Victorian Discoveries On Hygiene

Victorian hygiene has much to teach us today

In modern industrial and post industrial countries we usually no longer keep to the home cleaning standards of times past, in part due to greater food safety and general societal hygiene standards.

However, when a family member catches a disease, it can be helpful to everyone in the household to review and apply specific, disease targeted Victorian innovations in hygiene to maximize the wellbeing of the entire household.

Almost all diseases are spread through exchange of bodily fluids.

This includes blood, fluid from pustules or blisters, mucus from the bronchial passages, and human waste.

Implementing a system of mild quarantine, using proper and timely handwashing techniques, and washing any and all clothing and linens in hot water go far towards keeping contagion down to a minimum.

The patient's room should be as large as possible, with good ventilation and a minimum of cloth to increase comfort and reduce the possibility of short-range atmospheric contagion.

Use appropriate disinfectants on everything.

Antibacterial soap is actually not a good idea outside of a hospital setting, because most of the brands you see today aren't concentrated enough to really do any good.

In addition, no antibacterial soap can kill viruses.

Carbolate of lime solution can be good for disinfecting clothing and surfaces, but it's certainly not the only available solution today.

For personal hygiene, using plain soap and proper handwashing technique goes a long way. Washing your hands properly means to get some hot water going, work up a good lather up to your arms, and keep rubbing your hands and wrists for at least twenty seconds before rinsing in hot water. A good measurement for the time is to say the alphabet to yourself at a normal rate of speed. When done, turn off the faucet with a clean towel or washcloth to avoid picking the infection right back up.

To disinfect clothes, you can either bake or boil.

Considering that most people no longer hoave the facilities to properly bake cloth, boiling in a weak lime solution followed by line drying in full sun is probably the best option.

Cotton is the best option for sickroom cloth widely available today. Linen is also acceptable, but is usually quite pricey and best reserved for formal summerwear instead of sickrooms.

Children, elderly and pets should be especially guarded from contagion.

Children and the elderly often do not have the physical reserves to protect them from disease.

Pets can be unwitting carriers even if they can't get the disease themselves due to species.

While these groups merit special protection, in truth no one should be exposed to contagion if avoidable.

Only those people necessary to the patient's care should be closely involved with the patient.

While visitors are wonderful for brightening a sick day, they should give their well wishes sitting at a certain distance in order to keep everyone safe, which of course is the goal.