Home hygiene includes strategies to help prevent the spread of germs and illness and ensuring a clean and safe living space.
Tips & Links
- Home hygiene refers to the practices aimed at maintaining a clean, safe, and pest-free environment within one’s residence, thereby reducing the risk of contamination and the spread of illnesses.
- Home hygiene can become a significant issue for seniors who are impacted by mobility, vision, and/or cognitive changes. Maintaining or overseeing home hygiene for a senior can be a role for care partners.
- Learn about house hygiene tips for caregivers and keeping a home free of germs from Healthlink BC.
- Home hygiene practices might include:
- Having a regular cleaning routine for cleaning different areas of your home, including floors, surfaces, bathrooms, and kitchen spaces.
- Using appropriate cleaning agents and disinfectants to eliminate germs and bacteria.
- Ensuring proper waste management and disposal of garbage and recycling.
- Encouraging frequent handwashing, especially before preparing or consuming food, after using the restroom, and after handling waste or pets.
- Ensuring clean food by storing and handling food items safely to prevent contamination, keeping perishable items refrigerated at the appropriate temperatures, and ensuring thorough cooking of meats.”
- Taking measures to prevent pests such as rodents, insects, and cockroaches from entering your home. This includes sealing cracks and crevices, keeping food tightly sealed, and promptly addressing any signs of infestation.
- Maintaining good ventilation by opening windows regularly and using exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms. Consider using air purifiers to remove allergens and pollutants from indoor air.
- Washing bedding, towels, and clothing regularly using hot water and detergent to remove dirt, sweat, and bacteria.
- Learn how to declutter a home with suggestions from the David Suzuki Foundation.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
Categories: My Place to Call Home, Senior
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