I can almost guarantee that unless you know some special “germ” secrets, your bathroom may be giving you diarrhea and other unpleasant problems.

Don’t get grossed out — but do get scared enough to take effective action.

Your bathroom is one of the major germ centers of your house, for obvious reasons. If there’s ever a bird flu pandemic, it’s one of the areas you must keep hygienic to prevent the spread of bird flu within your household.

Unfortunately, bird flu is by far NOT the only disease threat you face from your bathroom. So you should not wait until bird flu is killing millions of people before you change some of your bathroom habits.

First habit — in the great traditional battle between men and women about whether the toilet seat should be kept up or down, both men and women are wrong, though women are half right.

The toilet LID should be put down, assuming that after you do your business into the toilet, you flush it.

Studies have shown that when a toilet is flushed, the force of it can send small droplets of urine and/or aerosolized fecal matter as high as twenty feet into the air. They can hit the surface anywhere in even large bathrooms.

Yes, everywhere — onto your combs, your hairbrushes, your hairdryer, your razor — and yes, even onto your toothbrushes.

So if that doesn’t make you close the lid next time you flush — just remember that your fecal matter can contain germs which can cause diarrhea. Maybe you didn’t get it the first time those germs were in your intestinal tract, but give them a second chance at you and maybe you’ll feel them the second time around.

The dirtier the toilet bowl is, the more contaminated material can be spread. So toilet bowls and lids should be sanitized at least weekly.

And while we’re speaking of fecal matter — underwear never be washed in the same load as other clothes. And here I am referring bottom-worn underwear such as boxers and panties, not bras or undershirts.

Yes, fecal matter from your underwear gets mixed in with your other clothes and towels — anything that’s in the same washing machine load. So wash your underwear separately — in hot water — and use bleach to make sure all germs are killed. Once a week or so, run a the washer with an empty load, just hot water and bleach, to disinfect it.

Toothbrushs should be keep in a rack where they dry in the air, because germs prefer wet areas. You should dip them into hydrogen peroxide before and after using them.

Razors should be cleaned and dried after every use.

Your washcloth, loofah or bath sponge can hold bacteria from your skin, including Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause infections and boils if it gets on the wrong part of your body.

Therefore, you should keep them dry between your baths and showers.

And of course wash your bath cloth in the laundry, and wash sponges and loofahs once a week with a mixture of bleach and water.

Of course, you should keep your bathtub and shower and rubber mat and curtains, and all other areas such as sinks and counters clean and — as much as possible — dry. Germs can lurk on every wet surface, so be sure to use strong bleach or disinfectant on any area that’s going to contact your bare skin.

Germs are small and even though we’re generally much cleaner than people were many years ago, most of us still need to improve our hygiene habits — especially in the bathroom.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Americans have had a love-hate relationship with pigeons. While our fine-feathered friends carried thousands of messages that saved many hundreds of lives during World Wars I and II, they have also been a real foe for homeowners. The high concentration of uric acid found in pest pigeon droppings can discolor paint, stain wood, erode metal, and even crumble concrete and expensive stonework. Then there’s the health risk of bacteria, fungi and parasites that live and grow in pigeon droppings, which can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases. The fleas, mites and ticks in wild pigeons can also carry disease. All told, pest pigeon infestations cost homeowners millions of dollars annually.

While some homeowners have resorted to shotguns, poisons and lethal traps to pigeon proof their homes, there are many more humane ways of discouraging these pest birds from making your house their home.

One of the most popular pigeon proof deterrents is the bird spike. Particularly useful for awnings and patio covers, the bird spikes discourage birds from landing. Some spikes are made of rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate. Others have stainless steel spikes. They come in a variety of sizes, are easy to install and won’t harm birds. They are ideal for discouraging pest pigeons from landing on ledges, parapets, beams, pipes, chimneys, cutouts, and light fixtures. Be sure to install a sufficient amount of pigeon proof spikes to cover an entire ledge (otherwise pigeons will get in behind it). Also, be sure to close off corners and all open sides of a ledge.

Another effective pigeon repellant system is pigeon proof netting, ideal for courtyards, patio covers, and rooftops. Properly installed, pigeon netting presents an impenetrable barrier against these pest birds. Bird-B-Gone’s heavy-duty bird net 2000 is most often prescribed by architects. Its ISO 1806 mesh polyethylene fabric is U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. The sub-zero stable, non-conductive webbing comes in 3/4″, 1-1/8″ and 2″ mesh sizes to deter pest pigeons. Bird Proof Netting should be positioned over window recesses, balconies, eaves, and even whole rooftops to prevent pigeons from reaching nesting areas.

To discourage pigeons from simply landing, some homeowners have opted for Bird Slope as an effective means of pigeon pest control. These angled slippery slopes are easy to install and ideal for ledges, eaves, beams and other 90-degree areas where pigeons tend to nest and roost. Pigeons simply can’t get a grip and slide off the ledge. The Bird Slope presents an attractive bird-proofing alternative. The panels come in a two colors, gray or stone-or can be easily painted to match any home’s décor. For wide ledges, the flat base simply glues to any clean surface. For narrow ledges, the slope can be trimmed down. Be sure to use UV stabilized Bird Slope panels, like those offered by Bird-B-Gone.

There are also a number of economical pigeon proof deterrents that have appealed to homeowners. These “bird scare” products include iridescent reflective foil or flash tape, which create an “Optical Distraction Zone” for pest pigeons. Another low-cost visual bird scare device is the inflatable balloon imprinted with lifelike reflective predator eyes and markings. These bird repellers or scare-eye diverters are easy to hang in problem areas. Some bird repellers have iridescent foil eyes to scare away pigeons by day and glow-in-the-dark backsides to keep them away at night. They keep pigeons from landing on trees, overhangs, gazebos, patios, eaves, pool areas, and other areas.

Still another low-cost pigeon deterrent is bird gel, which creates a sticky surface that pest birds hate. Bird Gel is ideal for ledges, parapet walls, pipes, and flat or curved surfaces. A fast and easy way to control pigeon infestation, this non-toxic, sticky substance leaves a surface that’s tacky and uncomfortable to pigeons. The gel skins but never sets hard, yielding an unstable surface for the pigeons to land on.