Latest news with #ShaninaKnighton
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
You're Probably Waiting Too Long to Replace Your Shower Liner—Here's Why It Matters
Key Points Replacing your shower liner regularly helps protect your health by preventing mold and bacteria from growing in the area where you bathe. Shower liners collect soap, moisture, and bacteria, which can develop into mold and potentially harm your lungs if not cleaned or replaced. Factors such as poor bathroom airflow, long liners, or excessive usage by multiple people can cause your liner to wear out more many things in life, knowing when it's time to replace home items—like air-filters or shower curtain liners—doesn't automatically come along with being an adult. You might have suffered through a few damaged or moldy shower liners without realizing it's time to switch them out. Wondering how often to replace the shower liner? We consulted with two experts—one a cleaning professional and the other a PhD researcher in hygiene and infection prevention—to gain a balanced perspective on the when and why of shower liner the Expert Sofia Martinez, a cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid Austin Shanina C. Knighton, PhD, RN, CICRelated: How to Clean Every Type of Shower, From Glass to Tile Why Does Replacing Your Shower Liner Matter? Sofia Martinez, a cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid Austin, explains that your shower liner is much more than a splash guard (although folks often view it as such). "The liner touches everything—soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and all the humidity in the room," Martinez says. If you don't frequently replace or clean your liner, moisture and humidity from your bathroom will eventually allow mold and bacteria to grow. And mold and bacteria do more than just smell musty (although that's another unpleasant con). Shanina C. Knighton, PhD, RN, CIC, researches both infection prevention and hygiene, and states that shower liners are a breeding ground for mold, especially if you're not on top of regular maintenance and replacement. "If there is visible mold, discolored dots, and you are showering in steam, you could be inhaling mold spores," Knighton explains, "which is not ideal for your health, including your lungs and breathing. Hygienically, a dirty liner can undo all the work you are doing to get clean if you come in contact with it while showering." Related: How Often You Should Clean Every Part of Your Bathroom, According to Experts How Often Should You Replace Your Shower Liner? Martinez suggests replacing your shower liner every six to eight months, but says many factors can influence the ideal replacement time. "If your bathroom doesn't have much air circulation, or if a lot of people are using the shower on a daily basis, you'll probably be able to notice mildew and hardwater buildup more quickly,' Martinez says. 'I'll say that once the liner starts looking cloudy, tacky, or starts to smell musty, it's usually really a good time for a new one.' Regularly inspecting your shower liner will help you check and see if it's time for a replacement. 'Let's say a clear liner turns gray or blurred, a liner gets stained, or smells, and cleaning it does not work, then it is time to change it,' says Knighton. 'I also suggest checking the texture: if the top feels smooth but the bottom is sticky, gummy, slimy, or rough and inconsistent, it is a sign of wear and tear.' According to Martinez, if the liner seems to generally be in decent shape, but has soap scum or shampoo stuck to it, you should be able to clean it sufficiently. She recommends refreshing your liner with a combo of vinegar and baking soda to neutralize Even if your liner says it's 'anti-mold' on the tag, damage and frequent use can throw these claims out the Your Bathroom Environment Impacts the Lifespan of Your Liner Factors like subpar ventilation, frequent shower usage, and high water pressure can all impact the lifespan of your shower liner. Knighton also warns that germs circulate more in bathrooms where your sink, toilet, and tub are positioned closely together, compared to an open, well-ventilated layout. If this describes your bathroom set-up, pay close attention to the length of the liner you choose: Knighton says that a liner that is too long for the tub can cause more germs and mold to accumulate. Regularly cleaning your shower liner can increase its lifespan, but Knighton cautions folks to check their liner's tag for instructions on proper care. 'Some liners will actually tell you what cleaning products are safe or what to avoid so that you don't break down the material by mistake,' she explains. "Be cautious of spraying your liners down with chemicals and not rinsing them off properly. Ventilate, disinfect, and clean, and then properly rinse," Knighton adds. "Without cleaning chemicals off properly, the next time you shower, you will then be breathing in chemicals that are potentially harmful." Read the original article on Martha Stewart
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Passengers should never wash their hands in airplane toilets, experts warn – it can make them dangerously more dirty
WASHING your hands on a plane might sound like a smart hygiene move, but experts say it could leave you dirtier. The warning comes from flight attendants and health researchers who say the water in airplane bathrooms is not as clean as some people might think. 2 2 Most airplane water tanks aren't cleaned often, and bacteria can easily spread, especially mid-air. A 2017 study published in the Annals of Microbiology found more than 50 different strains of bacteria in ice samples used on planes. "A consistent percentage of the microorganisms identified from ice are known agents of human infections," researchers wrote. "My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all," Charles Platkin, who led the study, told Travel + Leisure. "I don't wash my hands either. I have wipes that I use," Platkin said. Even if toilets are cleaned regularly, "the locks and door handles are not," warned flight attendant and travel blogger Josephine Remo. Shanina Knighton, a research associate professor at Case Western Reserve University, said she avoids the airplane bathroom when she can. "I'm mindful of surfaces, especially the latch on the bathroom door, which everyone uses to open the door, even if they haven't washed their hands," she said. Contaminated airplane water can "wreck your vacation before you even arrive," Knighton said. "I wouldn't want to start a vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure," she added. I save £100s with 'secret' airport hack that lets me sneak extra bag on plane - it's completely legal & costs just £1.55 Instead of using the tap, Remo suggests using hand sanitizer after touching luggage, tray tables, or anything in the seat pocket. She added that passengers should wash their hands properly once they land. A former flight attendant speaking to Sanctuary Bathrooms described the loo as "essentially a cupboard, with no clean air." "There is no window and the air ventilation is poor," she said. "You could also be breathing in potential faeces particles, circulating the air after a toilet flush," said Knighton. She also warned against brushing your teeth onboard, since the water is often unfiltered and comes from the same tanks. "Use bottled water but my main piece of advice would be, do not take your toothbrush or wash bag anywhere near an airplane loo," she said. Passengers were urged to hover over the seat instead of sitting on it and, in general, to keep their shoes on while on the plane. KEEP SHOES AND STOCKINGS ON "Due to the high chance of unbalance and people missing the toilet bowl, there could be urine on the floor," Knighton said. "If you carried this from your sock into your shoe and back into your home – that would be incredibly unhygienic." She also urged travelers to shower as soon as they land. Knighton said she always used to hop in the shower immediately after returning home from work. "As soon as you arrive at your destination, put your clothes in the wash and have a good scrub," she said. "I always used to shower straight after work and sometimes the water would turn brown."
New York Post
30-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
The dangerous takeout mistake too many New Yorkers make — one that could actually kill you
New Yorkers certainly love their takeout. Supposedly, around 45 to-go food searches are made each month per 1,000 residents, according to a study from Betway, originally reported by Time Out. While it's easier than ever to snap your fingers and have food delivered to your home — New Yorkers have to be careful with how long they're holding onto their leftover food and how they're reheating it, especially leftover food involving rice. Advertisement Surprisingly, cooked rice can harbor a toxin-producing bacterium called Bacillus cereus. 3 ahirao – '[The bacteria] survives the initial cooking process as a spore and if [the rice is] left out at room temperature, it'll produce toxins,' Emily Hovis, an assistant teaching professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health, explained to Right as Rain by UW Medicine. Advertisement 'So even when you reheat [rice], you're killing the vegetative cells, you're not destroying the toxins.' And these toxins can cause food poisoning or sometimes more serious health issues, especially if a person has a compromised immune system or is pregnant. When reheating rice or any leftover food — on the stovetop or in the microwave — the food should reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees, according to experts. You can check this using an inexpensive food thermometer. 3 There are certain things to know about reheating leftover food. Getty Images/iStockphoto Advertisement Speaking of reheating, as tempting as it may be to throw your leftover pasta in the microwave to reheat it using the plastic container it came in — experts warn against this. As reported in Well & Good, those containers can have materials that spread chemicals like microplastics, phthalates or BPA into your food. 'When these plastics are heated, they can break down and release harmful chemicals into your food, increasing your exposure to toxins,' Shanina Knighton, PhD, RN, an infection preventionist and adjunct associate professor at Case Western Reserve University, told the outlet. 3 As tempting as it may be to reheat food in the plastic container it comes in — try your best to avoid doing it. Seventyfour – Advertisement 'The hotter, greasier, or more acidic your food is, the more likely these chemicals will leach into your meal,' the expert said. Instead of lazily relying on the dangerous takeout containers, store your leftover food in the fridge in a container with an air-tight lid and always reheat it in microwave-safe ceramic, glass bowls or plates, according to the Food Network. And considering 32% of Americans admit they're likely to forget about leftovers once they're out of sight, try not to let your leftover pizza sit in the fridge for longer than three or four days, because food can still go bad there. According to the USDA, 'spoilage bacteria can grow at cold temperatures, such as in the refrigerator. Eventually, they cause food to develop off or bad tastes and smells.'
