Running the shower for 20 minutes after spending time way from home can save lives, according to a scientist.
Dr Tom Makin revealed he runs his shower for 20 minutes before he gets in and after he turns off the water he leaves the bathroom door shut for a further 20 minutes.
He claims these few minutes of precautions can stop dangerous legionella bacteria in the shower head turning toxic.
Legionella thrives in higher summer temperatures and can cause legionnaire's disease, a condition which triggers potentially fatal pneumonia and organ failure, RSVPLive reports.
The microbiologist told a national newspaper : "I cover my nose and mouth with one hand and turn on the shower with the other," he explains of his first task when he gets home after a break.
"After 20 minutes or so, I’ll turn the shower off and then I won’t go back into the bathroom for at least another 20 minutes."
As more people take showers rather than baths, legionella is on the rise, with an estimated 500 people contracting the legionnaire's disease in Britain every year.
Symptoms including breathlessness, severe chest pain, and fever appear within a few days of infection.
Garden hoses and sprinkler systems can also cause problems, so something as simple as watering the plants could trigger an infection.
"We are seeing longer, hotter summers and that’s going to encourage the bugs to grow," Dr Makin warned.
