How a Microbiologist Keeps Your Home Clean: 8 Rules to Consider

Where did this nickname come from? The fact is that Charles has written hundreds of articles about microbes and their role in our lives, and therefore is considered one of the leading experts in the United States on this topic. And of course, he is very curious about how he keeps his house clean. So, we tell you what rules the expert on microorganisms adheres to!

Raise your hand to all those who think that when it comes to hygiene, the toilet is the place that needs cleaning the most in the house! Charles is sure that this thinking is wrong. “People are horrified by their toilet seats and, as a result, the bathroom is generally cleaner than the kitchen. But it is the place where food is prepared that requires much more attention,” says the virologist.

Charles considers the dishwashing sponge to be the dirtiest object in the house: according to Gerba, it contains more fecal bacteria than anything else. “In second place in my ranking are cutting boards – people often neglect them and do not always have separate ones for vegetables and meat. The refrigerator handle can also suffer: it is constantly touched, including by dirty hands, and we often forget to disinfect it,” he says.

Dr. Microbe pays special attention to his buttocks. “Almost everything that leaks or falls ends up there. It’s the first place mold appears,” he explains.

Gerba says she jumps when she sees his wife put her bag on top of her. “A quarter of the bags have E. coli in them. And then you put them next to where you’re going to make the sandwich later!” he fumes.

Charles treats the cleanliness of the space under his feet with indifference. “I don’t have children crawling there, I don’t do it myself, so this is the place I clean least often. True, my wife doesn’t like it when we start sticking to the floor,” he says.

“I used to wipe my face with a towel in the morning, but after I discovered I had E. coli on my hands, I stopped doing that. Wash your towels at least once a week, and even more often if you have children,” advises Gerba.

“If you use a spray, you have to wet the area and leave it for 10 minutes. Nobody does that. So I prefer household disinfectant wipes: research has shown they are as effective as bleach,” Charles says.

However, the virologist reminds that a towel must be used correctly: you can’t wipe the entire kitchen with it and think that you have disinfected it. One piece is enough per square meter, otherwise you will not clean it, but it will lead to cross-contamination with bacteria.

“We tested people’s hands after they took their wet clothes out of the washing machine and put them in the dryer, and we found E. coli on them,” Gerba says.

Why does this happen? The fact is that bacteria from our clothes (including underwear) are only partially washed down the drain – the rest settles on the drum of the washing machine. (Unless, of course, you wash at 60 degrees and/or with bleach.)

Remember how our grandmothers and mothers washed the plastic bags we throw away today? These have been replaced by reusable grocery bags, and Charles reminds them that they need to be cleaned regularly.

“Our family prefers bags that are easy to wash. My wife found the same ones in different colors: we use some for meat, others for vegetables and fruits, and still others for canned goods and other packaged foods. This prevents cross-contamination,” Gerba says.

Even more interesting materials can be found in our Telegram channel.