
Ramblings of a retiree in France
This advice is from the biomin.co.uk website.
Coronavirus, COVID-19, is going to change every possible aspect of our lives, much of it beyond our control. However, there are practical things we can do in our homes to limit the risks of cross-contamination or infection – starting in our own bathrooms.
These changes in our habits are being forced upon us by coronavirus, but they are actually good changes to make for the long term. It’s often the case that if one member of a household gets a bug, the rest of the family go down with it too. The bathroom is very possibly the culprit.
Our bathrooms are the places we go to get clean, yet they are probably the part of the home that houses the most germs. According to a US study, 60% of toothbrushes stored in communal bathrooms tested positive for faecal coliform bacteria – that’s poo to you and me – and if you share a bathroom it’s probably someone else’s. Research into COVID-19 suggests that the virus is spread not only by cough droplets but also lives on in faecal matter, sprayed into the air from the toilet.
According to infection control expert, Professor Laurie Walsh, from the University of Queensland Australia, faecal-oral contamination could be responsible for up to 30% of the current cases of COVID-19. Handwashing, combined with good bathroom hygiene to reduce the aerosol effect on surfaces from toilet flushing, could really make a difference.
As we all try to minimise the spread of infection between family members, here is BioMin’s guide to some things you can do in your own bathroom to minimise the chance of spreading not only coronavirus but any infectious conditions among your family or household.
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ToiletsClose the lid when you flush the toilet. This prevents the particles flying out and landing on toothbrushes, towels and other surfaces. |
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HandwashingAlthough the virus is easily transmitted, it is also quite straightforward to kill with warm water and soap. COVID-19 is described as an ‘envelope virus’ with a fatty outer coating. This is dissolved by soap, and the virus within starts to be inactivated at 27°C. The advice is to wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds as soon as you enter the bathroom. |
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TowelsEach member of the household should use their own towel, including hand towels, and these should be laundered frequently at 60°C. Perhaps colour code each family member’s towels, or mark them in some way so everyone knows which is theirs. |
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ToothpasteGive each family member their own tube of toothpaste – this will prevent microbes being transferred either by touching the tube or from the tube to the toothbrush. Keep this in their own wash bags. |
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Toothbrushes and teeth cleaningYour mouth is the gateway to your body and, as such, a healthy mouth is essential to help you resist any kind of viral or bacterial infection. A clean toothbrush is key to this. See our tips below… |
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Oral healthDental practices may only be able to see emergency cases for a while, so it’s more important than ever to maintain good oral hygiene and take care of your teeth. Keep brushing and flossing regularly, and use mouthwash as required. |
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Bathroom cleaningDisinfect your bathroom surfaces daily, using cleaning products which, are both bactericidal and virucidal. Bear in mind some bathroom spray products can cause respiratory problems. |
Please visit your local government or the World Health Organization for further information about COVID-19.
Created by Moira Crawford
All good advice there. Thanks for posting.
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Thank you, Sheree. This is excellent advice.
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Thank you!
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Good tips, thanks! Most households in Australia have a toilet in a separate room next to the bathroom. Good for keeping “flush spray” off other toiletries, bad for touching door handles if you don’t also have a sink in there. Stay healthy! 🙂
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You too
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I suppose a lot of us are going to learn a lot of manners, which we never bothered about earlier. It is here to stay with us.
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Absolutely
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common sense, but hope the rest follows ! WC here are separate in our home too ::)
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Not always the case.
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In the houses we purchase yes, always. That was my meaning ::)
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All very sound, but what the heck are Americans doing with their toothbrushes?😂
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I suppose it all depends where the toilet is in relation to where you store your toothbrush.
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Very diplomatic!
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Great post of very useful information. Thank you Sheree for this kind share. 💖
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Pleasure
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Thank you for sharing. This is a great information for everybody.
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That’s what I thought!
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Isn’t it kinda sad we have to be reminded to be clean ?
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Absolutely
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I never thought about the toothpaste. Yup, it goes right on top of my toothbrush. Good tips, Sheree. Thank you.
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Pleasure Lois
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Good reminders. Thanks for sharing!
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Useful stuff
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😎
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Great tips!!
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That’s what I thought
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Thanks for the tips, I will improve my attention to hygiene. Always something to learn.
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😎
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Thank you for sharing this! I’m passing it on. 😀
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Thanks Michelle
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Pingback: Bathroom Basics and COVID-19 | Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition
Be safe🙏🏾
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Thanks for the information share Sheree…
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Why viral load plays a part in the severity of Coronavirus symptoms: https://myhomefarm.co.uk/coronavirus-and-viral-load
This explanation was written by a doctor in the Midlands (UK) and elaborates on why some people get mild symptoms while others become critically ill.
It’s also got a lot of helpful advice for families that are self-isolating.
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Thanks, this is very interesting.
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Informative post !! 💕
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Well-written!!!
Here’s the link to my article on how the COVID-19 outbreak impacts our family during the national lockdown here in India.
https://merrymotherhood.co.in/2020/04/02/this-is-our-new-normal/
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Superb post full of informative tips. Thanks for writing and sharing this with us. Be well.
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You too, thanks.
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This is a great post on how personal hygiene goes hand-in-hand with pulling the brakes on any epidemic/pandemic.
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I love your site. My thanks for sharing such a good post. I was looking for thoughts on this topic last Thursday. I will come back to read more and inform my coworkers about your site.
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Thank you
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you can also check out our newly created blog post on our wordpress website if you like cooking or food 🙂
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