It’s a fact: germs are everywhere. And they can spread like wildfire, whether that’s from person to person, or by coming into contact with unclean surfaces.
And we’re not just talking about inside your home. Germs like to habit in many different places. Thousands of bacteria can be found lurking in your workplace, your favourite restaurants, and your local supermarkets – like we said, they’re everywhere!
No need to panic though, not all germs are harmful. Some are actually good for you and can prevent you from getting sick. That being said, it’s important to keep germs at bay in order to help prevent colds, flu, and other infectious illnesses from spreading.
What are germs?
So, what do we mean when we say germs? We’re talking about those pesky microscopic organisms, or microbes, that can cause disease. There are 4 main types of germs:
- Bacteria are one-celled organisms that cause illnesses including food poisoning and tuberculosis
- Viruses are microscopic parasites that cause infections like colds and the chickenpox
- Fungi are plant-like organisms that breed in damp, warm places and can cause ringworm and athlete’s foot
- Protozoa are one-celled organisms that spread diseases, like malaria, through parasites or contaminated water
What are germ hot spots?
As we’ve said, germs are everywhere – they’re even on you right now. But there are certain areas that germs thrive in more than others. These are areas that see high traffic and surfaces that get touched a lot.
Here are some of the most common hot spots that are crawling with germs.
At work
Your office is a hotbed for germs, not least because it’s where you spend most of our time – around 40 hours per week! With people buzzing around and going about their daily routine, it can create a breeding ground for germs.
This is only made worse by people who come into work sick and are constantly sneezing and wheezing, instead of recovering at home. Yet, research has found that dirty desks actually put office workers at risk of sickness. It’s a vicious cycle!
The same research found that the average desk has more than 400 times the amount of bacteria living on it than the average toilet seat. This scary stat only highlights how important it is to regularly clean your work area to banish bugs, including your keyboard, mouse, and phone.
And the germs don’t just stay at your desk. They’re in your work kitchen too. According to research, 2,483 germs per square inch were found on the handle of the kitchen kettle compared to just 49 found on a toilet seat!
Like at home, one of the dirtiest surfaces in a kitchen can be kitchen towels, cloths, and sponges. They’re teeming with bacteria, some of which can potentially cause illnesses, and that’s why they should be regularly disinfected or washed at a high temperature.
At the gym
The gym is the place you go to get fit and healthy. Yet you might be getting more than rock-hard abs and toned muscles. It’s also where people are sweating, touching exercise machines and wiping equipment with dirty towels, which makes gyms a hotbed for germs.
Some of these include norovirus and diarrhea, which can survive for a month on the surface of gym equipment. Then there are the fungi that cause foot infections, which can multiply in showers and changing rooms. Other germ hot spots include free weights, exercise balls, and workout mats.
At supermarkets
With 1,000s of produce, meat and dairy products stacked on shelves, not to mention sharing shopping trolleys and baskets with strangers, it’s easy to see why supermarkets are a hotbed for germs too.
One study found shopping trollies, refrigerator doors, and produce are all teeming with bacteria – more so, than your bathroom or your mobile phone! The same study found that 75% of germs on shopping trollies are harmful to your health.
What’s the solution?
So, how can you stop germs from spreading when you’re on the go?
The good news, most people have strong enough immune systems to fend off many germs on their own, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to stop them in their tracks.
Start by practicing basic hygiene. Make sure you always wash your hands after going to the toilet or touching any waste items. As a rule of thumb, avoid touching your mouth or eyes when you know you’re going to be touching high traffic areas or germ hot spots. It’s also a good idea to carry a pocket-sized sanitizer wherever you go to kill germs.
H2O e3™ Cleaning System
Your next plan of action is to clean the surfaces you’ll be coming into contact with the H2O e3™ Cleaning System. It's the perfect solution for removing dirt and grime, as well as sanitizing and deodorizing multiple surfaces around your home. But did you know, you can also use the H2O e3™ Cleaning System on the go?
The eco-safe cleaning solution comes with two H2O e3™ Cleaning System mini Sprayers that can be used anywhere that you need to quickly clean or disinfect. And their compact size means they fit easily into your bag, so you’re always ready to banish bugs.
Simply fill the H2O e3™ Cleaning System mini Sprayers with the revolutionary electrolyzed S-Water™ and spray! To produce the solution, you only need tap water and table salt. The H2O e3™ Cleaning System Activator emits low levels of electricity into a mixture of salt (NaCl) and water (H2O), which causes a reaction that breaks apart molecules and produces two new powerful oxidants (HClO & ClO-). Electrolyzed S-Water™ has been proven to be as effective as the best-selling chemical cleaners and can kill 99.9% of germs, bacteria & viruses, such as E.coli, Salmonella, H1N1 & Influenza.
So, when you’re next hitting the gym or heading to the supermarket, be sure to arm yourself with an H2O e3™ Cleaning System mini Sprayer and protect yourself against harmful germs.
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