Home Hygiene
Protecting children from infections
Babies and young children are more likely to pick up harmful infections than older children or adults because their immune systems are still developing. They are also more likely to be seriously ill as a result. Timely immunisations can prevent some of the most dangerous diseases (see Immunisation), but frequent family hand washing and a good home hygiene routine are also necessary to help keep your family healthy.
Wash your hands frequently
To remove the germs that cause colds, flu, diarrhoea and other infections, it is particularly important to wash your hands;
- before handling food or feeding a baby
- immediately after handling raw food (e.g. meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables)
- after going to the toilet, changing a nappy or handling a potty
- after touching pets or pet areas
- after touching anything dirty (e.g. nappies, waste, tissues, cleaning cloths).
Using an antibacterial hand wash to wash your hands helps provide extra reassurance. You need to dry your hands properly too. Damp towels can harbour germs, so wash hand towels regularly or use disposable paper towels to dry your hands.
Have a good home hygiene routine
A good hygiene routine does not mean that you have to disinfect your home from top to bottom. It just means being aware of which surfaces in your home are likely to spread infections and removing the germs before they have a chance to cause illness. Surfaces that hands and food touch need the most frequent attention, because these surfaces are more likely to spread infections.
Most household cleaners don't kill germs so to ensure that your surfaces are not just visibly clean but hygienically clean you must choose the correct cleaning methods. Cleaning with detergent and hot water is adequate to remove germs from items such as crockery and cutlery, provided you wash every surface and rinse each item well in clean running water. However, cleaning alone will not remove germs from surfaces that you cannot rinse properly, such as worktops, tables, toilet seats, taps and handles. To destroy the germs on these surfaces, you need to use an appropriate disinfectant. Extra care is necessary for equipment that goes into a baby's mouth or touches their feed, such as bottles, teething rings and breast pumps. To remove as many germs as possible, you must always sterilise these items carefully before each use.
If this seems a bit confusing, don't worry - the recently formed Hygiene Council, a panel of leading experts from the world of microbiology, virology and public health, have compiled a simple set of hygiene guidelines to help you protect your family from infections.
Tips to remember
- Wash your hands regularly, particularly before and after cooking and after touching pets or pet areas.
- Keep all surfaces as clean and dry as possible - germs such as bacteria cannot grow on dry surfaces.
- Clean and disinfect hand contact surfaces, like doorknobs, toilet flush handles, taps and bins, frequently.
- Clean and disinfect kitchen surfaces immediately before using them to prepare food and immediately after contact with raw food.
- Regularly clean and disinfect nappy changing mats and high chairs.
- Don't forget to clean and disinfect toys appropriately too - these often come into contact with children's mouths and can harbour germs. Remember to rinse disinfected items thoroughly in clean water and dry before re-use.
- Use disposable cleaning cloths or wipes if possible.
Being hygienically clean does not need to be hard work, by washing your hands frequently and following a simple home hygiene routine you can help to protect your family. For more information on the Hygiene Council, and to download your free copy of the hygiene guidelines, visit www.hygienecouncil.com/uk.
