Hygiene products: Take care of towels, sponges and combs

 HEALTH  HYGIENE

The room is humid, the walls, shower hosepipe, bath sponges and damp towels hang on the corners covered with small black insects.

"They like damp, moist surfaces, so the presence of those insects is a telltale sign that the items in the room are moist," Catherine Akurut, a public health nurse at Kabale Hospital, explains.

"There is more to worry about, for example, the spread of infections than the little insects, which are harmless," she adds. Akurut says not cleaning hygiene products properly makes them a breeding ground for germs leading to the spread of diseases of the skin, teeth and feet.

Hygiene products are what we use to keep our bodies clean. They include sponges, towels, toothbrushes, pumice stones, foot brushes, combs, basins and buckets. One can take care of one's hygiene products in the following ways.

Body, face towels

Most people use towels almost twice a day to wipe our bodies after bathing.

However, it is a common practice to keep the damp towels in one's bedroom. Akurut warns that once the towel is damp and left indoors, it attracts microorganisms such as fungus, making your towel a source of infection. She encourages hanging of the towel in the sun.

The ultraviolet rays of the sun destroy germs, prohibiting them from multiplying. Additionally, towels should be washed every three days.

One must also avoid sharing towels because it can lead to spread of skin infections such as ringworms. If towels get stained, one can soak them in detergent overnight or for about three hours before washing them.

A face towel should be washed daily with soap and hang in the sun to dry. This helps remove dirt and oils trapped in the towel.

Sponges

Sponges scrub dead skin cells off one's body. These dead cells end up getting trapped in the holes of the sponge if not cleaned properly. "Bacteria eats any organic matter, such as those discarded skin cells trapped in the sponge," Rashid Simuya, a skin specialist, says. You cannot remember.

When we are done with bathing, chances are that we hang the sponges in damp, humid bathrooms with poor air circulation until the next use. This creates an opportunity for bacteria to flourish," Akurut explains.

Simuya says after using the sponge, it should be washed, rinsed thoroughly with clean water and hang in the sun to dry. Like any other hygiene product, a sponge should not be shared for fear of spreading skin diseases," Simuya says.

Toothbrush

James Obua, a dental surgeon at Industrial Dental Services in Kamyokya, Kampala, says brushing teeth daily is important for personal oral hygiene. It is also an effective way of removing plaque.

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on the teeth and tongue. It contains millions of bacteria that may cause bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease.

Obua says appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance is important for sound oral hygiene.

"Oral cavity is home to hundreds of different types of germs and the chances of them being transferred to the toothbrush during brushing are high," Obua explains. He recommends that toothbrushes be replaced every three months or as soon as the bristles become bent.

 Joseph Mutyaba, a dentist at Smile Dental Clinic in Bugolobi, Kampala, says after brushing, the toothbrush should be rinsed well to remove any remaining toothpaste. Alternatively, one can disinfect the brush by soaking it in warm water or a salt solution.

Mutyaba advises that the toothbrush be kept in an upright position to allow it to dry. In situations where more than one brush is kept in the same holder or container, Ssula Kibbe, another dental care expert, advises that they be separated to prevent cross-contamination.

Kibbe advises that one should stay away from covering toothbrushes or storing them in a closed container as a moist environment, such as a closed containers, are more susceptible to the growth of germs. He also warned against sharing toothbrushes, saying the practice is unhygienic.

Combs, hairbrushes

Combs and hairbrushes over time get dirty and require regular cleaning.

Sylvia Aheirwe, a hairdresser in Kampala, says one can do basic cleaning by removing hair stuck between the bristles using your fingers. To remove dirt, Aheirwe advises soaking the combs in warm water and detergent for 30 minutes.

However, for wooden combs, simply wipe them with a damp cloth. "One can also use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to disinfect the combs," she adds.

Patrick Musinguzi, the head of Skin Clinic at Mulago, Kampala, says combs and hairbrushes should never be shared because they can cause infections.

Pumice stone brushes

Simuya says pumice stones, as, help to exfoliate or remove dead skin on the feet, while brushes clean toenails and the entire foot.

To prolong their usefulness and reduce the risk of infection, Simuya says one has to clean the stones and brushes. This can be done by pouring detergent on the stone and scrubbing them.

Basins, buckets

Basins, and buckets with scum are unhygienic. Simuya explains that the accumulated scum in the sides of the containers is partly made up of germs. These lead to infections such as ringworms.