HomeTagsPosts tagged with "hygiene"

hygiene

There is nothing more satisfying than stepping into a nice, long, soapy shower after a gym session, are we right?

We definitely think so anyway, which is why we were a bit baffled when we heard the results of a recent post-workout survey. 

Showerstoyou.co.uk, asked 1,000 gym-goers about the shower routine they undertake after their cardio session, and the results are fairly shocking.

 

A whopping 73 per cent of participants said that they don’t shower straight after exercise.

We get it, sometimes you're so wrecked after a workout that all we want to do is collapse in a heap, but 43 per cent admitted that they don’t even take their socks off for hours after a workout.

Another 18 per cent just don’t wash after a workout at all.

Image result for thats so raven nasty

A further one third of those asked said that they will use their gym gear three or four times before throwing it in the wash.

We would say that the hardest part of the gym is actually going, so tossing your clothes into the wash and yourself into the shower should be an easy step. 

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It's time to buy hand sanitiser and disinfect wipes in bulk.

It turns out many of your work colleagues, friends and family have forgotten what their mama taught them at age three.

Three-quarters of us are failing to wash our hands properly, according to the results from a survey by Initial.

Now before you go waging a war on germs, there are only certain ones that aren't our friends.

There's an important reason why your mam would stand over you and make sure you got every inch of your hands nicely lathered – bacteria. 

The survey showed that a staggering 95 percent of the 264 participates did not spend long enough washing their hands to fully remove those little germy fellas. 

The excuses offered up was poor hand-washing practices (sorry, mammy), being in a hurry, and another fifth said they refused to sud up in a dirty bathroom – which is fair.

And the results show that people aren't loving soap – in fact, only 60 percent occasionally use it when getting those hands clean.

It's the lads that are the biggest offenders, with two third of them never using soap or very rarely, compared with 36 percent of women – Gross.

Something you mightn't have known, according to the experts, cold water is far less effective in removing oils and germs – so get ready to scald the hands off yourself in the name of hygiene.

Getting into the nitty-gritty, the hand washing pros say we NEED to spend over 20 seconds giving them a good scrubbin'.

But only 5.3 percent of those surveyed actually did this…could you only imagine how much bacteria is sitting on your phone after you give your hands a quick rinse and run? – Puke bucket, please. 

And moving to manners, before we inhale our food, only a tiny 23 percent wash up before every meal.

And three-quarters of us sinners, only wash their paws occasionally before a meal – like Christmas.

So the next time you go to shake someone's hand, just keep this information in mind.

And remember it for the next time a co-worker asks to borrow your stuff or hands you something to you – the horror. 

The expert advice to all you disgusting people is to wash your hands AT LEAST six times a day –  in particular before every meal and after using the bathroom. 

20 seconds is the golden rule with warm water and get every inch of the hand – I'm talking to you boys. 

I can hear the collective mammy's sighing around the country as they've attempted to teach us this basic life hack for YEARS. 

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If you tend to hover awkwardly when you visit public toilets, you're likely doing it for health and hygiene purposes, right?

Well, what if we told you that this habit actually leaves you vulnerable to ill health?

Writing for Healthista, NHS physician, Dr Preethi Daniel, aims to dispel the myths which circulate around the use and safety of public restrooms.

Acknowledging the habit many women have, Dr Daniel asserts: "All that squatting and hovering we do to avoid touching the toilet seat, and the mad rush we are in to get out of the toilet cubicle are what can give us a urine infection."

"By not emptying your bladder completely, in a rush or if you are squatting, you are exposing your body to potentially harmful bacteria," she adds.

And for those of you who believe your chances of contracting disease are multipled ten-fold every time you slide the lock across the door of a public toilet, Dr Daniel is here to assuage your fears.

"You are more likely to be struck by lightning whilst riding a flying pig than catching a sexually transmitted disease from a public toilet seat, so please don’t worry," she writes.

"To contract these diseases the germs would have to be directly transferred from the toilet seat to your genital tract, or through an open wound or sore on your legs or buttocks."

Insisting that there exists no medical evidence which supports the theory that an individual can contract a disease from a public toilet, she then provides three handy tips for the more concerned among us.

From laying paper on the toilet seat before hand to thoroughly washing your hands and applying anti-bacterial gel in the aftermath, these three tips are all you need.

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Okay, so it's a bit of a grim topic, but we all have to use a public leithris every once in a while, and if there is any method of making this a tolerable experience, we'll use it. 

When you pop into the public loo, what's the first thing you do?

Well choose a stall, of course. But while that choice seems random, it could actually be extremely important if you want to avoid unnecessary contact with avoidable germs. 

If you want to choose the most hygienic stall of them all, the first one is your best bet. 

According to Dr. Mehmet Oz on Sharecare, a public health forum"Experts theorise that people tend to skip the first stall in favour of stalls farther back to have a little more privacy." 

"But because the first stall is used least often, it contains the lowest bacteria levels."

"Instead of skipping the first stall, choose it to help avoid possible infections."

The middle ones are said to be the dirtiest loos, as these are the ones most people pick, according to Cosmo

Good to know, now to purchase a large vat of hand sanitizer. 

Oh, and while we have you; don't forget to have your say in the inaugural SHEmazing Awards this May! It's time to vote, and you can do it right here!

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Every girl knows the horror of the public toilet but unfortunately when nature calls sometimes you’ve just got to brace yourself and chance the nearest loo.

So over the years people have developed a number of defence mechanisms to help make this dreaded scenario as bearable as possible and one such coping strategy involves lining the toilet seat with loo roll to protect your bottom from any nasties which may be on the seat.

But according to The Sun, this very exercise could actually expose you to more unwanted bacteria than if you chanced it and went bare-bummed.

As it turns out, toilet seat design is a lot cleverer than you’d expect because the shape and smooth surface of the potty not only creates a comfortable place to sit but also makes it extremely difficult for germs to attach themselves to the seat with the result that the average public toilet seat cleaner than the average kitchen sink.

Toilet paper on the other hand is designed to be absorbent which makes it the ideal substance for bacteria to grab on to.

When a toilet is flushed germs terrifyingly are launched into the air and therefore land on whatever toilet roll is available – which means that by picking up the bog roll to line your throne, you are actually lining it with the very germs you were trying to avoid.  Horrible, we know.

So next time you're tempted to go public, remember to leave the loo roll where it is and perhaps give hovering a go!

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Ah, vodka. The Sex and the City girls always enjoyed a glass or two.

It can bring out the good, the bad and the very ugly. 

But it's not hard to see why it's one of the most popular alcoholic drinks around the world – it's very neutral, has no harsh smells, and mixes well with many other drinks. 

However, vodka can be used for many other things other than getting sloshed… Shocker! 

It can actually be used for medical reasons, hygienic uses, and cleaning solutions around the house too. 

Treat a tooth ache

When you start having a tooth ache, pour some vodka on a small cotton ball and put it on the gums around your sore tooth. After a few minutes it will start to alleviate the pain. 

 

Prevents dandruff

Mix a shot glass of vodka with a glass of water and use it to rinse out your hair after washing it with your normal shampoo. This prevents any left over shampoo or dead skin from building up. 

 

Use as a mouthwash

Vodka is a great disinfectant and brilliant for killing odours too. Combine vodka with water and add a few teaspoons of cinnamon to create a refreshing mouthwash. 

 

Bug repellent 

Vodka is actually an extremely effective bug repellent. Just pour some into a spray bottle and keep it with you on holidays to warn all the nasty flies away. 

 

Cure jellyfish sting

Instead of going through the clichéd "should I pee on my friend's leg" inner monologue, the next time someone gets stung by a jellyfish try putting vodka on it. It will sooth the sting within 10-20 minutes. 

 

Use as a deodorant

Feeling a bit sticky but have no deodorant on hand? A few squirts of vodka from a spray bottle will do away with any bad odours. 

 

Keep your razor in it

The main reason why razors become so dull so quickly is because small amounts of hair, water and shaving cream are left on the blades after every use. Next time, soak your razor in a cup of vodka, it will totally clean out your blade and disinfect it for your next use. 

 

Clean Windows

Another product that relies primarily on alcohol for its effectiveness is your average window cleaner. Swap it with vodka and it will do just as good of a job. 

 

Clean mould or grease

Greasy dishes or a grubby bathroom? Use vodka and a sturdy brush to remove the dirt easily. For dishes, leave them soaking for about 5 minutes and they will appear as good as new. 

 

Stop clothes from fading

Sometimes dark clothes fade, and the worst thing is they will fade in some places and not in others. To help protect your clothes from this, mix vodka and lavender and spray onto your clothes. They will never fade again – and smell great too. 

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Let’s just get this out there right from the off – no one exactly relishes the thought of having to use a public toilet.

Now, new research has delved into the murky side of what lurks in the bathrooms we share with so many others around us – and it ain’t pretty.

In a new study carried out in the US, researchers from the show The Drs made some rather interesting findings about how using public toilets can impact upon our health.

Undoubtedly, one of the most surprising discoveries made was that the toilet seat is generally one of the cleanest parts of the toilet, which is in direct contrast to the toilet paper dispenser. Indeed, the researchers found that there was a staggering 150 percent more bacteria on the dispenser compared to the toilet seat.

Ew.                                   

While researchers couldn’t emphasise enough the importance of washing your hands (we would hope that this is something you don’t need to be reminded of) they urged people to cover their hands with a paper towel when turning off the tap, so as to avoid the transfer of harmful bacteria right back onto their hands.

So all in all, public toilets are still as yucky as we thought, but this definitely makes for interesting reading! 

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You may think that by brushing your teeth twice a day you will help keep your mouth healthy. But do you brush for long enough? And do you keep up with your dental appointments?

Recent research have shown that people with the most bacteria on the surface of their teeth and gums have an 80% increased risk of premature death, particularly from cancer.

So how can we keep our mouths healthy?

See your dentist regularly
Health guidelines advise that we shouldn’t leave longer than 24 months between dental appointments. If you have gum problems you should see your dentist every six months and those with good oral hygiene should go every 10 months.

Brush thoroughly
Twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is still enough, but brush properly. Always wait an hour to brush teeth after eating or drinking fruit juice, as acidic foods and drink soften the tooth enamel and leave it prone to damage.

Clean between teeth
A lot of decay and gum disease occurs between the teeth caused by food and the build-up of plaque, so this area shouldn’t be neglected. Floss once a day by sliding it gently up and down between your teeth, then curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line.

Chew gum after meals
Saliva is the tooth’s natural protective mechanism, and chewing gum helps produce it. Chew sugar-free gum after a meal or snack to increase saliva flow.

Scrape your tongue
Many toothbrushes have a scraper on the back for cleaning the tongue. Contrary to popular belief, the bacteria it removes is not connected to serious health conditions – but removing it may make us more pleasant to be around.

Use a mouthwash
This can be useful if it has additional effects, such as preventing decay or build-up of bacteria. But be warned, mouthwashes can’t replace brushing.

Monitor your gums
Our gums naturally start to recede as we age, but this can also indicate gum disease. Look out for bleeding gums as this is the first sign of the condition and means you need to see a dentist.

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Eek, this is scary! And also quite disgusting.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland have reported a 12.5% rise in the number of complaints to their advice line last year.

Some of the issues mentioned included a dirty fingernail found in baby food, meat in a chocolate yoghurt and a chicken head in a bag of frozen chicken wings.

Live insects were also reported in a packet of dates and a human tooth in a Chinese takeaway.

The Hepatitis A outbreak reportedly caused by imported frozen raspberries resulted in 267 calls while the horse meat scandal surprisingly only accumulated 33 calls.

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Correct storage and cleaning of your fridge is essential for hygiene. Do you know where your milk is best kept in your fridge? Hint: It’s not on the door.

Top + middle shelves

  • Milk, yoghurt and any other dairy product should be kept on the top shelf and at the back of the fridge as this is where it is coldest. It is also a good idea to store cheeses in a lunchbox.
  • Condiments can be stored on the door of the fridge.
  • Leftovers/cooked meat should be carefully covered and kept on the middle shelf.

Bottom shelf
The bottom shelf is the only shelf that should have any raw meat or fish on it. They should also be covered well; this is too ensure there is no raw meat juices dripping onto any other foodstuffs which can be highly dangerous and very unhygienic.

Fruit and veg drawers
No need to tell you what goes in here surely, it’s in the name! This drawer is for any fruit and veg you have that need to go into the fridge, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, strawberries etc.

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