4 rooms where fighting bacteria matters
Bacteria is everywhere. It’s on your phone. It’s outside. It’s on walls, trim & doors. It’s in every room of your home. But while most bacteria are harmless and some are actually beneficial, there are certain strains of bacteria that can be harmful, and it’s natural for the average homeowner to be concerned with keeping their home as clean as possible. That being said, some rooms are generally bigger concerns than others, and thanks to the onset of bacteria*-killing technology, it’s easier than ever for homeowners to fight back against certain bacteria.
*Kills greater than 99.9% of Staph (Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), E. coli (Escherichia coli), VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis) and Enterobacter aerogenes within 2 hours of exposure on painted surfaces. Learn more about Paint Shield® Microbicidal Paint at; swpaintshield.com
Disinfecting in New Ways
Traditional means of disinfection rely on old-school cleaning techniques like wiping down surfaces with disinfectant products. Today, there’s a host of new technologies designed to kill bacteria with more passive methods. For example, Sherwin-Williams® recently developed Paint Shield® microbicidal paint) , designed to kill 99.9% of certain bacteria like Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) and E.Coli within two hours contact on the painted surface. And it continues to kill 90% of these bacteria even after repeated contamination for up to 4 years as long as the integrity of the painted surface is maintained. There are also special types of lights that kill bacteria, and progress is moving forward on dozens of other potential applications. But even armed with these new technologies, it’s important to know where to concentrate your efforts. The following four rooms are not only the most likely to accumulate the most bacteria, they’re also great areas for using Sherwin-Williams Paint Shield® Microbicidal Paint on the walls, ceilings, doors and trim to serve as a supplement to traditional means of disinfection.
1. Bathroom
When most people think about bacteria in a home, their mind turns to the bathroom. While it’s not the most germ-ridden room in the house (that honor goes to the kitchen), it is a vulnerable point—for obvious reasons. Though you might think the toilet is the most bacteria-laden place in the house, the constant running water makes it relatively clean. Instead, the sink and your toothbrush holder are the most likely places for bacteria to lurk, though the entire room (including the wall space) is subject to bacterial growth.
2. Kitchen
The kitchen is by far the most vulnerable room in your house for the growth of bacteria. As a quick example, your cutting board may have up to 200 times more fecal bacteria than your toilet seat, with kitchen counters, sponges, and sinks contaminated with more bacteria than any other room of the house. It’s vitally important to keep your kitchen as clean as possible, and if you have access to bacteria-fighting paint technology, this is the room to use it on the walls, ceiling, doors and trim.
3. Laundry Room
Let’s not rule out some of the other contenders in your house, however. As you might have originally suspected, your laundry room is another breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria. This is where you take your dirtiest laundry, week after week, and over time, that growth can accumulate on walls and trim.
4. Workout/Exercise Room
If you have a room of your house where you and your family members exercise, you can count on it being ripe with bacteria. Thanks to the conditions of exercise—namely, sweating and constantly touching equipment—it’s easy for bacteria to grow and spread here.
These aren’t the only rooms of your house where fighting bacteria matters. However, these four are critical spots you should consider when trying to reduce bacteria on your homes walls, ceilings, trim and doors.
