Dirty Thirty #3: Antibacterial Cleaners

Ahhhh, that sparkling clean kitchen! Did you know that by using antibacterial cleaners, though, you are actually killing good bacteria and mildly harmful bacteria and leaving room for super-bacteria to grow? As bacteria mutate, they become immune to the antibacterial cleaners and we are creating "super bugs" that are more harmful than the bacteria we are trying to kill in the first place. This is akin to doctors overprescribing antibiotics, and now we have more harmful bacteria that cannot be killed using those drugs.

Also, think about what chemicals you are using in your kitchen. Don't forget that you cook food there. Do you really want to clean with something that can be harmful if ingested?

In addition, bacteria actually help build immunity from an early age. The old-school of thought is that the more colds kids get at a young age, the healthier they'll be throughout their lives. Another one of grandma's thoughts that is true!

The same goes for hand-sanitizers and anti-bacterial soap. Warm, soapy water is the best and healthiest way to keep clean (and keep some of those good bacteria around).

For more information on how we need bacteria read Michael Pollan's article in New York Times Magazine here.

Check back tomorrow for another Dirty Thirty!