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During the coronavirus pandemic, cleanliness and hygiene have been on everybody’s minds.
Not only have we all been forced to question our personal hygiene, but the hygiene of public spaces has, quite literally, been put under the microscope. Although we all like to think we keep up with our household and workplace cleaning routines, we all know that sometimes these things slip up – and when they do, it can be a big task to set it straight again.
In this post, we’ll explore 3 cleanliness issues in the home and workplace that nobody ever thinks of, so you can make sure you are keeping everything around you as clean as possible.
1. Air duct cleaning – have you ever invested in it?
If you have an air conditioning system in your home, or perhaps in your place of work, have you ever thought about cleaning inside the ducts? Air ducts can be built up with grease and dust that is then contaminating the air that encircles the property. If you don’t have the ducts cleaned regularly, you could be polluting the air you breathe every day.
Many people never think of this – they clean the outer grates of their air conditioning, and leave it at that. Hospitals invest heavily in hospital duct cleaning, for the safety of their patients and workers – but even non-healthcare businesses and homeowners should consider doing so.
2. Phone and laptop surfaces: how often do you clean your phone?
In modern society, we all use our phones and laptops all the time. A day never goes by when we aren’t using one of these essential devices – but how often do you clean them? Most of us don’t consider the amount of bacterial buildup that occurs on our phones and laptop keyboards – they often look clean, so we assume they are.
According to research, phone screens have over 25,000 bacteria per square inch – which is miles, miles higher than other household items, such as your pet’s food dish or a checkout screen in a store. Make sure you are wiping down your phone and laptop often, to avoid unnecessary bacteria being transferred onto your fingers and face.
3. Dust in the corners: does dust equal dirt?
Dust, as you may know, is an accumulation of human skin cells. Although it sounds gross when you think of it that way, dust is a naturally occurring substance that is nothing to be afraid of. But should we worry about dust, and is it actually the same as dirt?
Dust doesn’t carry the same bacterial load as “dirt” does, but it can affect our health and hygiene. Dust can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs if it is allowed to build up in our homes or workplaces. Too much dust can be very detrimental to our health – so although you might not worry about it being unhygienic, dust still needs to be taken care of often to avoid health issues.
Final Thoughts
Cleanliness is on everyone’s minds right now, but don’t let it take over. Pick up on these three cleanliness issues most people don’t think of and you’ll be making your home or workplace a more hygienic place to be.
