How to Prevent Athlete’s Foot from Spreading in Your House.
Understanding How Fungi Spread
Athlete’s Foot is not only highly contagious, but it can spread through indirect contact. Microscopic spores are released into the environment, and spread by attaching themselves to their host. Spores can remain dormant for several months, opportunistically waiting for the right time. Spores turn into an infection once the environment is warm and moist, commonly leaving our feet vulnerable.
Aside from antifungal medicine for treating existing infections, removing spores from surfaces within the environment is the main strategy for preventing spreading infection to others in the household.
Protecting Others
Avoid Sharing Personal Items.
This includes towels, shoes, socks, or other clothing. Contaminated items should be wash separately in hot water.
Good Hygiene
Avoid scratching infected areas. Spores will attach to your fingers, and can spread infection to other parts of your body, or other people, touched afterward.
Sandals should be worn in public showers and locker rooms that remain damp for long periods of time.
Keep Surfaces Clean. Regularly clean high traffic areas, bathrooms, showers, and bathtubs to prevent spores from accumulating in the environment. Single use microfiber mop pads and hand pads are cost effective and simplify the job by avoiding the risk of spores spreading in the laundry. Microfiber can trap more spores, and trap them better than other fabrics. Mop pads can be used with Swiffer Power Mop, Bona, or any flat mop with hook and loop head.
