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10 things aeroplanes aren’t cleaning as they should

<h2>Illness breeding ground</h2> Sitting amongst strangers in a confined space for any amount of time just feels like a breeding ground for illness. But how well are these aircrafts being cleaned? The answer may make you pack your own sanitising wipes ahead of your next flight. <h2>Seatbelt buckles</h2> Unless you ask the person sitting next to you to buckle your seatbelt (which we don’t recommend), you’re going to touch that piece of metal at least twice during a flight, once before takeoff, and once when you land. Unfortunately, these oft-used items aren’t getting the spick and span treatment you’d like. According to Travelmath, the average aeroplane seatbelt buckle tested for 230 colony-forming units (CFU) per square inch. <h2>Seatback pockets</h2> That slim seatback pocket looks innocent enough at first glance. After all, it holds your passenger safety information and inflight magazine. But the cloth that covers it isn’t getting much attention from cabin cleaners. According to a study conducted at Auburn University, the pocket is pretty darn disgusting. Seeing as passengers often stuff trash in that pocket (think used tissues and dirty diapers), it sees its fair share of bacteria. In fact, their study showed that the germs found in this location survived the longest out of any surface on an aeroplane at around seven days. <h2>Tray tables</h2> Cabin cleaners only do a speedy wipe down of aeroplanes in between flights because they simply aren’t given enough time to do more during these quick turnovers. Believe it or not, tray tables aren’t typically among the surfaces that get cleaned between domestic flights, according to the Wall Street Journal. They typically are only addressed during overnight cleanings. <h2>Headrest</h2> A different study of airline hygiene conducted by Marketplace and analysed in a laboratory at the University of Guelph cited a different surface as being the most bacteria-laden – the headrest. According to their study, the “highest total aerobic count, hemolytic bacteria, and E.coli” were found here. The headrest is nearly impossible to avoid unless you bring something to slip over it, which makes sense that it would come into contact with the most germs. <h2>Blankets</h2> Complimentary blankets are pretty much a thing of the past among airlines these days, particularly in economy class, and that might just be a good thing. Back in 2008, the Wall Street Journal revealed that these once common aeroplane items were only washed every five to 30 days. When flying, BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket). <h2>The floor</h2> A quick vacuum job in between flights does not a clean carpet make, especially when you have hundreds of pairs of shoes traipsing up and down the aisles of an aeroplane day-in and day-out. According to an article in USA Today, cleanliness isn’t regulated by the FAA. It’s standard that a plane goes through a deep clean about once a month and perhaps then that carpeting will get extra attention. Even so, it’s best to steer clear of placing your belongings on the floor if you can help it. Once you’ve reached your destination, here’s how to have a healthy and clean hotel stay. <h2>Bathroom surfaces</h2> Yes, cabin cleaners do a wipe down of lavatories after an aircraft’s passengers have deplaned, but think about how many people use the facilities during the flight and how many hours go by before that cleaning happens. In an interview with TIME, University of Arizona microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba said, “It’s hard to beat the restroom because the water shuts off so people can’t complete hand washing. The sinks are so small that people with large hands can’t even fit them fully underneath the faucets.” <h2>Menus/safety information pamphlets</h2> We’ve already addressed the icky stuff that often contaminates seatback pockets, but consider the material that’s actually supposed to be in this area. With barely ten to 15 minutes to tidy a cabin, according to the New York Times, cleaners don’t have time to wipe down every menu and safety pamphlet in those pockets. When you consider how often they are touched by human hands (and the garbage that gets tossed into the pockets), this literature is a breeding ground for gross. <h2>Overhead air vent</h2> Adjusting that overhead air vent is something most passengers do to personalise their limited space for comfort, but who is cleaning that surface? Likely no one. It’s one of the dirtiest spots on an aeroplane according to Travelmath. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/flights/10-things-aeroplanes-arent-cleaning-they-should" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

12 ‘healthy’ hygiene habits that are actually bad for you

Cleaning out your ears with cotton buds Some people swear on cotton buds to dig out ear gunk, but medical experts will warn you not to try it. And for good reason – those seemingly harmless cotton swabs have caused countless catastrophes, from punctured eardrums and ear infections to even hearing loss. According to audiologist, Brande Plotnick, the ear canal doesn’t even need to be “cleaned.” Enough water enters the ear canal during showers to naturally slough away wax that has accumulated. Bubble baths/bath bombs Soaking in scented suds seems like the perfect way to unwind after a long day, but you may just find yourself with irritated skin and a nasty yeast infection. The fragrances and harsh detergents inside your favourite bath bombs can strip protective oils from the vagina and mess with the natural pH balance of the skin. Dr Jen Gunter tells Safe Bee that bubble baths increase your odds for uncomfortable dryness, vaginal infections, and even bladder infections. Douching Gynaecologists everywhere agree that douching isn’t exactly recommended for your vaginal health. Wendie A. Howland, principal of Howland Health Consulting, tells Reader’s Digest that douching disturbs the normal pH and washes out beneficial bacteria, leading to an array of possible infections. A study from Environmental Health even found that douching products increase your exposure to harmful chemicals called phthalates, which can disrupt your hormones, increase your risk of chronic disease, and lead to reproductive problems down the line. Hand sanitiser If you’re a habitual pumper, you may actually be doing more harm to your health than good. Triclosan, a synthetic compound found in hand sanitiser, is a poor (and dangerous) replacement for soap and water. Triclosan has been linked to disrupted hormonal development, a reduction in bacterial resistance and an increase in allergies. According to the Australian Department of Health, it can also irritate the eyes and skin. Air dryers Sure, air dryers are better for the planet than paper towels, but research from the Mayo Clinic shows that paper towels easily trump electric dryers when it comes to personal hygiene. Electric air dryers fail at wiping away the leftover bacteria after washing, and even worse, they can literally spread it to the entire room, creating a contagious mist that contains many types of faecal bacteria. This reach is pretty powerful – studies found a substantial number of airborne bacteria within a radius of approximately two metres from the user. Relaxing in the shower There’s nothing like lingering in a long, hot shower, especially first thing in the morning. But is it good for your skin? Dr Alan J. Parks warns that hot showers strip protective oils from your skin, so you should always keep them as short as you can. Better yet, take them at night – hot showers are actually most beneficial at night, according to science. The cooling process that happens afterward slows down the body’s metabolic activities (like digestion, breathing, and heart rate), making for an easier sleep transition. Washing your hair every day While most of us have been conditioned (pun intended) to rinse and repeat ad infinitum, your locks may be paying a toll. Washing your hair on a daily basis strips away the natural oils that the hair needs, leading to dry, brittle locks, even if you have oily hair. Moisturising too much If you have dry, itchy skin, it seems natural to want to slather on the lotion every chance you get. But this may not always be the smartest alternative. According to the experts at Garnier, applying excessive moisturiser at night can create a tolerance, which trains the skin to produce less natural emollient, making it even drier in the long run. This results in a vicious cycle where your skin is no longer producing necessary nutrients, which only causes you to moisturise more. To prevent the problem, apply just a thin coat of moisturiser or try using an oil-free balm instead. Brushing your teeth right after a meal Sticklers for oral hygiene may make a dash for the toothbrush after every meal, but that’s a mistake. That’s because certain foods, especially those containing citric acid, can weaken tooth enamel, and brushing too soon after eating damages the enamel in its already weakened state. Mayo Clinic recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after a meal so saliva can neutralise the acid in your mouth and strengthen the enamel on those chompers. Exfoliating too much You may feel like you’re taking extra good care of your skin with frequent scrubs, but in reality, you could be damaging your epidermis (the outermost layer of your face), stripping the pores of their much-needed barrier against the environment. According to Dermatology Alliance, your glands produce more oil to compensate, and as the skin fluctuates between too dry and too oily, it gets stuck in a cycle of imbalance. Ditch the scrub and switch to chemical exfoliants that are free of parabens and safe to use on a weekly basis. Sneezing into your hand Covering your sneeze with your hand is better than sneezing into the abyss, right? Nope. Using your hands and subsequently touching food, money, or other people is a clear recipe for contagion. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most serious respiratory illnesses are spread by touching objects with contaminated hands. The Australian Department of Health advises that you sneeze into your elbow. Spritzing fragrance in underwear Although most people have enough sense not to spray perfume directly into the nether regions, you might try deodorising your underwear instead. The truth is that anything chemical near the genitals can interfere with your natural pH, and it’s likely you’ll be stuck with a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, or urinary tract infection (which ironically, all end up causing worse smells than what you started with). Do yourself a favour and let your self-cleaning vagina do the work – it knows what it’s doing. Written by Hana Hong. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/12-healthy-hygiene-habits-that-are-actually-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

How to keep your contact lenses clean (and what can go wrong if you don’t)

You’re rushing and accidentally drop a contact lens on the bathroom floor. Should you: a) run it under the tap and pop it in? b) spit on it and do the same? c) use the cleaning solution your optometrist insists you use? d) replace it with a new lens? e) do any of the above. It doesn’t really matter. Don’t do what champion boxer and rugby league legend Anthony Mundine did in 2007 and go for (b) spit on your lens. He ended up in hospital with a severe eye infection. If you chose c), it’s true that rubbing your lens with the cleaning solution for 20 seconds will remove some microbes. But you would need to soak the lenses in the solution for a minimum four to six hours to disinfect the lens effectively. The best answer is d) replace with a new lens. Running the lens under the tap, option a), risks your lens and eye becoming infected with a microorganism found in tapwater that could lead you to losing your sight. Not all eye infections are harmless Aren’t all eye infections conjunctivitis? Like the kids get, bit of redness, icky discharge, drops from chemist, all good after a week? No. If your contact lens mixes with water, you could get a rare but severe infection called acanthamoeba keratitis. Of the 680,000 contact lens wearers in Australia, we estimate 10-20 a year are affected by the condition. Of these, we estimate about two to four people a year will need a transplant at the front of their eye to regain vision; about two to five people will need treatment for more than a year. The condition mostly affects people who wear soft contact lenses, the main type worn in Australia. We found about one-third of bathroom sinks in greater Sydney contain acanthamoeba. We assume it’s present in other parts of the country but no-one else has studied it so don’t know how common it is elsewhere in Australia. Acanthamoeba are free-living protozoa (single-celled microorganisms) that feed on bacteria and cells at the front of the eye, the cornea. This leads to inflammation, disorganisation and destruction of the cornea, blocking vision. The vast majority of acanthamoeba keratitis occurs in contact lens wearers. But you can minimise your chance of getting it. Avoid exposing your lenses to water, including running them under the tap, in the shower or while swimming. In fact, many new packs of contact lenses now carry “no water” warning stickers. Another of our studies shows this particular warning sticker can change behaviour. Contact lens wearers who see this sticker are more likely to avoid water. Their contact lens storage cases were also less likely to be contaminated with bacteria, meaning less chance of bacterial infection and less food for acanthamoeba. You can catch other eye infections too While acanthamoeba infections are rare, bacterial eye infections are much more common, estimated to affect around four per 10,000 contact lens wearers a year. About 13% of people whose eyes or contact lenses are infected with bacteria lose substantial vision. That’s equivalent to two lines or more on the vision chart optometrists use. Most people’s infections improve in two to four weeks by using antibiotic drops. However, bacterial infections can be severe and fast-acting. The main bacterium responsible for contact lens related infections is pseudomonas, another water-loving microorganism. It can sometimes burrow through the eye surface in hours. There is no evidence to suggest wearing contact lenses increases your risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. So how do I avoid all this? These evidence-based tips for healthy contact lens wear will help you avoid infections: <ul> <li>wash and dry your hands before handling lenses or touching your eyes</li> <li>rub, rinse and store contact lenses in fresh disinfecting solution. Topping up old solution with new is an infection risk</li> <li>clean your storage case with the disinfecting solution and leave to air dry upside down between uses</li> <li>don’t use water with lenses or cases</li> <li>avoid wearing your lenses overnight.</li> </ul> How do I know if I have a problem? If your eyes sting, are red and watery, blurry or are otherwise uncomfortable while wearing your lenses, remove them. If your symptoms get worse, visit an optometrist. GPs do not usually have equipment with enough magnification to diagnose potentially serious eye infections. Pseudomonas is resistant to the strongest over-the-counter drops, chloramphenicol. But most optometrists can treat eye infections by prescribing eye drops and can refer you to an ophthalmologist (a specialist eye doctor) if needed. Written by Misha Ketchell. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-keep-your-contact-lenses-clean-and-what-can-go-wrong-if-you-dont-141117">The Conversation</a>.

Body

Why you need to worry about hand sanitiser

How safe are hand sanitisers? You’ve heard the advice since you were young – wash your hands to avoid getting sick. And now hand sanitiser has swooped in as a way to keep our hands clean, even when we’re on the go. It comes in appealing scents, fun squeeze bottles, and it’s often marketed toward kids. But is hand sanitiser safe to use? Here’s what you need to know. Are all hand sanitisers the same? Many people might not know that not all hand sanitisers are created equal. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), it’s important to use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. This type of sanitiser not only is more effective at killing germs, but non-alcohol based sanitisers can actually be harmful and can cause germs to develop resistance to sanitising. It’s especially important to avoid hand sanitisers that contain triclosan, a synthetic ingredient added to many antibacterial products. The FDA warns that “high doses of triclosan is associated with a decrease in the levels of some thyroid hormones [and may contribute to] making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.” Does hand sanitiser prevent illness? Hand sanitiser can’t rid your hands of bacteria if you’re not using it correctly. Remember to use the proper amount of sanitiser, to rub it over all surfaces of your hands, and to let the product dry. Also, don’t wipe your hands or rinse them after applying. When used correctly, alcohol-based hand sanitisers kill at least 99.9 percent of viruses, fungi and bacteria. So after you touch that public stair railing or shopping cart handle, using hand sanitiser can help you avoid a cold or flu virus. But keep in mind, people often pick up a virus after inhaling droplets in the air, and unfortunately, hand sanitiser can’t help you with that. Which is more effective – a hand sanitiser or soap and water? Although that tingling feeling of a hand sanitiser may feel like the best and most effective way to cleanse your hands, the reality is, nothing beats plain old soap and water. The CDC says the best way to prevent the spread of infections and decrease the risk of getting sick is to regularly wash your hands, whenever possible. Try to only use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not accessible, like when you’re in the car, when you’re shopping or at a movie or concert. Also remember that hand sanitisers should not be used after handling chemicals or when hands are visibly dirty, in those cases use soap and water. Written by Erica Young. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/tips/why-you-need-to-worry-about-hand-sanitiser?slide=all">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Caring

The 10 cleanest airlines in the world revealed

Planes, as many of us know, are not the most sanitary of places. As disgusting as it is to admit, a bunch of people sitting in a stuffy seat day in and day out, wiping their greasy palms all over the arm rests and in-flight screen entertainment can make an environment seriously dirty. While it can be worrying, rest assured that there are some pretty fantastic airlines out there who you can rely on for a clean flight. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worldairlineawards.com/" target="_blank">Skytrax’s World Airline Awards </a>has announced the cleanest carriers of 2018 after passenger’s rated various airlines by the “standard and quality of cleanliness of their aircraft cabin.” The cleanliness of tables, carpet, panels, washrooms, cabin panels and seats were all factors considered in the results. Scroll through the gallery above to see the world’s cleanest airlines. Have you ever flown with any of these airlines? Let us know in the comments below.

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