Health and Hygiene Council™ - Conseil de la santé et de l'hygièneMC - Canada
PRACTICAL HEALTH & HYGIENE TIPS

How to Keep Surfaces Safe
FACT:
In 12% of cases, visibly clean surfaces were found to be heavily contaminated.


TIPS:
When should we clean and disinfect surfaces?

Kitchen
  • Clean and disinfect counters and other surfaces before, during, and after preparing food (especially meat and poultry).
  • Follow all directions on the product label, which usually specifies letting the disinfectant stand for a few minutes.
Bathroom
  • Routinely clean and disinfect all surfaces. This is especially important if someone in the household has a stomach illness, a cold or the flu.
How do we clean surfaces?
  • Use disposable sanitizing wipes that both clean and disinfect.
  • Use paper towels that can be thrown away.
  • Use cloth towels that are later washed in hot water.

Source: Hygiene Brochure 2008: Setting the Hygiene Standards for a Healthy Home (Developed by the Hygiene Council, 2008)


WHY KEEP SURFACES SAFE?
  • Pathogenic microorganisms entering the home can survive on surfaces for significant periods of time.
  • Microorganisms from surfaces can then be transferred to hands.
  • Germs from the hands can be transferred to other surfaces and other people leading to infection.
  • Clean or disinfect surfaces to reduce the risk of cross contamination.
  • Clean water can become contaminated if the storage containers are dirty.
photo of surface cleaning


The work of the Health and Hygiene Council of Canada and The Hygiene for the 21st Century
initiative is funded through an educational grant from Reckitt Benckiser.

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