Q: I purchased an all-purpose cleaner at a janitorial supply store that doesn't require rinsing, but I noticed that it makes no claims about killing germs. Do I need to use a germ-killing cleaner for regular cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom in my home? Or do I only need that occasionally? - Carolyn E.

 

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A: First of all, we need to define "germ killing". The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has specific definitions for sanitizers, disinfectants, and sterilizers. They're not all one in the same.

See our HC-Pedia entries for the accurate definitions:

• Sanitizer
  
• Disinfectant
• Sterilizer
  

Based on those definitions you can choose the appropriate type of germ killer for each situation.

Our sister site, Healthy House Institute (HHI), blogged on the subject of home hygiene and shared some insight from the research of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH). The blog post pinpoints specific areas that may require disinfecting and specific situations in which infection control, including disinfection, is crucial.

Here are specific areas IFH addresses that tend to be the source of the most germs:

• Infected people
• Contaminated food or water
• Air
• Places where stagnant water accumulates, which include:

• sinks
• toilets
• baths
• tiled surfaces
• waste pipes
• damp cleaning and face cloths
  

In your specific situation, in your kitchen and bathrooms, disinfecting of food preparation surfaces, especially where raw meat is placed, and the above bathroom surfaces would be beneficial on a regular basis. But how often?

This depends primarily on the health of your family. Here are situations where frequent, perhaps weekly, disinfecting is essential:

• When family members have weakened immune systems due to:

• Infection
• Surgery and outpatient procedures
• Pregnancy
• Old age
• Chronic disease or medication that suppresses the immune system
  

 

If your family is in decent health, disinfection to that level may not be necessary, as regular cleaning can remove a good majority of germs. However, disinfection on occasion, perhaps monthly, is always a good idea to keep your family healthy.

Our final common sense caution is to ensure you use sanitizers and disinfectants properly. Follow the directed set times on the labels of your cleaning products. Keep these chemicals away from children and use personal protective equipment (PPE) when using chemicals that can irritate eyes, skin, or the respiratory system.

For HHI's full blog post containing IFH's research see: http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/blog_1156-Why_Home_Hygiene_is_Important

We hope this information will give you the tools to simplify your cleaning routine and keep your family healthy.

 

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(Note: The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of The Housekeeping Channel, LLC.)