How’s your
hygiene self assessment
Research has shown that
two-thirds of Britons don’t follow basic home hygiene.
This can lead to the spread
of germs which, in turn, can cause infectious diseases.
Could your home be putting your
health at risk?
Use this test to find out
more and improve your knowledge of tackling germ hotspots.
QUESTIONS
Tips you might want to consider in future are in italics.
1.When do you wash your hands?
a) Regularly - particularly after using the toilet or changing the baby's
nappy, and before and after preparing food (0 points)
b) Before and after handling raw food - but not always after using the
toilet (1 point)
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
and dry them before and after handling food, going to the toilet, blowing your
nose or touching animals.
c) Once or twice a day – when they look dirty (2 points)
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
and dry them before and after handling food, going to the toilet, blowing your
nose or touching animals.
d) Hardly ever (3 points)
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
and dry them before and after handling food, going to the toilet, blowing your
nose or touching animals.
Did you know?
Hands
are the biggest spreaders of germs in the home. Studies show that hand washing
lowers the transmission of diarrhoea and colds, and
targeted disinfection at critical sites reduces the spread of infection in the
home. Wash your hands frequently during the day, using hot water and soap, to
prevent spreading germs. Wash them every time you’ve been to the toilet, and
before and after preparing food.
2. What do you do
when you sneeze?
a)Cover your mouth with a tissue, immediately dispose of the tissue safely and
then wash your hands (0 points)
b)Cover your mouth with a tissue, immediately dispose of the tissue safely but
forget to wash your hands (2 points)
When you sneeze, always cover your
mouth with a tissue, dispose of it immediately and wash your hands.
c)Cover your mouth with a tissue, and then leave the tissue lying around
for someone else to pick up (2 points)
When you sneeze, always cover your
mouth with a tissue, dispose of it immediately and wash your hands.
d)Don't bother to cover your mouth when you sneeze (3 points)
When you sneeze, always cover your
mouth with a tissue, dispose of it immediately and wash your hands.
Did
you know?
Nasal
secretions from someone suffering from influenza can contain up to 10 million
infectious influenza particles per mililitre.
3.How do you clean your toilet?
a) Disinfect the flush handle, seat and rim every day and use a lavatory
cleaner and brush every few days (0 points)
b) Use a brush and lavatory cleaner every month or so (2 points)
You should be using a lavatory cleaner and
brush on your toilet (including seat, handle & rim) every few days.
c) Don’t bother with lavatory cleaner and just have a quick scrub when
the toilet looks dirty (2 points)
You should be using a lavatory cleaner and
brush on your toilet (including seat, handle & rim) every few days.
d) Never clean it (3 points)
You should be using a lavatory cleaner and
brush on your toilet (including seat, handle & rim) every few days.
Did you know?
The greatest risk of infection in the bathroom comes from the surfaces
that are frequently touched by the hands, including the toilet flush handle and
seat, taps and door handles.
4.When you have finished cleaning the bathroom and toilet,
do you:
a) Rinse out the cloth, disinfect it and leave it out to dry (0 points)
b) Fold the cloth and place it in the bathroom cupboard (1 points)
When using a cleaning cloth, always rinse it
out, disinfect it and leave it out to dry.
c) Leave the cloth in a wet heap by the loo (2
points)
When using a cleaning cloth, always rinse it
out, disinfect it and leave it out to dry.
d) Take the cloth back to the kitchen and use it on kitchen surfaces (3
points)
When using a cleaning cloth, always rinse it
out, disinfect it and leave it out to dry.
Did you know?
Although
the kitchen sink can contain 100,000 times more germs than a bathroom or
lavatory, most people think of the toilet as the most contaminated part of the
house.
5.When you wash the dishes, do you:
a) Not use a washing up bowl but wash the dishes under running water (0
points)
b) First wash the chopping board and utensils used to prepare raw foods, then replace the water before washing cups and plates (0
points)
c) Use the same water for everything (2 points)
Raw meat and eggs contain potentially harmful
bacteria. Always wash items used to prepare these foodstuffs thoroughly and
separately.
Did you know?
Although the kitchen sink contains 100,000 times more germs that a
bathroom or lavatory, most people think of the toilet as the most contaminated
part of the house.
6.When you prepare raw meat, do you:
a) Immediately clean surfaces, utensils and wash your hands before
preparing any other food (0 points)
b) Use a different board for the other ingredients (1 points)
When preparing raw meat, don’t forget
to wash worktops, boards and utensils thoroughly with hot soapy water, before
preparing other ingredients.
c) Prepare all the food using the same chopping board and utensils (2 points)
Use separate chopping boards for raw meat as
it contains harmful bacteria that can spread very easily to anything it
touches.
Did you know?
Up
to 50% or more of the chickens we buy are contaminated with either salmonella
or campylobacter. Thorough cooking makes the meat safe to eat, but it is
important to prevent any of these germs being transferred to 'ready to eat
foods' while you are preparing the chicken for cooking.
7.How often do you launder the tea towel?
a)Daily (0 points)
b) Weekly (1 points)
Use a freshly laundered tea towel each
day. Put them on the radiator to dry after use.
c) Monthly (2 points)
Use a freshly laundered tea towel each
day. Put them on the radiator to dry after use.
d) Annually (3
points)
Use a freshly laundered tea towel each
day. Put them on the radiator to dry after use.
8.When do you disinfect the kitchen sink sponge, brush or
cloth?
a) After each use (0
points)
b) Daily (1 points)
Reusable cloths, sponges and brushes
should be washed in soapy water, disinfected and dried after each use.
c) Once a week (2
points)
Reusable cloths, sponges and brushes
should be washed in soapy water, disinfected and dried after each use.
d) Once a month (3
points)
Reusable cloths, sponges and brushes
should be washed in soapy water, disinfected and dried after each use.
Did you know?
A used kitchen sponge
can contain thousands of bacteria per square inch, including E. coli and
salmonella. The sponge’s moist micro-crevices are a trap for germs and are
difficult to disinfect. Replace them regularly.
9. When it comes to the washing machine, do
you:
a) Wash
sheets, towels and underwear at 60C or 40C with a bleach based laundry product
(0 points)
Remember to
run the washing machine empty once a week, either at a high temperature or with
a disinfectant to prevent germ growth.
b) Bung it all in at 40C and with whatever detergent is in the cupboard (1
point)
Don’t forget
to wash undergarments with a bleach based detergent or over 40C
c) Often
forget and leave laundry in the drum (2 points)
Don’t leave
your laundry in the washing machine as any remaining germs can multiply
rapidly.
d) Use the
launderette (2 points)
If using
shared laundry facilities, such as a launderette, use a bleach-based product.
Did you know?
Clothes,
towels and linen can carry germs. Washing very soiled items at a high temperate
reduces the risk of infection. You should always wash your hands after handling
dirty laundry.
10. How clean is your flooring? Do you:
a) Vacuum and
mop with detergent weekly and try to clean carpets with detergent and a steam
cleaner, periodically (0 points)
b) Vacuum and
mop when the floor looks grubby (2 point)
Floors need
to be vacuumed and mopped weekly – maybe more in a house with young children
and/or pets.
e) Never clean
it (3 points)
Floors need
to be vacuumed and mopped weekly – maybe more in a house with young children
and/or pets.
Did you know?
Carpets are
the largest reservoir of dust in the home. They contain hair and skin cells,
food debris, dirt and insects. A home with floorboards is believed to have a
tenth of the dust of one with wall-to-wall fitted carpets.
Wearing
outdoor shoes inside the home, spreads germs liberally about, increasing the
risk of infection. Hygiene experts recommend taking your shoes off before
walking round the house.
11. How would you sum up your approach to pets?
a) “They’re
part of the family. We share food, they’re allowed anywhere in the house and
they sometimes sleep in my bed” (3 points)
Always wash your hands after touching your pets and
they bedding, toys or food.
b) “They are
restricted to certain rooms but I use the same dishes, utensils and tin openers
when feeding them” (2 points)
Always use and store pet-related items separately and
don’t forget to wash your hands after any contact with your pet.
c) “I’m
careful to use separate dishes, utensils and tin openers and I always wash my
hands after contact with them and their things.” (0 points)
d) “I don’t
have any” (0 points)
Did you know?
Campylobacter
is carried by about half of all dogs and cats and it can cause food poisoning
in people. The bacteria are passed on when you stroke your pets. Always wash
your hands after coming into contact with pets.
RESULTS
0 to 5
Well
done, you’ve got high standards of cleanliness. Not only does your home look
and feel clean and tidy, it is also hygienically clean. By doing a little
cleaning everyday day and focusing on the areas most
at risk of harbouring germs, you're reducing your
risk of picking up a nasty infection. Keep up the good work.
5 to 10
You've got the right idea but
are you doing enough to keep the germs at bay? Bacteria, viruses and fungi
carry disease and only targeted hygiene will protect you from infection. That
means getting rid of as many germs as possible, where and when there’s a risk
of them spreading and causing infection.
10 to 15
Your heart just isn’t in it.
The fight against infectious diseases such as MRSA and E. coli starts at home.
You need to focus on targeting germ hotspots such as kitchen cleaning cloths to
break the chain of cross-contamination, so you can reduce the risk of
transmitting infections.
15 to 30
Your home could be a health
hazard. You and your family may be at risk of picking up a nasty infection from
bacteria, viruses or fungi that have taken up residence. You need to act quickly
if you want to stay healthy.
Useful links on home hygiene
Want
to learn more about home hygiene? Here are some useful links to get you
started:
10
ways to prevent food poisoning
How
to prevent germs from spreading
Beware
of common household germs
Subscribe to the Your
Health newsletter
NHS Choices 2011