People often say that to assess the level of civilization of a country, one should look at the quality of its education and healthcare institutions. To assess the level of civilization of a household, one only needs to look at the kitchen and the bathroom. In modern homes, bathrooms are now aesthetically pleasing and well-lit, with none of the unpleasant odors of the past. However, does a beautiful bathroom mean it is clean? The reality is quite different.
The bathroom remains a "hotspot" for environmental pollution in many households. Because water is used in the bathroom, it is prone to moisture buildup and requires regular ventilation. Some people like to keep towels, dirty clothes, spare toilet paper, sanitary pads, and other items in the bathroom. However, in high humidity environments, these items are also vulnerable to harmful bacteria. According to a test, when the toilet lid is open during flushing, the instantaneous vortex in the toilet can carry pathogens or microorganisms up to 6 meters high into the air, where they can remain suspended for several hours before settling on walls and objects.
Therefore, commonly used hygiene products should be stored and used as needed, or kept in a well-ventilated storage area. Dirty clothes should be collected in a storage box for washing. If the bathroom is an ensuite, toothbrushes and towels can be naturally separated from the bathing area. If there is only one bathroom, toiletries should be placed in a well-ventilated area away from the toilet. Activities such as brushing teeth, using the toilet, and showering all take place in the bathroom, and items such as toothbrushes, mouthwash cups, and towels sharing the same space as the toilet are naturally prone to bacterial contamination.
Many families habitually place a waste basket by the toilet, which is convenient for use during toilet visits. The waste basket is only emptied when it is full. Sometimes waste can accumulate for several days, creating favorable conditions for the reproduction of viruses and bacteria, which can pose a health hazard. Therefore, general paper products can be flushed down the toilet, and for other non-flushable items, it is advisable to use convenient bags similar to those found in hotels and dispose of them in the trash bin. If a waste basket is placed in the bathroom and cannot be emptied immediately, it should have a lid, and the waste inside should be disposed of daily to ensure timely removal of bathroom waste.
Taking a hot shower is one of the best ways to relax, but the safety factors of bathing are often overlooked. For example, many people do not like to use soap when taking a shower and prefer to soak in bubble baths. The substances in soap are mostly derived from natural sources. However, the foaming agents used in bubble baths are different and may contain fragrances that can cause skin inflammation and dizziness. Prolonged exposure to foaming agents while lying in the bathtub allows the harmful chemicals, known as "foam stabilizers," to penetrate the skin and be inhaled into the lungs.
The bathroom should be cleaned regularly to maintain cleanliness and minimize the presence of bacteria. When cleaning, it is important to start with relatively clean areas such as the sink and countertop before moving on to the bathtub and then the toilet or pit. Finally, the floor should be swept and cleaned. When cleaning the toilet, the toilet seat should be cleaned first, followed by the outer and inner surfaces of the toilet bowl. When cleaning the floor, it should also be done from the inside out. If cleaning is not done in this order, it can lead to "relocating pollutants" and cause contamination to spread, resulting in secondary pollution.
Sweeping or cleaning is the process of physically and mechanically removing dust and dirt from the surface of objects but does not eliminate or kill pathogenic microorganisms. Only by regularly disinfecting the bathroom with a disinfectant can bathroom contamination be reduced. There are many types of disinfectants available on the market, and households can generally choose chlorine-based disinfectants for cleaning the bathroom. Chlorine-based disinfectants have good bactericidal effects and are effective against various pathogenic microorganisms, and they are also cost-effective.
A Friendly Reminder from the Editor
Many people are accustomed to using a cloth to clean the bathroom, which may seem hygienic, but if the same cloth is used to wipe different surfaces such as countertops and toilet lids, it is no longer hygienic. Even if the cloth is regularly washed and does not appear dirty, there may still be a large number of bacteria present, which can lead to cross-contamination. Therefore, it is important to have separate cloths for different cleaning tasks in the bathroom. When conditions permit, it is best to use cloths of different colors to avoid using the wrong cloth during cleaning.
