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If all members of a household are healthy, cleaning with a disinfectant is unnecessary and may even be harmful, warns Klaus Afflerbach, head of the accident prevention forum of the German Green Cross.
"Hygiene doesn't mean disinfection," Afflerbach says. He points out that excessive cleanliness could cause allergies, respiratory ailments or damage to mucous membranes, possibly due to scents or perfumes contained in disinfectants.
To kill unhealthy germs on dish towels and sponges, he advises either washing them, replacing them or heating them in a microwave oven at 800 watts once a week. Kitchen worktops should be cleaned - especially after contact with meat - with normal household cleaner and water heated to 50 C to 60 C.
Textiles can be machine-washed adequately at temperatures of just 30 C to 40 C, Afflerbach says.
A simple household cleaner is sufficient for the entire home. To remove calcium deposits, Afflerbach recommends a lemon-based cleaner rather than a vinegar-based one. "The effect is the same, but lemon is less aggressive," he says.
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