When it gets unhealthy When rags and toothbrushes are urgently needed

Countdown is on: When rags, toothbrushes and Co. have to go into the bin
It is clear to most people that it is better to stay away from other people who have just caught a cold so as not to catch any pathogens. But dangers also lurk in their own homes due to germs. Despite regular cleaning is often overlooked that rags, toothbrushes and Co. must be replaced at certain intervals.

Pathogens lurk in their own home
In the toothbrush lurking almost invisible leftovers, in the face cream bacteria and sponge in the various pathogens: All this is not only disgusting but potentially harmful to health. For example, about half of the up to 350,000 gastrointestinal infections a year in Germany can be attributed to contaminated foods. Health experts therefore recommend, among other things, to use other boards and knives for cutting raw meat or poultry than, for example, for preparing the salad or cooked foods. Generally you should pay more attention to kitchen hygiene, to prevent health hazards. In addition, it is important to know how often you should actually exchange or at least wash kitchen utensils or other household products. In a message from the news agency dpa is given an overview.

Change toothbrushes regularly. Picture: fotomatrix - fotolia

Pay special attention to kitchen hygiene
Flush sponges and rags that are used for too long turn into a true breeding ground for pathogens. The TÜV Süd advises, therefore, wash sponges and Co. every one to two days at 60 degrees. After every weekly cleaning the used cloths should be washed. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has also pointed out in the past to clean or replace towels, sponges and brushes all the more frequently, the more often in the kitchen raw food is processed. And chopping boards and knives should be rinsed as hot as possible.

Immediately throw away the toothbrush after a cold
Also in toothbrushes can lurk pathogens. The Landeszahnärztekammer Brandburg recommends replacing them every three months with a new one. People who have just had a cold should immediately throw away the brush, otherwise they risk being directly infected again. Towels are changed and washed at least once or twice a week. As Silke Schwartau of the consumer center Hamburg explained, towels come in the 60-degree laundry and preferably with bleach-containing heavy duty detergent.

Cleaning the beds especially important for allergy sufferers
Hygiene in the bedroom is especially important for people who suffer from an allergy. In general, not only bed covers should be washed regularly, but now and then also blanket and pillows. "Particularly in the case of allergy sufferers, it is advisable to clean the beds twice a year or at least once a year," explained Siegfried Lange of the German Textile Cleaning Association. However, the Fachverband mattress industry advises against a regular basic cleaning of the mattress from, as it gets too much water into the material, the core can be damaged and the warranty expires.

Cleaning agents are usually stable for years
Cleaning products generally do not have to be put into the bin so quickly: although some have a use-by date, according to experts, the funds do not lose their effectiveness even after years of storage. If a liquid detergent is left over for years, it is best to check that the content has changed before using it again. "Visible product changes occur when, for example, the cleaning agent is no longer a homogeneous mixture, ie when the oil separates from the water or when it smells unpleasant," explained Bernd Glassl of the industry association for personal care and laundry detergent.

"If, for example, the heavy-duty detergent is in a pool of water, the washing-active substances still work, but the bleaching no longer works." For cosmetics, a symbol on the label shows when they need to go to the trash. There, in an image of an open crucible, there is a number indicating the shelf-life after opening, for example, "4M" for four months. "Only many forget when they opened the cream," said Schwartau. "That's why you should write the date on it." Since delicate creams in crucibles can collect germs when you reach in with your fingers, Schwartau recommends using a spatula. (Ad)