effect compared with the cleaning action of a disinfectant.

‘Ok’, I hear you say, ‘So what should we be doing about this?’

Here are some tips to make sure your house is as clean as it should be!

When you’re cleaning surfaces, especially around sinks, never leave them soaking wet as this creates the perfect environment for bacteria to breed.

Put the lid down on the toilet before you flush it as this will stop germs from being spread around your bathroom. Yes, Ladies, I think we can all say ‘I told you so!’

Wash worktops before and after preparing food (particularly raw foods including meat, poultry, eggs, fish and vegetables).

Wash dishcloths and tea towels regularly and let them dry before you use them again. Bacteria thrive in dirty, damp cloths.

Keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods such as salad, fruit and bread. These foods won’t be cooked before you eat them so any bacteria that gets on to the foods will not be killed.

Have you got some wonderful cleaning tips? We’d love to hear them!