The lack of hygiene within the home is one of the most common causes of diseases such as diarrhea, intestinal infections, gastroenteritis, anger, among others, says Katherin López, general doctor.
In Guatemala, these are very common diseases in children and adults, but which can be prevented with adequate hygiene inside and outside the house.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the home is one of the spaces where most of the daily activities are developed, therefore, they must meet the minimum environmental hygiene conditions in terms of space, location, infrastructure, ventilation, cleaning and quality of the environment in order to favor safety and prevent diseases.
“The lack of hygiene or ignorance habits can be some of the factors for which people make mistakes daily, related to personal and home hygiene,” says López.
According to the interviewee, these are 5 frequent errors in Guatemalan homes, which can affect the health of all household members:
1. Use dirty shoes inside the house
A recommendation to avoid contaminating home spaces such as rooms is to use footwear to the inside of the house. Upon returning from the street, the shoes are dirty and can contain garbage and bacteria that we collect when walking.
2. Use the same rag for different areas
Cleaning several areas with the same cloth is a frequent mistake in homes. Each rag must have a specific function and should be washed frequently, if reusable.
3. Do not wash the towels frequently
Bath and hand towels serve to maintain good hygiene; However, if the effect is not frequently washed and they can house bacteria.
4. Do not clean contact areas
The knobs of the doors, the taps and handles are areas of contact that can house many bacteria. It is necessary to disinfect them frequently to avoid spreading diseases inside the home.
5. Do not lower the bath lid when throwing water
When using the toilet, it is important, before pulling the lever, cover the toilet to avoid the spread of bacteria. It is a frequent mistake for people not to take this caution.
Environmental hygiene standards in housing
- Perform proper cleaning of the different areas of the house.
- Remove waste or garbage daily.
- The location of waste or garbage must be done in appropriate places and in covered containers.
- Perform frequent cleaning of storage deposits and spaces where the garbage is placed.