Our kid gets a real kick out of dropping things and then putting them back into her mouth. It’s almost like she thinks her pacifier tastes better with floor-seasoning…ew, ew, ew. Sometimes, she is quicker than we are (she is much closer to the ground, afterall!) and swoops down to retrieve the suck-sicle. I try to keep Pacifier Wipes handy so we can scoop up the paci (or teething ring) before it gets tossed back into her mouth. Most of the time, I have to move as quick as lightning to grab the offending item while kicking Operation Distraction into full swing. 
When I don’t have wipes handy, an internal debate takes place: How dirty is that surface, really?”
“Would I put that back into my own mouth?” “Eh, a little dirt never hurt anyone.”
“It’s not so much the dirt as the germs!”
This whole thought process got me curious about germ-filled surfaces. What surfaces are grosser than others, and how can I keep everything cleaner.
The Canadian Public Health Association cites that “bacteria can grow and divide every 20 minutes… One single germ cell can become more than 8 million cells in less than 24 hours.” Surfaces that get wet are the most germ-coated. Bacteria loves to grow in places like sinks, toilets, wet towels, cloths, and mops. Most germs don’t live long on clean, dry surfaces, so the first preventative action to stop the growth of germs is to keep toys, clothes, and countertops dry.
The What To Expect series (my highest recommended books for new parents!) gives overwhelmed parents direction for what to be more or less concerned about. If an item like a paci or food falls on a floor that is cleaned regularly, don’t worry about those pudgy hands tossing it back into their mouth. If the surface is wet, toss the morsel. When outdoors, if the mouth-bound item drops onto a surface where other people and animals have been, don’t even think about handing the offending item back to the child.
There is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning (with soap, water, and a good scrubbing) reduces the number of germs on a surface. Disinfecting (sanitizing wipes and disinfectant spray) actually kills the germs. Disinfect surfaces like kitchen sinks and counter tops daily. Bathroom surfaces should be disinfected three to four times per week. Toilets, kitchen, and bathroom floors are to be disinfected weekly. Clean all of these surfaces frequently and keep them dry.
Knowing how to properly keep surfaces clean will ensure the health of our little ones when the inevitable happens.
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/anijdam/3585014905
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