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It is not possible to keep our homes 'germ free'; if it were possible, it would not be advisable. Part of the reason we suffer so much from illnesses today is that we try to eliminate all bacteria (germs) from our environment and are no longer immune to many of them. However, there is a simple way, combined with normal cleaning, to ensure that your home is as clean as it can be, without it being completely sanitized.

It's very simple really - you must dry every surface (except the floor, unless you eat off it) after you have cleaned it. I never use chemicals to clean my home; they are not necessary and I save heaps of money not using them, but this is up to the individual. Bacteria breed and grow in warm, moist places so however you clean your home, or whatever you use to do it, drying all surfaces is a must. It's the same when you wash your hands after using the bathroom - to complete the job you must dry your hands; if you do not, you are just carrying bacteria to the next surface you touch.

After any meal preparation, wash down and clean and dry all the surfaces you have used. When you have finished cleaning surfaces (except the floor) in your home, immediately dry with a soft, dry cloth. Clean up any spills as soon as they happen, and wash and dry the area.

Above all, don't stress about 'germs'; we cannot eliminate them entirely - the little beggars just mutate and become even stronger - but we can reduce the impact they can have on our lives by a) building up an immunity to them via exposure over years, and b) not giving them the warm, moist places they love.

Bacteria and humans have been co-existing quite happily for thousands of years and if we're careful, we can continue on together for many more years to come.

Learn more about this author, Trudy Graham.
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