Latest news with #hygiene
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Local charity rolls out free hygiene kits for families in need
A Simcoe County charity is taking steps to make hygiene more accessible for families struggling financially. Glowing Hearts Charity launched its Hygiene Heroes campaign, providing free hygiene kits packed with essential personal care items to those in need. 'Often budgets only have a small flexible part to it and it tends to be things like hygiene and groceries that can be the first to go when people are tight on funds,' explained Michael Baumtrog, a board member with Glowing Hearts Charity. 'This is the way to provide for those items that are necessary so people can reserve their cash flow for other less flexible areas of the budget.' The kits are customized to fit each household's specific needs and aims to maintain a sense of dignity, especially when money's tight and lead to prioritizing other essentials like rent, food, or transportation over hygiene products. Drop-off Locations Barrie Blue Haven Wellness (July) - 346 Ardagh Rd, Lower Unit BNI Spirit Catchers at Office Inc. (Fridays from 7am to 8:30am until August 15) - 54 Cedar Pointe Dr #1207 BrokerLink (July and August)) - 128 Wellington St. W Unit 1038J6 Nawab's Indian Cuisine (July and August) - 70 Essa Road, Barrie Smiles on Essa Dental - 430 Essa Road Unit 6 Orillia Orillia Chevrolet Buick GMC (July 21 to 25) - 20 Mulcahy Court Orillia Public Library (July and August) - 36 Mississaga St. W. Oro-Medonte The Red Shed Supply Company Ltd. (July and August) - 983 Line 7 South Warminster Tranont Associate (Until August 31) - 20 Demont Drive Wasaga Beach Cutting Edge Salon & Spa (Starting July 7) - 563 River Rd W #1 The Hygiene Heroes campaign is just one of the many initiatives undertaken by Glowing Hearts Charity to reduce barriers and provide support across Simcoe County.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bemis Flushes the Competition With Nationwide Launch of Bidet Toilet Seat at The Home Depot
Affordable, feature-rich Renew Wash bidet toilet seat hits The Home Depot stores, bringing bidets mainstream SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis., July 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bemis, a leading manufacturer of quality, innovative bathroom products, today announced the nationwide launch of its Renew Wash electric bidet toilet seat, now available in The Home Depot stores and online. Priced at $199, the Renew Wash brings a premium set of features — including unlimited warm water, a heated seat, a warm air dryer and a built-in night light — into an affordable, sleek design for everyday consumers. This launch marks a significant milestone for the bidet category in the U.S. as Bemis becomes the first brand to secure a major retail electric bidet placement at Home Depot, helping bring bidet technology into the mainstream retail conversation. With its low-profile aesthetic, advanced features and accessible price point, the Renew Wash is a compelling choice for both first-time bidet buyers and seasoned users seeking high performance without the high price tag. The Renew Wash features include: Unlimited warm water for a comfortable clean Heated seat and warm air dryer Built-in night light for nighttime visibility Adjustable front and rear wash with self-cleaning nozzles Antimicrobial protection on the seat to help prevent odor and stain-causing bacteria, mold and mildew* "With the Renew Wash, we're making modern hygiene accessible and elevating everyday comfort for millions of Americans," said TJ Steifvater, Vice President of Marketing at Bemis. "This launch with The Home Depot not only reflects growing consumer demand, but also reinforces Bemis' leadership in driving bidet adoption in the North American market with innovative, affordable products." For more information on the Renew Wash, please visit *This product does not protect users or others against bacteria, viruses, germs or other disease organisms. Always clean this product thoroughly. About Bemis Established in 1901, Bemis Manufacturing Company is a family-owned business located in Sheboygan Falls, WI. As a leading global manufacturer of toilet seats and other home products, the company distributes its products under the Bemis, Mayfair by Bemis and Bio Bidet by Bemis brands through retail and wholesale channels. Bemis is also one of North America's top non-automotive producers of contract plastic components serving consumer, commercial, medical and industrial markets worldwide. For more information, visit Bemis Manufacturing Company, or View source version on Contacts Media Contact Jessica Sheinprforbemis@
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
Hidden Sensors Reveal Filthy Truth About Handwashing in Hospital Bathrooms
Here's something that will make you lose just a bit more faith in humanity—or at least reach for some hand wipes. New research shows that even in hospitals, a substantial number of people aren't bothering to wash their hands. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England led the study, installing sensors near hospital toilet and sink pipes to keep track of people's handwashing. Nearly half of toilet users skipped the sink after flushing, they found. The researchers say more effective strategies are needed to remind and convince people of the importance of handwashing, particularly in high-risk environments like hospitals. Scientists Capture the Spray From a Flushing Toilet in All Its Disgusting Glory Previous studies have tried to analyze how rigorous people are about handwashing in hospitals and other settings, but they've been limited. Some have relied on asking people to self-report their hygiene habits, for instance, which might incentivize more than a few to fudge the truth. The researchers decided to take a different approach. They connected sensors to toilet and sink pipes that could objectively and non-intrusively detect if and when they were being used. The sensors work by measuring the temperature in the pipes and nearby air; when either cold or hot water passes through the pipes, the temperature sharply changes relative to its surroundings, indicating use. The researchers teamed up with the Bispebjerg Hospital in Denmark to conduct their study (aptly named the 'FLUSH. WASH. PROTECT.' study). For 19 weeks, they tracked people's handwashing behaviors at two public restrooms in the hospital, ultimately recording more than 2,600 flushes. Nearly 44% of the time after flushing, people steered clear of handwashing. At times, non-adherence was even worse, with over 60% of people not handwashing during certain weeks. Non-handwashing was also more common at the start and end of the day and during typical meal times. The team released its findings last week on the Open Source Framework. 'People may assume handwashing is second nature by now—especially in hospitals and post-covid-19—but our data paints a different picture,' said lead author Pablo Pereira-Doel, co-leader of the Human Insight Lab at the University of Surrey's Business School, in a statement from the university. Mosquitoes Have Mixed Feelings About Soap, Study Finds Low rates of handwashing can, of course, make it easier for doctors, patients, and visitors to inadvertently spread dangerous infections to already vulnerable people, including drug-resistant superbugs. Some studies have suggested that certain interventions, like clear signs, can modestly boost handwashing at hospitals, at least temporarily. But given the results here, it's likely we'll need to do a lot more to consistently improve people's hand hygiene. 'These findings are worrying but not surprising. Even simple behaviors like handwashing can lapse without reinforcement. In hospitals, lapses like these can have serious consequences—for patients and for the wider healthcare system. It's time we moved beyond posters and hand gel stations to more effective behavioral strategies,' said study author Carrie Newlands, Lead for Clinical Skills at the University of Surrey's School of Medicine, in a statement. In the meantime, I wouldn't blame you (or myself) for avoiding the standard handshake more often. And just in case anyone needs it, here's the proper technique for handwashing, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CNET
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Your Bathroom Isn't Truly Clean if You Miss These 8 Things
Summer is in full swing. Between vacations, pool and beach trips, keeping your bathroom clean can feel like an impossible task. It's a room that's used every day, but knowing where to start can be a chore in itself. Cleaning may not be the most exciting thing for everyone to do, but your bathroom is one of the rooms you should regularly spruce up. This will help eliminate and limit the amount of germs and bacteria from festering in your home. It doesn't matter if your powder room is long overdue for a deep clean or if you're just curious about a cleaning cadence; we will provide you with insight. Whether scrubbing your toilet or degunking your shower head, this guide makes freshening up your restroom easy and simple. Read more: 15 Filthy Spots That Survived Your Spring Cleaning Rampage, According to an Expert 8 bathroom items you should clean regularly Bathroom rug Once a week, toss the bathroom rug in the washer. Wash it on the gentle cycle in warm water and let it air dry (especially if it has a no-slip grip on the back) before putting it back in place. If you're unsure, always follow the washing instructions on the tag. Toilet David Watsky/CNET If you live alone, you can probably get by cleaning the toilet every few days. If you have kids, the rules change. The outside, handle and seat should get a once-a-day wipedown with an antibacterial cleaner or wipe. Most families can get by with cleaning the bowl once a week, particularly if you use this toilet tank tip. If you have tough stains or gunk in your toilet bowl, we advise pouring Coke (yes, the soda) into a spray bottle and then saturating the stain with the drink. Let it sit for a few hours. You can then easily scrub away the stain with a toilet brush. Shower curtain Once a month, you should take down your fabric or plastic shower curtain and throw it in the wash. Here are five tips for cleaning your shower curtain in the washing machine. Shower and tub You only need to clean your shower and tub once a week, but if you have a glass shower door, it needs a little more attention. To prevent the build-up of soap scum and keep the glass looking spotless, use a squeegee to wipe away water after every shower. These few seconds can save you from scrubbing at the end of the week. Bath towels Josh Miller/CNET My family has had this debate for years. How often should you wash bath towels? Well, it depends. Every three to four uses is a good rule of thumb, but there are some conditions where a towel should be washed after one use. Here's how to know when to wash your towels. Sink The germs from your hands collect on the sink knobs and in the sink bowl when you wash your hands. So, even if you live alone, the sink needs a good wipe down every day with an all-purpose cleaner or antibacterial cleaning wipe. Mirror Like the sink, the mirror needs a daily wipe down to remove lint, dust and toothpaste specks. Simply wipe it down with a microfiber cloth after you step out of the bath or shower. Hair dryer Yes, even your hair dryer needs a proper cleaning schedule to prevent it from overheating. Here's a simple way to clean a hair dryer in just a few minutes. More cleaning tips and tricks
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Swindon convenience store allowed to reopen after rat infestation
A convenience store, which had been closed by council inspectors due to a rat infestation, has been allowed to reopen after making Borough Council served the 9 O'Clock Shop in Manchester Road, Swindon, with an Emergency Hygiene Prohibition Notice and closed the store on 17 June after deeming that it posed an imminent risk to Magistrates' Court was told on Friday that the business had been visited by food hygiene inspectors after a member of the public reported seeing rats on the inspectors allowed the shop to reopen after carrying out a follow-up visit which showed no evidence of pests and that cleaning had improved. However, the store will maintain its zero food hygiene rating until it can demonstrate further improvements have been the initial inspection, inspectors found holes under the butchery floor which were being used by rats and rat droppings throughout the business. Several gnawed food items were found on shelves which were on display for sale and seven dead rats were discovered in the flat above. Councillor Jim Grant, cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: "It is important that we highlight cases like this so customers are aware of the problem and to show that we will deal with it to keep them safe."Significant improvements have been made, which is why our officers have allowed the store to reopen, but it is up to the business owner to keep improving standards for customers and to work on improving the zero food hygiene rating."
