HEALTH NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 11

HEALTH NOTES

HINTS FOR CLEAN HOMES (Contributed by the Department of of Health^. Most household methods of cleanli- ; ness are based on sound sanitary : principles, although nearly all probI ably came into general use long before ! much was known about hygiene and • sanitation. The old method of sw-eeping scattered dust in blinding clouds, some of which found its way into the lungs iof the sweeper. Then came the carpet [ sweeper, and now the vacuum cleanec. j which, where electricity is available, j has largely displaced the broom. , Where the old-fashoioned method is ! still in use, in order to keep down the dust, wet tea leaves, or dampened scraps of paper, should be scattered on the floor before sweeping. Even though harmful organisms may not be present, dust causes mechanical irritation of the air passages which renders them more susceptible to the germs of colds, cough, and like disorders. Vacuum cleaning, besides being leas strenuous than sweeping, has been a forward step in sanitation since the dust and dirt are removed and not scattered. The oiled dust mop for polished floors is also to be commended provided it ! is cleaned frequently. i Since ordinary soap has mild disinfecting qualities, the washing of clothes tends to destroy infectious or- ' ganisms, while boiling and subsequent ironing make the clothes practically sterile. If plenty of hot water and soap are used in dish washing, there is very slight chance of infection from table utensils. Nevertheless, if a com- : municable disease exists in the house, ] it is necessary' to wash and scald the j patient’s dishes and utensils separately. The mechanical dish-washers i slowly coming into use depend for their j effectiveness on the use of hot water of a temperature sufficient to kill all i germs. Foods served in the raw state, such as fruits, celery, lettuce, etc., are often I handled by many people before reach- ; ing the consumer. Careful washing is therefore necessary'. Ordinarily, • cooking kills all disease-producing germs, but cooked foods may. become . infected from the hands of the cook | unless she is careful. The practice of having separate j towels and face cloths for each member of the family is, fortunately, common, but even in households otherwise beyond reproach from a sanitary standpoint there is often but a single glass for rinsing the mouth after cleaning ihe teeth. Separate tumblers are alI most as essential as separate toofh- ! brushes.

One of the best disinfectants for use in the home is absolutely free, but in some homes is littls used. No disease germ can retain its vitality if exposed to the direct rays of the sun for a few minutes. The bathroom and the kitchen particularly should receive plenty of sunlight and fresh air. Everyone has at his command excellent weaponagainst disease —sunlight and soap and [ water. _