Regularly cleaning your bathroom is essential (even better
if it's with these safe cleaning products), but you might be inadvertently
spreading germs around the house through some not-so-great bathroom habits.
"Because the bathroom is often perceived as the germiest
room in the home, it tends to get the greatest amount of attention when it
comes to cleaning," says Charles Gerba, PhD, a microbiologist and
professor at the University of Arizona who is often referred to by his
nickname, Dr. Germ.
But a freshly scrubbed toilet and sink are just part of the
equation, he adds. "While the most attention in the bathroom is focused on
surfaces, what's most important beyond surface cleaning is hand hygiene."
Here, Gerba shares some of the most common mistakes people
make in the bathroom that up their risk of spreading germs—plus easy fixes to
stay germ-free.
The mistake:
Scrolling Instagram on the toilet
You probably already know without being told that this is
sort of gross. But if you're guilty of this bathroom habit, you're in good
company: Even Gabrielle Union admitted to Health that the so-relatable ritual
of checking apps like Twitter and Words With Friends from the toilet is her
"end-of-the-day treat." Still, you're better off keeping the bathroom
a phone-free zone, says Gerba. "Germs, including fecal matter, are
released into the air and can land on those surfaces, leading them to spread
outside the bathroom."
The mistake: Not
washing your hands properly
No surprise here: Hand washing is "the most
cost-effective and efficient way to prevent getting sick, and the gold standard
to getting rid of germs on hands," Gerba tells us. Wash incorrectly,
though, and you could bring bathroom germs with you when you walk out the door.
Need a quick refresher? Make sure you're washing your hands
with plenty of warm, soapy water for at least 20 to 30 seconds, long enough to
sing "Happy Birthday" twice. And don't forget to scrub under your
nails, an area that can harbor germs.
The mistake: Using
bar soap
Bar soap may be making a comeback in the beauty world, but
when it comes to simple hand washing, stick to liquid formulas that come out of
a dispenser. The reason: Bars of soap "collect bacteria when used by
multiple people," explains Gerba. "While the soap tray is often
cleaned, the soap itself becomes a breeding ground for germs that are easy to
pick up and spread." In other words, every time you pick up that sudsy
bar, you're enabling more germs to come into contact with your hands instead of
expelling them. Gross.
The mistake: Skipping
hand sanitizer
Although it's no substitute for hand washing, a few spritzes
of a hand sanitizer can go a long way in and out of the bathroom, says Gerba.
He recommends one that provides up to 24 hours of residual protection with just
one application.
The mistake: Sharing
one hand towel for the whole family
Those disposable paper towels in public bathrooms are
actually better at controlling the spread of germs than fabric ones you keep in
your bathroom at home, says Gerba. For most households, however, installing a
paper towel dispenser isn't exactly feasible (not to mention, it would be
pretty terrible for the environment). Instead, try to be mindful of how often
you switch out hand and face towels—they should be laundered at least once a
week, more often if there are small children in the house.
And while there's little you can do about a public bathroom
that's equipped with only air dryers, know that those aren't exactly the most
hygienic, either: A University of Connecticut study published in Applied and
Environmental Microbiology earlier this month found that they can disperse
bacteria throughout the room, even on just-clean hands (no!). Yet another
reason to keep that hand sanitizer stashed in your purse at all times.
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