THE RESULTS
Which letter did you tick most of? Here’s how it could be affecting your health MOSTLY As You’re sparkling
Well done – this is great for you and your family’s health. Be mindful not to overdo it, though. Too much time spent cleaning can lead to an unbalanced life and overexposure to harmful chemicals. Over-scrubbing your teeth can erode enamel, although make sure you floss daily to dislodge food particles.
Stick to daily lukewarm showers of no more than 10 minutes and ditch harsh soaps. ‘Cleaning your skin excessively strips away the natural oils that serve as a protective barrier,’ says dermatologist Dr Anna Protasova at Evolution Aesthetics Clinic. This can lead to dryness, redness and itching.
MOSTLY Bs You could brush up
You keep things pretty clean, but there’s still room for improvement. Bed hygiene can often be overlooked, says cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie. ‘If you weigh a new pillow, then weigh it again six months later, it will have doubled in weight thanks to the bugs and bodily fluids it’s accumulated.’
Pop pillows in the tumble dryer on high for 10 minutes to kill bacteria. Polyester pillows can go in the washing machine. ‘Give your mattress a regular airing and monthly vacuum,’ adds Lynsey. ‘A steam clean can break down bacteria and odours.’
MOSTLY Cs Your routine needs tweaking
‘With cleaning, you should stick to a routine,’ says Lynsey. ‘You can’t always see when things are dirty, and it’s easy for time to slip by.’ Dust, vacuum, clean the loo and change bed linen weekly. Each day, clean kitchen surfaces and give your toilet seat and floors with high traffic a wipe.
Have a daily shower/bath and change your underwear. Brush teeth twice daily. It’s not just the clean environment that’s beneficial – the act of cleaning is good for physical and mental wellbeing.
MOSTLY Ds Time for an upgrade
While exposing ourselves to occasional grime helps build a strong immune system, good personal hygiene is key to keeping well. Shower daily and brush your teeth twice for two minutes. ‘You need to brush the last thing before bed and first thing in the morning,’ says dentist Dr Robbie Hughes.
‘When it comes to your home, the loo and kitchen are hotspots. ‘Disinfect kitchen surfaces every day,’ advises Lynsey.
‘Give the loo a daily wipe with loo roll and spray, then pop bleach down and properly clean each week.’