>HOUSEHOLD DANGERS
Few things make Jason Tetro go “yuck.” But there are things many of us use every day that he’ll frequently take a good cleanser to. Here are some common items that Tetro says can be safe harbours for potentially harmful pathogens, and how to minimize the risk they pose:
Computer keyboards At home or in the office, they spell microbial contamination. Rarely cleaned except by the most fastidious operators, they can form bacteria-friendly environments known as biofilms on their qwerty surfaces. While most of these microbes will be harmless, there may well be some fecal-based pathogens lurking among the letters. (Single-user keyboards will likely be cleaner.) Strategy: An antiseptic wipe every few weeks will make them all safer.
Mobile devices Like keyboards, cellphones and tablets can be reservoirs for germs — transferred from fingers or, for phones, from the mouth. Typically concentrations won’t be dangerous to healthy users, but those with compromised immune systems could be at risk. The devices’ mobility is also an infectious factor, as they can be carried to hospitals and kitchens, where their microbes can be spread to medical equipment and food. Strategy: Clean them frequently with an antiseptic wipe.
Coffee makers Don’t let their bubbling, percolating sounds seduce you. The water reservoirs for these java dispensers can be a “haven for microbes,” Tetro says. The coffee will be safe as the boiling water running through the grinds will kill any bacteria. But the sitting reservoirs can form teeming bacterial bio- films that can contaminate the surrounding air. Strategy: Run a water and vinegar solution through the system now and then. Sinks No surprise that the places you clean everything else could harbour residual germs. Indeed, Tetro says, sinks are typically “the most contaminated environment in any home or office.” Gunk-smeared sinks are especially welcoming to biofilm formations. The good news, Tetro says, is that “you would have to lick the basin and taps to risk getting sick.” Strategy: Use a disinfectant once a month and more often if the sink is used to clean meat or wash babies.
Makeup and grooming products
Hairbrushes are “hotbeds” for fungi, some of which are responsible for athlete’s foot and dandruff. Strategy: Wash them frequently.
Mascara applicators can be contaminated with a variety of bacteria, including those that cause red eye and conjunctivitis. Strategy: Change them every six months to lower risk.
Lipstick can host a variety of pathogens on its sticky surface from both the environment and the mouth. Strategy: Never share.
Makeup contaminations can lead to rashes. Strategy: Again, never share, and clean applicator brushes often. Joseph Hall