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Your cellphone
Addicted to WhatsApp and Facebook? Keep your number, address and pin number
secret. Criminals often disguise their true identities and pretend to be
someone else.
Sound equipment
Limit the use of your iPod or MP3 player to an hour a day and at 60% of the
maximum volume or you may damage your hearing. The smaller the headphones, the
more serious the damage. Many people listen to music at volumes louder than
that of a power drill.
The bit of spittle in the backwash every time you take a sip of water contains bacteria from your mouth. These bacteria thrive in water that has been standing in a bottle for a long time.
Stinky shoes
Your sweaty, humid trainers and socks create the perfect breeding place for
germs and fungi – especially in summer. Beat fungal infections by soaking your
running shoes in water and a capful of disinfectant before you wash them. Wear
100% cotton socks and switch between closed shoes and sandals every now and
again.
Smelly sportsgear?
Fungi love cricket gloves. And to think you share them with teammates!
Unpack gloves so they can dry out properly. Do you have athlete’s foot? The
fungi can be transferred to your underwear when you get dressed and lead to a
fungal groin infection. Damp clothes make it worse.
Dirty, damp towels
Did you know towels become extremely flammable when they’re not washed
regularly? That’s because the natural oils from your skin start to form a layer
on them. Rather wash those towels regularly.
Exposed electric wires
An overloaded circuit can cause a short circuit and a fire. Check the
plugpoints – plugs that feel warm are a sign of danger. And keep wires away
from pets; they like to chew on things.
Leftovers
Exposed food such as pizza can breed dangerous levels of bacteria within
three hours. Be especially careful with tinned sardines – the bacteria in the
gut of this fish multiply quickly. Within minutes food left out in the open
attracts flies and cockroaches that carry all kinds of germs. Bluebottles in
particular are quick to lay their eggs on exposed food.
Pets
Turns out your best friend may not always be good for you. Worms and
parasites love your pooch just as much as you do and Staphylococci bacteria, which often breed in the muzzles of dogs,
can cause boils. De?ea your pets regularly and find out from the vet when they
should be dewormed.
Your mattress is alive
Your bed is crawling with life: 10,000 dust mites call it home. They live
off the half litre of moisture you sweat
out every night as well as bits of shed skin. Mites cause allergies. Use clean
bed linen as a barrier between you and the dust mites and wash bedding every
week at 60°C. Regularly air your mattress in the sun.
Piles of books, magazines, DVDs and papers
Minimise the mess that collects dust and pollens. Life will feel much simpler
once you sort out all the clutter.
(Health24, October 2013)
(Picture: Messy room from Shutterstock)
