Ew

Some products that were meant to improve our well- being and health can actually have the opposite effect if used incorrectly. We buy these products with the best intentions: antibacterial soap to kill germs, toothpaste to prevent cavities, a humidifier to relieve sinus congestion. However, everyday items like these can trigger your allergies, leave our skin with a skin infection or cause other problems if used incorrectly. Don't panic yet. The fixes are resoundingly simple, quick and keep us safe.

1. The blender

You know to wash your blender every time you make one of your yummy berry smoothies, but you're most likely to skip one of the crucial parts: the blender gasket. In a 2013 report by NSF International, am independent organisation that tests the health and safety of consumer products, the blender gasket was found to be the third most filthy item in an average kitchen. The blender gasket might harbour harmful microorganisms like Salmonella, E.coli ans mould. When researches asked people what they thought were the top sources of grime in their kitchen, the blender did not even make their list. So reduce the risks of getting food poisoning, we should always disassemble the blender, pull out the blade and gasket for a thorough washing after every use.

2. Your Chair

The risks of sitting keep piling up such as an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and mortality. Unfortunately, research also shows that even if you're a regular exerciser, it's not enough to offset sitting all day during your commute, at work and then at night in front of the television. Unless you get a stand-up desk, you probably cannot change the fact you have to sit at your desk. You can move just a bit more. Get up and walk, be it to the kitchen or to freshen up in the restroom after a certain amount of time. Studies showed that light walking for two minutes out of every hour reduced mortality risks by 23% compared to spending long hours perched on your chair.

3. Rubber spatula

Sure, you may clean it every time after you use it, but you should consider adding an important step: puling the spatula head off the handle before you wash, Forgetting to do so is one of the reasons the NSF declared the rubber spatula the second dirtiest item in the kitchen. It was found to contain E.coli, yeast and mold - not the thing you would want to mix into your batter. To be safe, wash both the spatula and the handle separately. If it's a one-piece, take extra precautions in every cranny and joint as these microorganisms tend to thrive there.