Rethinking sanitation around you

It might seem a bit of a no-brainer, why sanitation of all things? Is it not just limited to the pipes leading out of the toilet? That's where the general mistake lies, as sanitation tackles how a group can maintain their personal hygiene and contribute to the overall cleanliness of their surroundings. Thinking of it that way, these two are closely related and cannot be separated that easily.

Semantics aside, it is essential to look into the sanitation situation of your home and surroundings if you want to fool-proof yourself and your family from germs and other ailments. Effective sanitation is easier than you may think, with a bit of practice that is. In most cases, these practices need to be carried forward by the household help as well.

Start with the basics, like food preparation. From properly washing vegetables to keeping the raw meat away from other uncooked items, these are all small things that often slips one's attention.

Another thing is cleaning contact surfaces. You do not want the same surface to be used to cut raw vegetables, and poultry or fish later on. There is also the concern of separating and sorting before cleaning. Think twice before throwing your house mopping rag with your clothes for washing.

As for the equipment being used, make sure to clean everything in the proper order. One common mistake is using the same bucket of water to clean the entire house. As saving water is a concern, this can be solved by using a small amount of water per room. Also, using the same mop for the kitchen and the children's room is an absolute no.

At the end of the day, sanitation in our daily lives is all about keeping cross-contamination at bay so that individuals can reap the maximum benefit from their personal hygiene practices.

Photo: LS Archive/ Sazzad Ibne Sayed/ Nazneen Haque Mimi