Melissa Kaplan's Herps: Cleaning and Disinfecting

Melissa Kaplan's
Herp Care Collection
Last update January 1, 2014

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Species:
Amphibians
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About Melissa Kaplan

Cover Image: Iguanas for Dummies. Book written by Melissa Kaplan.
by Melissa Kaplan

Advance Care Directives
Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases
Lyme Disease & Coinfections

Blogs:
Lizards-in-Scarves

When we keep pets, we not only have to be concerned about their health, but about how keeping them can affect our health. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonoses. While you will find information on zoonoses elsewhere at this site, this page on cleaning and disinfecting addresses these two concepts as well as to help point out the risks of going overboard, as that, too, may cause human health problems.

Handwashing
The Today Show on 12/12/96, discussed the results of a recent study on handwashing in schools was discussed. In this study, the schools required the children to wash their hands when they came to school, after recess, before lunch, and again after recess. Absenteeism was reduced by 23%. The students were using regular school soap, not antibactieral soap. More infectious organisms are spread by direct contact than by airborne droplets (as from sneezing and coughing).

Dirt on Soap
Hand-Transmitted Infection
Wash your hands!

Inappropriate/Excessive Use of Antibiotics and Antibacterial Products. The latest trend in "new and improved" is going to make us sicker, not keep us healthy

Antibiotic agent may not kill all germs (Triclosan)
Antibacterial Products May Fuel Growth of Superbugs
Researcher urges less use of antibacterial products
Do antibacterial soaps work? FDA advisers say no better soap
Too clean is no good
National Antibiotic Monitoring System (NARM/CDC)

Herp Housing Cleaning & Disinfecting
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Disinfectants
That cleaner may not be doing what you think it is...
The Dirt on Soap
Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide as Disinfectants
More on Vinegar & H₂O₂ & Foodborne Organisms

Other Useful Information...
Natural Pest Control
Useful tips for maintaining a healthy home
A Guide for Selection & Use of Disinfectants (PDF)

Just for Fun
Hate housework? Can't find a reliable cleaner? Try a slug.