Good hygiene better health

How annoying it is when chewing gums get stuck on your favorite clothes.Below are some easy methods to remove chewing gums from clothes.

1. Use Ice

Take an ice cube and place it on top of the area where the gum is stuck on. Leave the ice for a minute then use a knife to scrab the gum away.

2. Use Iron box.

Place a cardboard on top of the gum. Iron the opposite side of the cloth where the gum is stuck on. The chewing gum will be transferred on the cardboard.

3. Use Paraffin

Pure a few drops of paraffin on the area where the gum is stuck on. The gum will loosen from the fabric,Use your nails to scrab it .

4. Use Peanut butter

Smear the area with peanut butter.The gum will loosen within a minute. Use your nails or a knife to peel the gum.

5. Use Surgical Spirit.

Wet a cotton wool with surgical spirit then use the wet cotton whole to wipe away the chewing gum.

6. Use Coconut oil

Pour a few drops of coconut oil on the fabric. After a minute the gum will loosen and easy to be remove.

Try any of the above methods to remove stuck gums on your fabric. Hope you get your ideal method.

We often overlook the importance of cleaning our curtains because of the busy schedules. Allergens and various potentially disease causing bacteria reside on the surface of curtains. Curtains should be cleaned at the beginning of every season.

Here are why we should clean our curtains often:

1. Allergies

Curtains trap dust and pollen grains throughout the day. When they are not often cleaned the pollens and dust mites accumulate.This increases the risk of people in the house having allergies and common cold.

2. Dullness

When curtains are dirty their is a certain dullness in the room.Clean curtains brighten the room and the air flowing inside the house is fresher.

Curtains should be washed properly with detergent inorder to kill the harboring bacteria.

When you have children who play with the curtains you should clean them more often because their surfaces have disease causing bacteria which can easily infect children.

Let’s clean our curtains for a happier home 😊.

Here are some reasons why you should not throw away silica gel packets.

Silica gel is a desiccant hence water molecules are drown to it and out of whatever is surrounding the packet .These means they are used to keep moisture and thus odours and mold from sensitive materials

Here are some ways which you can use the silica gel :

1.Getting rid of bad odours in the car.

White Silica packet gets rid of bad odours and high humidity in the car.Place more than one silica packet in the sides of the car.

2. Eliminating bacteria.

Shoes and clothes are susceptible to bacteria and bad odours because of long storage period in high humidity areas.Placing silica packets between stored clothes and shoes eliminates bacteria and odours.

3. Prevent silver tarnish.

Put a some packages of silica inside your jewelry box and alongside your silverware like spoons.keeping silver items dry will prevent tarnish or rather slow it down

4. Keeping important papers.

Moisture destroys the quality of paper hence its importance to keep a packet of silica gel where you store your important documents.

5. Keeping your coffee jar moist free.

Moist destroys the quality of coffee. Coffee jar gets moisture while we are opening it .Placing a silica packet inside the jar keeps the moisture away. Silica is not edible hence make sure the packet is not damaged.You could tape the packet on the inside of the lid.

6. Prevent rust

Put a couple of packets of silica gel in your tool box .The gel will absorb excess moisture and keep your tools rust free.

7. Protects leather shoes from moisture.

Moisture damages leather badly thats the reason the packets are inside the shoe box.Silica bags keeps the moisture at bay protecting the leather shoes from damage.

8. Banish odours from gym bags.

Silica gel absorbs the moisture from the sweating clothes keeping the gym bag smelling fresh.

You can just place a packet of silica bags alongside things which are easily destroyed by moisture to increase their shelf life.

Silica is not edible hence it should be kept out of reach for children.

Now you know why you should not throw away the silica gel bags you get from your new item boxes.

Clean socks are very important for healthy feet.Here are some tips for happy feet.

Our feet sweat and the sweat is trapped on the socks.One should not choose socks made from synthetic materials which do not absorb sweat.

Bad smell forms when bacteria on the skin starts to break down the sweat as it comes through the pores creating the stinky odour .To prevent smelly feet one should not repeat socks.Sweat also soaks in shoes and wearing them again before they dry out can result to the bad smell.You should give your shoes 24 hours to dry out before wearing them again.

Wash your feet properly to kill bacteria and remove build up dirt,dry them to remove any left over moisture before wearing socks

Socks should be washed properly and hanged to completely dry out inorder to get rid of the bacteria and build up sweat.Fabric softener should be used to keep the socks smelling fresh.

Every once in a while you should wear open shoes to let your feet breath.

Am one of those people who have allergies.Am always in need of a handkerchief every morning and evening.People are always debating which is more hygienic between a handkerchief and tissue.Honestly i prefer a handkerchief.

Handkerchieves especially the cotton ones properly absolve the sneeze and mucus. They are gentle to the skin too.

After using a tissue its supposed to be thrown immediately to the trashcan hence reducing the chances of transmission of microbes .The trashcan is not always on site and people end up piling them on a table hence they don’t reduce the chances of transmission either.

During this pandemic its advisable to use a tissue to prevent transmission. The tissue should immediately be disposed.

If you have a normal flu or just allergies you can use your handkerchief but avoid coming into conduct with the wet areas and if you do, Its advisable you wash your hands or use handsanitizers before touching other areas. Handkerchives are more eco-friendly compared to tissues.

To properly wash your Handkerchives you should first sock them in hot water so that the snot will return to its liquid mucus state and melt in the wash.Put detergent in the hot water and let the Handkerchives sock for a while. Use the recommended amount of detergent because alot of detergent might leave some residue and smell which will lead to more sneezing and allergic reactions when using the handkerchief.

Properly rinse the Handkerchives with cold water until all the detergent is washed away then hang your Handkerchives to let them dry.

Baking soda also known as sodium bicarbonate is widely used in baking but it also has some hygiene uses.

Here are some hygiene uses of baking soda:

1. Whitening teeth.

Baking soda has mild abrasive properties that make it break bonds of molecules that stain the teeth. Sprinkle some baking soda on top of your tooth paste and brush as usual.

2. Mouthwash.

Baking soda increases salivary pH hence inhibit bacterial growth. Add half teaspoon of baking soda to a half glass of water and swish.

3. Clean brushes and combs.

Soak your brushes and combs in a solution of water and two teaspoons of baking Soda. Baking soda removes oils and build up residues from the brushes and combs.

4. Cleaning Microwave.

Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp cloth and clean away the microwave mess.

5. Oven cleaner.

Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the oven and then sprinkle some water to dampen the baking soda.leave over night and wipe clean the next day.

6. Remove oil and grease.

Sprinkle some baking soda on top of clothes or surfaces which have oil and grease then let it settle for a while. Wash later with soap and water.Baking soda will ease the removal of oil and grease.

7. Deodorize Fridge.

Put a container with baking soda in your fridge always.Baking soda traps the odor and keeps your fridge smelling fresh.Change the baking soda after every 3 months.

8. Remove odor from garbage cans.

Sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of your trash can to keep the bad smell away.

9. Kill ants.

Mix equal amount of baking soda and salt. Sprinkle the mixture where you see the ants.

10.Relieve diaper rush.

Add two teaspoons of baking soda on the baby’s bathing water inorder to relieve the diaper rush.

Baking soda is a cheap product which has many uses in the house especially in getting rid of bad odor.Above are just some uses of baking soda their are many more. Baking soda is a must have product in the house.

So here are some towel hygiene tips.Towels are often damp,warm and absorbent hence become a perfect environment for bacterial growth.Bacteria like E.coli and staphylococcus have been isolated from towels.

Towels should be washed with warm water and detergent.Some hydrogen peroxide could be added or a liquid anticeptic to aid in killing resistance bacteria.Vinegar could be added to remove the damp stink and excess detergent.

After washing or using the towels they should be hanged outside where their is light.The darkness in bathroom could lead to growth of disease causing bacteria.

You should never share your towel with anyone,it could lead to transmission of bacteria found on the body.A bacteria which is not causing an infection to the other person can cause an infection to you because your body is not used to it.

Some STDs like Trichomonas vaginalis are transmitted through towels.Typhoid can also be transmitted by sharing a towel with an infected person.

Always wash your towels once a week with warm water and hang them outside to keep them fresh and bacteria free.

When i was a bit younger,i used to dry my underwears in my bedroom because of privacy, my mother always told me that they should be dried outside where their is sunlight and freshair.Hanging your underwears indoors is definitely not a healthy way.

Underwears trap sweat and vaginal discharges throughout the day.

First let’s start with the best material for an underwear.Cotton is the best material because it absorbs vaginal discharge and extra moisture.Synthetic materials like nylon don’t allow the vaginal area to breath hence trap heat and moisture which could lead to yeast infection.

Most people wash underwears after having a bath.I think this is not the best method because they are not properly washed with clean water, If you have enough underwears its best to wash them once.

Underwears should be cleaned with warm water which will aid in killing bacteria like E.coli often found in underwears because of fecal contamination.3% hydrogen peroxide could be added on the water to help in removing sweat and stains(optional).Recommended amount of detergent should be used because too much can leave a slick residue on top of the germent which could lead to irritation.

For blood stained underwear put a pitch of salt and rub then run it under cold water.Salt pulls out the blood while cold water loosens it from the fabric.

After washing the underwears its best to hang them in open spaces or under sunlight.It decreases the chances of bacterial growth which could cause ringworm infection, Urinary tract infection and pubic skin diseases.

During the pandemic we have found ourselves using face masks often.When you are up and about with your normal routine while wearing your face mask,it traps the droplets its protecting you from.The droplets trapt could cointain the corona virus.

Corona virus is an enveloped virus hence its easily destroyed by any soap.Face masks should be washed daily.After taking off the face mask, you should wash your hands with soap and water incase you have touched the droplets trapt on the outer surface of the mask.

The face mask should then be properly washed with soap and water.

If you store your face masks to wash them later,you should keep them at a different location from the rest of your laundry.

After taking off your face mask you should keep it in a specific location which you will later Clean with soap and water.Placing your used masks on your coaches could end up contaminating them with the droplets.

Face masks could protect you all day and end up infecting you by how you take them off and place them around the house.

Lets be careful to stop the spread of corona virus.

How often do you clean your make up brushes?You should probably clean them twice a month or weekly.

Bacteria like staphylococcus, streptococcus and E coli have been isolated from dirty make up brushes.These bacteria and debris from the face build up and lead to breakouts.

Gentle soaps or liquid anticeptics disinfectants should be used in cleaning the bristles.There are also cleansers sold for cleaning the make up brushes.

To clean make up brushes, wet the bristles in lookwarm water.

Place a drop of cleanser or a soap of your choice on your palm and massage the bristles.

Rinse the bristles and squeeze the excess water with a clean towel.let the bristle dry.

Normalise cleaning your make up brushes if your a make up lover to avoid clogging up your pores.