Healthy Home
Tips & Tricks
De-germify things in your home that are probably dirtier than your toilet.
Cell Phone
Two words: filth farm. Even if you never take your
phone into the bathroom for toilet time scrolling, it is
still covered in bacteria from everything else you touch
throughout the day.
DE-GERMIFY IT: Mix a little bit of rubbing alcohol and distilled
water together and wipe down your smartphone, stat.
Pet Bowl and Toys
It’s been said that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a
human’s. Doubtful. We brush our teeth twice, daily. Plus, we
wash our dishware after each use. Why not do the same for
your pet? Pet bowls and toys can become contaminated with
bacteria from their mouth and multiply with each use.
DE-GERMIFY IT: Toys should be washed once a week — rubber
in the dishwasher and fabric in the washing machine — and
Fido’s bowl should be cleaned with soap and water ( just like
yours) after every meal.
Purse
You stick your hands in it all the time. Your kids do,
too. When you go out to eat it may rest on the floor. Or
maybe it sits on the bathroom counter. The surface of a purse
can be covered in germs from every spot it has been throughout
the day.
DE-GERMIFY IT: If it can be washed, do it often. Otherwise,
rub it down with a non-toxic disinfectant wipe inside and out.
Test a small corner, first.
Remote Control
Think about how many times per day you fight over the
remote with your significant other. You flip channels back
and forth, picking it up each time. And often, it hides
between the sofa cushions, a cozy, dark habitat where bacteria
love to grow.
DE-GERMIFY IT: Wipe it down daily with non-toxic disinfectant
wipes (we suggest doing this with hotel room remotes, too).
Reusable Shopping Bag
While great for the environment, these bags carry
more than just your groceries. Bacteria from
unwashed produce, leaking meat packages and more linger
behind on your reusable bag.
DE-GERMIFY IT: Purchase cloth bags that can be easily
washed and designate bags for different products (snacks,
produce, cleaning products, meat and dairy) to prevent
cross-contamination.
Garbage Can
Here’s the dirty truth: If your trash can is left to its own
devices, it will quickly become one of the smelliest and
dirtiest spots in your home.
DE-GERMIFY IT (AND DEODORIZE IT!): Grab a pair of rubber
gloves and get to work. Empty the bin, take it outside and hose
it down. Then, spray the can — both inside and out — with a
disinfectant and scrub with an unused toilet brush. Rinse it off
and let it air dry in the sun.
Door Mats Keep the Dirt Out
Kick off your kicks and leave your shoes by the door. According to Dr. Hadeel Zainah, an infectious
disease specialist at Kent Hospital, viruses, parasites and bacteria including costridium difficile and
E.coli can be tracked in via your shoes. Don’t be alarmed. People with good immune systems are at a
decreased risk of contracting these harmful bacteria. However, follow regular precautions and guidelines to minimize your
chances of catching any unwelcome house crashers. Zainah suggests keeping a doormat by your door and taking off your
shoes right away. Slip on a pair of slippers while walking throughout your home and be sure to clean your doormat and your
floors regularly. Plus, avoid eating anything that may have been dropped on the floor (no three-second rule here, folks!).
Check out these local spots for decorative (but dirt-stopping) doormats:
BLINK GALLERY
This custom-made doormat (above) features
original photography by Alexander Nesbitt of the
Newport storm drain manhole cover. The doormat
is twenty-three inches round, and a quarter-inch
thick. It is made with a polyester felt top and a
rubberized non-slip underside. 89 Thames St.,
Newport, 619-3717, blinkgalleryusa.com.
MYSTIC KNOTWORKS
The coastal Connecticut town of Mystic is known for
far more than Mystic Pizza. For more than fifty years,
Mystic Knotworks has created a plethora of woven
nautical products that have stood the test of time. The doormats are no
exception. Made from natural manila rope, the doormats can be left out
in the weather and silver with age like cedar shingles. 25 Cottrell St.,
Mystic, Conn., 860-889-3793, mysticknotwork.com.
ILLUSTRATION ABOVE: GETTY IMAGES. PHOTOGRAPHY (LEFT): ALEXANDER NESBITT/BLINK
GALLERY; MYSTIC KNOTWORKS. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM:
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF VARIOUS CANDLE COMPANIES.
64 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY/JUNE 2020