I have had asthma for a decade and of necessity have been forced to conclude that a bacteria free living environment, as dust free as possible, is an essential element in controlling asthma.

Having reached that conclusion, I proceeded some years ago to take advice as to which areas of my home I should be concentrating on where cleanliness was essential. The more I looked into the problem, the more astonished I was to discover the variety of nooks and crannies I had never considered as places where dirt, germs and bacteria flourished.

When we can visibly see it, dirt can be quickly washed and wiped away. But what about dirt that you can’t see? The fact is, 99% of dirt is invisible, has no smell and goes unnoticed. While we clean the most obvious places, such as Bathrooms and Toilets, I soon found that I was only scratching the surface in my quest for a clean living environment.

Whole areas that I had never considered before are in fact awash with bacteria and germs of all kinds…some too horrible to think about. Whole areas I assumed to be blameless turned out to be breeding grounds for all sorts of “nasties.”

Believe me, computer keyboards, curtains, rugs, carpets, pillows and mattresses which I assumed to be clean are often breeding grounds for potentially harmful bacteria and parasites. Pillows for example are full of dust mites, allergens, dead skin and bacteria… all of which can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate sinusitis.

In fact, contrary to popular belief, synthetic pillows are far worse than those filled with feathers. Pillow cases should be washed and changed monthly and pillows washed every 3 months. Mattresses should be regularly vacuumed. They act as sponges that absorb bodily fluids of various kinds, kept at the right temperature by body warmth and providing the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Even your washing machine, coffee-makers and your dishwasher are not safe. A recent study published in the Journal “Fungal Biology” showed that they are full of potentially lethal germs, such as fungi or mould which can cause conditions such as Dermatitis or Lung Disease. The moulds are heat and salt tolerant and thrive in the creases of the rubber seals around doors. They actually prefer modern washers which operate at lower temperatures and use less water.

The fact is that our homes actually contain more bacteria than you can count in a lifetime. There are huge numbers of human skin cells, dust mites, eggs, spores and the feces of dozens of parasitic and crustacean species. Even the cleanest homes are, in microscopic terms, as dirty as any rubbish dump.

Now the good news is that most of this dirt is harmless to us. It may indeed be a good thing in some ways, helping us to develop effective immune systems when we are children. So while it is wise to keep your house clean, to keep diseases such as asthma under control, the key phrase is “not too clean” (microscopically speaking). Read the rest of this entry »