SHOULD YOUR HOME CARRY A HEALTH WARNING?
It is unsettling to consider but the average chopping board has 200 times more faecal bacteria than a toilet seat with an average bacteria count of 24,250 per square centimetre. This is due to the tiny grooves in the cutting surface that harbour germs from animals’ internal organs which can be transferred from raw meat. The solution: Soak plastic boards in two teaspoons of bleach and four litres of water for an hour. For wooden boards use four tablespoons of bleach and four litres of water. As scientists claim that some bath toys carry 9.5 million bugs per square centimetre, we look at the household items that contain more germs than a toilet seat! PLASTIC ducks may look appealing but after the bathwater has been emptied and the children are tucked up in bed they are still hard at work – incubating generations of germs. Disturbingly, scientists have discovered that the inside of some bath toys are contaminated with up to 9.5 million bugs per square centimetre, putting children at risk of eye, ear and stomach infections when they squeeze the toys or play with them at bath-time.
This so-called “dense growth” of “slimy films” is fuelled by humidity, soap, sweat and – unsurprisingly where small children are concerned – urine in bathwater. If you find that worrying, take a look at these other surprises! Compiled by JANE WARREN WASHING MACHINES The solution: At least once a month pour two cups of bleach into the detergent compartment and run empty on the hottest cycle before wiping dry.