This is the first thing you should do when you rent a holiday home
We love vacations. Preferably as often and for as long as possible. From a food trip to Singapore to sipping wine in Azerbaijan; bliss! But we’re also always up for renting a holiday home in the Netherlands. BBQ packed, pizzarette in the back and off we go. Only… there’s one thing we always do first as soon as we walk in. And no, it’s not unpacking your suitcase or inspecting the fridge. This is about your health.
Renting a holiday home? Watch out for stagnant water
There are more than 130,000 holiday homes in the Netherlands. A great many of them are empty for much of the year. Fine if you want a quiet week away, less ideal if the house has been untouched for months. Why? Because stagnant water in the pipes is the perfect breeding ground for an invisible surprise: Legionella.
What is Legionella (and why should you take it seriously)?
The Legionella bacterium grows in water that has been stagnant for too long, especially between 20 and 50 degrees. And wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly the temperature of the water pipes in an average holiday home on a summer’s day. Think of the shower, boiler, outdoor tap or hot tub. The scary part? You don’t get sick from drinking contaminated water, but from inhaling it. Mist droplets from the shower or steam from the hot tub can give your lungs quite a surprise. Not a pleasant one.
From holiday vibes to Legionnaires’ disease
If Legionella makes you sick, you develop what is known as Legionnaires’ disease. Sounds epic, but it’s simply a nasty form of pneumonia. The name comes from an incident in 1976, when a large group of veterans suddenly fell ill at a reunion. The cause: contaminated air-conditioning systems. The disease was named after them. Older people, smokers and those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Under 40, you’re hardly at risk, but as a thirty-something, dancing under a six-week-old steam shower? Why would you?
Be careful with hot tubs and humidifiers
Thinking, “Then I’ll just skip the shower”?—think again. Legionella also hides in humidifiers, bubble baths, plant sprayers and, yes: hot tubs. So that Instagram-worthy hot tub in your woodland cabin? Maybe flush it thoroughly first or simply skip it. Unless you also want to end your vacation with a course of antibiotics.
The solution? Simple and effective
Before you let the holiday feeling blow in through the French doors, do this first:
- Turn on ALL taps (hot and cold) for 2 minutes.
- Let the showerhead run into a bucket to prevent misting.
- Place a towel over the bucket to reduce the effect even further.
- Open windows and doors for ventilation.
Extra tip: don’t forget the garden hose outside; it’s also a great hangout for bacteria. Flush it thoroughly before using it to fill a paddling pool or rinse your feet.
What you should do as soon as you arrive
Of course, you want to switch on those holiday vibes immediately: slippers out of the bag, rosé chilled, first bag of crisps open. But turn on that tap before you inspect the wine rack. It only takes two minutes. And afterwards? Fire up the pizzarette, get the BBQ ready or look for that game where you’re convinced someone is cheating.
Why nobody tells you this
Because when renting a holiday home, you usually think about towels, clean bed linen or whether there’s a citrus press. Not about a bacterium lurking in the shower drain. Yet this tip is sometimes buried in the small print of many holiday parks. Only: who reads that?
Don’t let a bacterium ruin your vacation
You don’t have to become paranoid, but paying a little attention can’t hurt. And let’s be honest: better to waste two minutes of tap water than take antibiotics for two weeks. So the next time you rent a holiday home: turn on that tap. And afterwards? Just do absolutely nothing. That’s what vacations are for.
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