7 Popular Hygiene Myths Busted Once And For All

Myth: Information found online can be trusted

Truth: Not all information found online is verified and reliable

It is easy to get swayed by the information you see online and this is especially true when it comes to hygiene, since the pandemic has brought both personal and home hygiene to the forefront in recent years. But oftentimes, what you see online may not always be true.

As the leading manufacturer of wet wipes and other hygiene products in Singapore, we want to be certain that you are equipped with accurate information so you can maintain the highest levels of hygiene possible to keep yourself safe.

Here are seven popular hygiene myths busted once and for all so you know what to look out for when practising personal hygiene and cleaning your home.

Read on to find out more!

1. Toilet seats have the most germs and bacteria

As toilet seats are shared by many, most may assume that germs abound, but you will be surprised to find out that there are many everyday items dirtier than that.

For instance, smartphones are 10 times germier than a toilet seat! While toilets get cleaned frequently since most people find them the dirtiest, phones tend to be neglected. Other items such as your desk, faucet handles and keyboard also contain more germs than the toilet seat.

Luckily, using antiseptic wipes that are alcohol-free but effective in killing 99.99% of harmful germs to wipe down these surfaces frequently will do the job.

2. Disinfectant products work instantly

How often have you used a disinfecting wipe, expecting it to work its magic in just a few seconds?

In reality, adequate contact time (the amount of time a disinfectant needs to stay wet on a surface) is needed to ensure the product kills bacteria, fungi, viruses and all other allergens effectively.

The contact time is usually stated on the packaging of the disinfecting wipes and can range from as low as 15 seconds to 10 minutes or more. If the product evaporates or dries up quicker than the stipulated time, make sure you wipe again with a surface disinfectant wipe so that it is fully disinfected.

3. The 5-second rule is true

Ever dropped food on the table or floor and told yourself it is still safe to eat thanks to the 5-second rule? Unfortunately, any food item that comes into contact with an unclean surface will pick up some type of bacteria even if it was just one second.

Moisture, the type of surface and contact time will all contribute to cross-contamination that may cause you to fall sick when you eat something that has fallen onto the floor.

Therefore, it is always recommended to not take the risk, especially when it comes to young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

4. Flushing the toilet with the lid down does not make a difference

Flushing the toilet with the lid down is a good habit to adopt as flushing generates large amounts of airborne germs! Although droplets can still escape through small gaps and land on other surfaces in the bathrhttps://freshening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Someone-using-Surface-disinfectant-wipes-2.jpg, it was found that fewer droplets were present when the toilet is flushed with the lid down.

Consider keeping a disinfectant spray in the bathrhttps://freshening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Someone-using-Surface-disinfectant-wipes-2.jpg so you can spritz some product onto surfaces to prevent the transfer of germs when you accidentally flush the toilet with the lid up.

5. My hands are germ-free as long as I use soap and water

Using soap and water is the most effective way to eliminate germs but the time spent scrubbing your hands during the process matters too.

You need to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds – a trick is to hum the “happy birthday” song twice to know the time is up. Make sure you lather the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails too.

When soap and water are not available, your next best bet is to use a hand sanitiser to kill harmful germs and bacteria.

6. I can reuse the same wipe for another surface because it looks clean

Always keep the “one wipe, one surface” rule in mind when using surface disinfectant wipes to prevent transferring germs from one area to another, even when the wipe still looks clean.

It will also be helpful to use the S-shaped wiping pattern – wipe surfaces down by drawing an ‘S’ – to avoid re-contaminating the areas that you have already disinfected.

7. Dishwashers are clean

A dishwasher’s job is to clean your dishes but that does not mean the machine itself does not require cleaning. In fact, it is the perfect place for fungi and yeast to breed due to the high levels of moisture present on a daily basis.

Wipe the insides of the dishwasher down with food contact wipes to kill fungi, yeast, germs and bacteria without the need for harsh chemicals or alcohol. The wipes can also be used to clean cutleries after washing them in the dishwasher for added peace of mind.

Get your personal and home hygiene needs from Freshening Professional

Shop antiseptic wipes, surface disinfectant wipes, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitisers and food contact wipes on Freshening Professional – your one-stop shop for all your personal and home hygiene needs.