Good home hygiene can help prevent a range of health problems, including food poisoning and infections, such as forms of flu.

It's not possible or even desirable to rid the home of all germs and other microbes. Microorganisms are the building blocks of life but some are harmful to humans. They are commonly referred to as ‘germs', a catch-all term for these invisible organisms which cause disease, namely bacteria, fungi and viruses.
To protect you and your family from germs, hygiene experts say a system of "targeted hygiene" should be applied in the house. It means getting rid of as many germs as possible, where and when there is a risk of them spreading and causing infection.

To find out more, including a handy online check of how clean your home is, click here.

Last updated: 03/09/2009