It’s time to change these household essentials

The French writer Pascal Quignard relates that during the Hellenistic era of the 2nd century BC, the name of Sossus of Pergamon became famous throughout Greece, due to the peculiar decorative mosaics he designed. Fragmented into tesserae over an area of ​​one square centimeter, it was common to see decapitated fish heads, lobster tails, chicken bones, decomposing mussels, skins, nails, legs, claws, rooster spurs, among other “remains”. » spread on the floor of a house. Still life, art critics would describe.

He asàrotos òiko, or “unswept floor”, designed by Soso of Pergamum, elevated the waste from the “luxury of a happy life” – as Quignard describes it – to a new art form that opposed the classical concept of beauty of Greeks, associated with Olympic mythology and its sculptural gods. “Waste transformed into work”, the author of “The Boy from Ingolstadt” summarizes the work of the mosaic master.

Quignard then reflects on language as a system of symbols that separate the true from the false, which is not the same thing as talking about the real and the unreal. True and false: clean versus dirty; the impeccable before the residue; the nurse faced with disorder; attractive and repulsive.

And yet, we use a still life, a waste product, like the broom – made of wood and a pile of straw – to sweep the floor. Clean it of debris that makes the house look dirty.

We can appeal to the biological aspect to support Quignard in his thinking: a dirty surface is potentially contaminated and can put our health at risk. So it needs to be cleaned. However, the line between impeccable and wasteful remains quite thin: the utensils we use in this domestic task sooner or later become what they seek to eliminate: waste. When? How to know? How can we delay this moment?

It would not be surprising to say that the toilet is the place in the house that accumulates the most germs in the house. Just think about what we’re doing in this one to understand why. What is surprising is to discover that in reality, the place where microorganisms proliferate the most is the kitchen and not the bathroom. Despite this fact, which we will return to later, the cleanliness and hygiene of toilets are essential. And for her, using a brush dedicated exclusively to this task is also crucial. And although it’s not very pleasant work, it’s quite simple to use. Of course, after each use it is necessary to wash and disinfect it. As? “With hot water, disinfectant soap, then let it dry,” explains Juan Ignacio Maiza, commercial director of PuntoLimpieza. This is the only way to ensure that this utensil does not become what it seeks to eliminate: a source of microorganisms, such as E. coli bacteria.

In any case, and as said, nothing lasts forever: it is important to renew the brush every few months, depending on the frequency and intensity of use. A sign that it’s time for replacement? “When it loses its shape and its hair,” explains Maiza. Not taking this measure in time implies the risk of even causing a counterproductive effect during cleaning, since the handle of the brush will begin to scratch the porcelain of the toilet, generating small grooves in which new microorganisms can develop which, later, will be even more complex to eliminate.

Another essential element in the bathroom. The superhero that no one likes to recognize. Silent, hidden in a corner of the room, almost exiled, he waits until we need him, usually urgently. And then back to anonymity, to the drawer of repressed memories. But before hiding it, it must be washed and disinfected. Unless you don’t mind spreading the bacteria and micro-organisms that accumulate with each use in the storage area. To do this, Maiza says, you need to use hot water, disinfectant soap or chlorine, then let it dry. Only then can you get rid of it – until another emergency.

Depending on the frequency and intensity with which it is used, a tampon change may be necessary every few months, every six months or with each folio change. What is more decisive, says Maiza, is its shape. If it loses its shape, it’s time to buy a new one.

Using a damp mop to clean the floors of the house is a basic recommendation when it comes to household chores. Thus, dust, mites and microparticles remain adhered to the fabric and do not recirculate in the air – which is particularly harmful for those who suffer from asthma or respiratory allergies, for example. But if you think that the task ends there, you are very mistaken. This would imply that these particles remain in the fabric and, in addition, the humidity would end up favoring the reproduction of fungi and microorganisms. And the next time you use it, you will spread all these agents and dirt on your precious floor, instead of cleaning it. This is why it is so important to wash and disinfect the mop after each use. Maiza says hot water and disinfectant soap are enough. After that, the ideal is to dry it in the open air: “if possible in the sun”, specifies the manager of PuntoLimpieza. When to change it? Depending on the frequency, it may be necessary to do this every month. It is enough if it shows signs of wear or, even worse, if it starts to give off a bad smell: this will be a sign of the presence of fungi and micro-organisms.

And we come back: Yes, the kitchen is the place in the house that accumulates the most microorganisms in the house. Even more than the bathroom. And the cause behind this is perfectly identified by science: it is the sponge. The same one you wash the dishes with. This was established by a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, in which a team of German microbiologists carried out a DNA analysis on sponges from different homes. They detected 362 different types of bacteria there, more than those that usually live in toilets.

This is due to the porous material with which the sponges are made and the humidity that usually lodges there, which generates a real incubator for microorganisms, among which are staphylococci, salmonella and E. coli. The problem is that by using a sponge in poor condition, you run the risk of contaminating the dishes you intend to wash as well as the other surfaces it is used on.

Chef and science communicator Heinz Wuth explains that, for this reason, the same sponge cannot be used to wash dishes and to clean other surfaces in the kitchen.

In any case, a sponge can remain in good condition for around three months – depending on frequency of use. And one way to prevent the incubation of microorganisms is to perform a disinfection “treatment”. “One option is to dry it in the microwave for about three minutes. The other way is to leave it in a solution of water and vinegar, which does not disinfect but reduces the growth of microorganisms,” explains Wuth, creator of the channel Soy Ciencia y Vida on YouTube and Instagram.

When the sponge appears damaged, eaten away and losing material, or starts to give off a bad odor, you will know that it is time to change it.

Virtually the same thing happens with this utensil as with the sponge. The humidity and its porosity make it an incubator for microorganisms that threaten to contaminate your dishes and other kitchen surfaces. It is therefore essential not to use the same one for both cleaning tasks. But to the above, the oxidation factor is added. Especially if they are made of metal.

“The shavings need to be kept dry, otherwise they risk becoming oxidized and potentially contaminating,” says Wuth. That’s why it’s important to change them before they start to disintegrate, leaving material on every surface they pass over and showing signs of oxidation.

A solution of water and vinegar can help delay the appearance of contaminants.

Keeping the house clean carries risks: it involves dealing with potentially contaminated surfaces and, to do so, it is often necessary to handle chemicals which, when they come into contact with the skin, can cause significant damage. . And also in the body in general, if by mistake – such as by putting your hands in your mouth – you ingest it. Multipurpose gloves are therefore an essential utensil for household tasks. These help protect hands when handling chemicals, prevent the spread of germs and bacteria and often provide better grip, which can be very useful when cleaning or washing delicate items.

Multi-use gloves require the same care as other instruments that come into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces: they must be washed, disinfected and dried. Hot water and chlorine are sufficient for this. It is important to keep them dry, otherwise they will start to form fungi and microorganisms. However, it must be taken into account that they are disposable and their lifespan does not much exceed a month. Juan Ignacio Maiza says it is necessary to change them every time they have a puncture or break, as they will lose all ability to protect your skin.