Every home and office must stock up on antiseptic
liquids to keep bugs, diseases and germs at bay.
The word ‘antiseptic’ invokes strong childhood
memories in most of us. Injuries on the playground, insect bites and cuts on
the skin after playing with sharp objects would first bring about a large
crying fit! Then our mothers would gently wash the area with medicinal antiseptic
and apply a bandage on it. The fragrance of antiseptic liquid added to water
reminds many of us of those childhood episodes!
In times of illnesses that cause rashes and boils, a wash
with an antiseptic liquid soothes burning and cleans oozing skin. For
years now, mothers all over the world have been soaking their babies’ clothes
in antiseptic liquid before washing them with mild detergent. When it comes to
disease prevention, antiseptics have a wide range of uses – they can be used on
the body, on clothes, utensils and household surfaces to eliminate germs and
ensure protection from illness.
The most common ways of using antiseptic liquids are:
First aid: Cuts, scrapes and grazes are first washed
with diluted antiseptic. This removes surface dirt and broken skin, and cleans
the area for further treatment. Normally, 1 tablespoon added to a large tumbler
of water should suffice.
Clean the skin: Rashes, insect bites, oozing boils
and cut skin are all areas that allow germs to fester. Not cleaning these sites
can lead to infection and disease. It is better to wash the area with antiseptic
liquid or wipe it using cotton pads to sterilise the skin before bandaging it.
Men must wash their faces with diluted antiseptic after shaving every morning,
and follow it up with aftershave lotion for added protection.
Daily hygiene: Adding a few drops of antiseptic to
your bath water can remove as many as 99% disease-causing germs. It also helps
rid the skin of microorganisms that cause acne, dandruff and rashes. It is a
good idea to add a few drops of antiseptic to your regular hand wash to
eliminate the problem of flu and cold germs spreading from one person to
another.
Household cleaning: Antiseptic added to
household cleaning water can remove germs and keep every surface spotless and
sterilised. This is essential during flu and cold season.
Clothes: Add a tablespoon of antiseptic liquid to
your clothes when washing them to remove all traces of bacteria. This is an
important practice to follow when washing the clothes of a family member
suffering from flu, cold, chicken pox or dysentery to curb the spread of germs
to others. Hotels, motels and homes hosting guests must follow this practice
religiously, especially in times of disease outbreaks. Antiseptic must also be
added to the detergent used in washing baby clothes.
Keep away pests: If your home or office is prone to
mosquitoes, bugs and other pests, periodic spraying of all areas with a strong
antiseptic will keep these creatures at bay. Bugs spread several infections, so
one’s surrounds must be cleared of them at the first opportunity.
In intensive cleaning: Make sure you scrub your
chopping board with antiseptic liquid every time you chop meat and fish
on it. This will stop the spread of salmonella and other germs that can enter
food and make you sick. Similarly, antiseptic washes are essential for
areas that deal with blood and organic matter on a daily basis, such as
hospitals and clinics. Unclean and unsterilized instruments can spread
infections between patients.
