Americans Overdosing on Cleanliness

(Jan. 27) -- The average American household washes 600 loads of laundry a year. If that sounds like a lot, consider that we're also overloading on detergent -- so much so that clothing is actually left with dirt- and germ-attracting residue.

Detergent companies are fast-tracking new, easier-to-read bottle cap measuring devices in an effort to deal with the problem. But it's yet another example of America's "more is better" approach to the fight against grime. From hand-washing to bathroom cleaning, we're guilty of doing more harm than good -- especially to our health -- with overzealous efforts.

When it comes to your own skin, washing up can prevent the transmission of contact-related illnesses, like the common cold. But evidence suggests that most Americans are doing it wrong, and also mistakenly consider personal hygiene a cure-all.

Swine flu, for example, launched a hand-washing mania, even though experts doubted that clean skin could do anything to prevent an outbreak. Flu particles thrive in the air but not on hands, so you'd be more likely to fall ill if a sick seat-mate sneezed than if he rubbed his nose before shaking your hand.

Then there's the hand sanitizer debate. Travelers tote mini-bottles of clear anti-microbial gel, and many health care institutions have vats filled with the goo at front doors. The alcohol-based products are effective at killing germs, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent suggests sticking to plain soap for day-to-day cleaning, because excessive use of hand sanitizers creates cracks in the skin that are openings for bacteria and strips skin of natural protective oil.

As for food, recent concerns about contamination ironically might be related to over-washing, according to Keith Warriner, a Canadian microbiologist. By stripping food, especially fresh produce, of all bacteria, we eliminate the good along with the bad. And some bacteria actually stave off dangerous pathogens, like salmonella.

Even the Food and Drug Administration recommends avoiding soap or commercial washing products when it comes time to make a salad. Water and a clean cloth are sufficient, and over-washing can actually strip produce of valuable nutrients, especially B vitamins.

Finally, household chores are a day-to-day habit that might be responsible for major health problems. Manufacturers of home-cleaning products aren't required by law to list every ingredient on product labels, which means Americans are scrubbing toilet bowls and kitchen counters without being fully aware of what they're using.

A study published this week in Environmental Health Perspectives found that household products containing PBDE chemicals retarded a woman's chance of getting pregnant by 50 percent. Study authors blamed "exposure during dusting or cleaning" for the fertility risk.

Harsh household cleaners, especially disinfectants and bleach, are also being blamed for the surging rates of asthma and allergies among kids. Researchers at England's Bristol University hypothesized that exposure during fetal development could affect lungs and airways.

And then there's the toilet seat. A resurgence of toilet seat dermatitis, announced last week by a research team at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, is being blamed on harsh cleaning chemicals. In this case, experts recommend avoiding store-bought cleaners altogether. The potential consequence of overdoing it on bathroom disinfectants? Inflammation, serious infection and skin eruptions.