How cleanare you really?

Spring cleaning on the cards? A spotless environment can certainly protect you from various nasty bugs and infections – and even boost your wellbeing – but that’s not all. From brushing your teeth for two minutes twice daily to following hand-washing guidelines, rigorous personal hygiene habits play a big part in keeping your immune system fighting fit, too. Do you consider yourself to be squeaky clean? Discover how you measure up…

THE QUIZ

Tick the answer that matches you the most, then read on to see how you score

1How often do you wash your bed linen?

AWeekly
BFortnightly
CWhen it starts to look grubby
DMonthly or longer

2How often do you shower/take a bath?

ADaily – at least BEvery other day
CTwice a week DAbout once a week or less

3How frequently do you clean your teeth?

ATwice a day for two minutes BOnce a day CWhen it feels like they need it DI forget more often than
I remember

4Do you vacuum your sofa?

AYes, weekly
BYes, monthly COnly when it looks grubby DNever

5How regularly do you clean the loo?

AI give it a daily wipe and a weekly deep clean

Once a week

CWhen it looks like it needs it DDo you need to clean the loo?

6When do your floors get cleaned?

ATwice weekly BOnce a week
CWhen they look dirty
DOnce a month or longer

7How regularly do you clean your kitchen surfaces?

AAfter every use
BEvery couple of days
CWeekly
DMonthly

8What do you use tea towels for?

ATo dry things only
BTo wipe down surfaces
CTo mop up spills DTo wipe the floor

9How often do you change your underwear?

ADaily
BEvery other day
CWhen it feels like the
right time

Weekly

THE RESULTS

Which letter did you tick most of? Here’s how it could be affecting your health

MOSTLY As

You’re sparkling

Well done – this is great for you and your family’s health. Be mindful not to overdo it, though. Too much time spent cleaning can lead to an unbalanced life and overexposure to harmful chemicals. Over-scrubbing your teeth can erode enamel, although make sure you floss daily to dislodge food particles.

Stick to daily lukewarm showers of no more than 10 minutes and ditch harsh soaps. ‘Cleaning your skin excessively strips away the natural oils that serve as a protective barrier,’ says dermatologi