Cleaning and Health: Simple Ways to Stay Safe and Healthy

Ever wondered how keeping things clean ties into your health and even your medication? Turns out, cleaning isn't just about a shiny countertop—it changes how well meds work, helps prevent illness, and keeps side effects in check.

Medicine is part of the picture: whether you're taking antibiotics like ciprofloxacin or managing chronic conditions, your cleaning habits at home can make a huge difference. For example, missing the basics, like not washing your hands before popping a pill or letting dust build up around syringes or pill bottles, sets the stage for infections, allergic reactions, and the risk of messing up your medication.

Ever brought home a new prescription from an online pharmacy? Packaging matters. Wipe down deliveries—especially the ones arriving in the mail. Canada’s best online pharmacies are quick with orders, but those boxes pass through plenty of hands. That quick wipe or a spritz of disinfectant isn't overkill—it's reducing your risk of catching something unexpected.

Cleaning doesn’t just mean soap and water. Sometimes, it’s about organization: keeping blood pressure meds like olmesartan or mental health prescriptions apart from daily supplements like baking soda, or natural choices like Herbolax. Cross-contamination—mixing meds by accident or using dirty pill cutters—can lead to nasty reactions or make your medication less effective.

Notice odd symptoms? Sore throat when you’re not sick, or allergies flaring up at odd times? Often, dust, pollen, or even leftover food particles on your hands can trigger reactions, not the pill itself. Cleaning your environment and washing up before touching medicine fixes a lot of these weird problems before they start.

Got kids with special health needs, like ADHD or cerebral palsy? Clean environments mean fewer sick days and simpler routines. Organize pills in clean, clearly labeled boxes. Wipe down their inhalers if they're using asthma meds or alternatives like those to Symbicort. Cluttered, messy spaces make it easy to miss a dose or swallow the wrong pill.

Even something as basic as changing your bedsheets or regularly dusting can lower your risk of tonsillitis, sinus infections, or allergy flare-ups. If you’re relying on meds to control these, why not give them the best shot at working by knocking out those hidden triggers?

Cleaning isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about making your meds safer and your health stronger. Simple habits—hand-washing, disinfecting, organizing—offer the best payoff whether you’re unboxing a pharmacy order, switching up your prescription, or sticking with your tried-and-true allergy meds. It really is that straightforward.

How do I remove dust or dust mites from old books?

Old books are often the victims of dust and dust mites that can accumulate over time and cause damage. Luckily, there are several steps that can be taken to remove dust and dust mites from old books. Firstly, use a soft-bristled brush to loosen and remove any dust particles. If further cleaning is required, use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to clean the book's cover, spine, and pages. For musty odors, place the book in a plastic bag with baking soda for a few days. Lastly, dust mites can be eliminated with a cloth moistened with mild soapy water or isopropyl alcohol. Following these steps will help keep your old books dust and dust mite-free.

Written by

Edward Jepson-Randall, Mar, 2 2023