A week ago I had a phone conversation with a friend, and what I thought will be a simple catch up convo turned into a woeful learning as I heard her fading voice. She shared with me her worrying experience which brought her child to the hospital. She said one morning her child woke up with chills, high fever and shortness of breath. They got really scared and immediately suspected was Covid. Sine their child had the same symptoms they rushed to the hospital and was immediately put in isolation ward which made them worry more as they are being surrounded with other Covid infected patients. The symptoms were followed by vomiting, and loss of appetite. It was a moment of despair till the results c came back negative. But they symptoms did not go away, they did a series of tests and still no clear diagnosis. After a few more probing and work up they finally found out what is causing their child to be sick. Her child was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ Disease. A disease she has not heard off.
So what is Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ Disease is contracted by breathing in small droplets of water contaminated with Legionella. Symptoms of Legionnaires disease include severe sickness and pneumonia. Legionella can often be found in showers and toilet fixtures, this is the most common breeding ground for legionella bacteria where the water is at an ideal temperature for Legionella pathogens to survive. Dirt, limescale and mineral build up in the crevices, holes and corners of your shower provides nutrition for this type of Pathogen to grow and multiply. If left untreated, Legionella can be fatal.
Ninja Tips:
To ensure your shower is free of Legionella it is best to do Bi-weekly cleaning or at least once a month of your shower heads, hose and toilet fixtures.
Here”s a Step by Step guide on how you can do it.
1. Since Legionella breeds in temperatures between 20-45°C, start by detaching the shower head and dipping it in hot water at 60°C for a minimum of 2 minutes.
2. Take apart the shower head and remove all detachable parts including the filter screen.
3. Place the parts into the sink and soak them in a mixture of baking soda, white vinegar and hot water.
4. Use an old toothbrush and Hokage Mom stain remover or Borax to remove any stubborn built-up residue especially in its holes and the shower hose.
5. Rinse off the parts and refill the sink with a mixture of dish detergent and hot water. Soak the parts for 10 minutes.
6. Empty the sink again and boil a kettle of water to pour over the now cleaned parts to remove the last of the cleaning agent remember to do this carefully.
7. Disinfect you toilet fixtures using Hokage Mom Botanical Disinfectant or Hydrogen Peroxide with 5% concentration to destroy bacteria by breaking down the cells and preventing its growth. Don’t forget to practice dwell time of at least 5-10 mins.
8. Pat dry with Homage Mom Anti Bacterial Microfibre Cloth and reattach the shower.
9. Clean the shower head regularly to prevent the build-up of limescale, minerals and other residue. This build up can clog up the shower head, cause small pools of stagnant water to form and create an ideal breeding ground for Legionella. (Try our Hokage Mom Power Cleaner)
10. For faucet you may put hot water in a bag with the solution before scrubbing it with Hokage Mom stain remover.
Hope this tips help you ensure your family’s health and over all wellness through cleaning. Write down the comments below what other tips you’d like us to share with you.
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