8 ways to maintain good hygiene in the future
Here are some top tips for staying safe in the long term
The past year has been both challenging and strange for all of us. Circumstances have changed, priorities have shifted, and every aspect of daily life has been dramatically turned on its head as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the factors which has become extremely important in recent months is hygiene. No doubt, we’ll all be much more aware of our hygienic practices from now on, especially when out and about in public.
Even as restrictions begin to lift, it’s important that we continue to take the necessary steps to promote good hygiene, and protect both ourselves and others. From using a hand sanitiser dispenser to keeping your distance, there are many things we can all do to maintain good hygiene now and in the future. So without further ado, here are our top tips.
Wearing a mask
Even as more and more of us receive the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s still good practice to wear your mask when inside public spaces. The science has shown us time and again that covering your nose and mouth is one of the most effective ways of reducing the spread of germs and potentially harmful particles, so while COVID-19 remains a threat it is a good idea to keep your mask handy when you’re out and about.
Keeping your distance
Like wearing a mask, remaining socially distant has been one of the most widely offered pieces of advice from health professionals since the start of the pandemic. The likelihood of contracting COVID-19 is greatly reduced when you stay at a distance of at least six feet from those around you, and this is a good practice to maintain even as normality slowly begins to return. When out at the shops or in a restaurant, it’s always a good idea to try and maintain a distance where possible.
Using a hand sanitiser dispenser
Washing your hands is the simplest and arguably most effective thing you can do to practice good hygiene, avoid COVID-19, and stop the spread of germs in general. A hand sanitiser dispenser is a great tool to use when out and about, as they are becoming more and more commonplace in stores, shopping centres and other public spaces. Websites like Handstations.co.uk provide effective options for a hand sanitiser station for both homes and commercial places.
Wash your hands
Like sanitising your hands, washing your hands is hugely important. Of course, the vast majority of us will have made a habit of washing our hands after using the toilet or completing an unclean task long before the pandemic hit. But now it is even more important than ever to wash your hands, and not just when you’ve been to the toilet. Whenever you’ve been somewhere public, or used public transport, take the time to wash your hands if possible. Getting into the habit will be good for your long-term hygienic health.
Keep your house clean
It’s not all about keeping ourselves clean, we should also be keeping our surroundings clean when we can. This is especially true now that we’re allowed to have people in our homes again. Give your house a regular deep clean to stop germs from sitting and spreading.
Clean objects you use a lot
There are some items which see a great deal of use, such as our keys, smartphones, purses and wallets. Most of us don’t think twice about getting our phones out on the bus, or grabbing your keys after leaving the office, but if you actually consider what your hands have touched before grabbing these items, you’ll realise how easy it is to spread germs this way.
Say you walk out of a shop and take out your phone, but you exit the shop you have to turn a door handle. This handle will have been touched by countless other people, whose germs you’ve just transferred from your hand to your phone. Even after you’ve washed your hands, those germs will still be on your phone, so it’s important to wipe down these items regularly too.
