Now more than ever, people are well aware of the possible dangers of bacteria and viruses. Although they are tiny and invisible, an abundance of germs can wreak havoc on your family and lead to unexpected, and certainly undesired, consequences. Kitchens especially, are naturally germ-friendly spaces: They are among the most heavily used rooms in the house, experience lots of grabbing, touching and holding, come in regular contact with foods like meat and seafood, are full of handles and surfaces that are hard (or at least inconvenient) to clean, and are typically one of the rooms outside visitors will dwell in. Bacteria can double within 20 minutes, so even if you slather highly toxic bleach all over your kitchen, but miss one single bacterium, and then go sleep for eight hours, you will be greeted by almost 20 million microbes when you come back to get your morning coffee. Even worse, if you generously use antibacterial soap and disinfectants, they will ultimately become ineffective, and leave you with millions of resistant supergerms, all but ensuring you will not escape the flu (or worse) this year. Unsettling thought, huh? Well, worry not, for there are plenty of tricks you can use to make your kitchen naturally more germ resistant, and therefore lessen the need for disinfectants, which in turn means less supergerms and more peace of mind!
Quartz countertops
Quartz is an extremely hard and nonporous material, rendering it naturally antimicrobial. Additionally, as a combination of natural and engineered materials, quartz is readily available in different styles and colors.
Copper hardware & fixtures
Copper is a metal that has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. Studies have demonstrated resilience against various bacteria, including Staph and E.coli. A beautiful material, copper is a great choice for hardware and fixtures alike. Zinc has similar properties and is a great alternative if you prefer a different color!
Touchless faucets
No matter which material your faucets are made of, reducing the occasions you touch it will slow the spread of germs and decrease your exposure to microbes. Touchless fixtures are increasingly available from various suppliers and in numerous styles, ranging from sleek and modern to ornate and traditional.
Cork flooring
Cork has desirable properties like slowing bacterial growth and is also water-resistant, making it a prime choice for your germ-resistant kitchen. However, if you prefer the feel of more traditional wood or stone, bamboo with its antifungal attributes, and terrazzo as a seamless and nonporous flooring alternative are great options.
Antimicrobial paint
You can have an additive added to most paint varieties to make them resistant to germs and fungi, including mold. This is highly practical in heavily used rooms like the kitchen is!
All in all, there are various possibilities to protect the heart of your home from germs and fungi. Apart from the materials mentioned here, specifically produced artificial options and coatings exist. However, these generally come at an environmental cost, and they also tend to be more expensive than they should, as they are specialty products. While ultimately nothing replaces practicing good hygiene, nature provided us with a variety of products that keep our bodies healthy, and our souls content. If you think it is time to change your life by remodeling your home, give us a call at 562-439-5294!
Zieba Builders has the experience, expertise, and passion to make your next home project a success. Ready to get started on your design & build project? Give us a call or email us today!