I don't have a science background but I'd like to be able to distinguish between viruses and infections, and understand something about germs and bacteria, so I can be more careful about hygiene. Also I'd like to know exactly which potentially disease causing dangers can be neutralized with vinegar alone, and which ones require bleach or something else. Also, how long these dangerous bugs can live.
My main concern is protecting my mother, who lives in a nursing home, so the dangers are limited (I don't need to know about AIDS transmission, for example). She shares a washroom, and quite often I find filthy toilet paper in the open. Can she get sick from this even if she never touches it? Can she get sick by breathing near something like a hamper full of dirty bedding? If the smell is strong enough to be detected, does that mean it could make someone sick?
I bring a vinegar spray bottle with me when I visit, and clean up as much as I can, but I can't clean every surface every time. I don't think I'd consider using bleach since there are no windows or ventilation fans in the immediate area.
We're all aware of the importance of washing our hands frequently, but I still don't know if something on my hands can make me sick even if it never gets ingested. Are there dangers that can get through the skin?
Thanks.