Most people think of bathrooms and toilets as the dirtiest places in the home. That may be true but many other places collect dirt, germs, grime, and bacteria. This list points out locations that require extra cleaning attention.
Remote Controls
Over half of remote controls have germs on them. Many are never cleaned. They are used by everyone in the house with hands that can be wet, dirty, germy, sticky, or oily. This is the perfect environment to pass germs around the family.
Use disinfectant wipes and Q-tips dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean and disinfect the remote. Cleaning remote controls every week is a good habit to develop.
Phones – Cell and Land Lines
Cell phones collect anything on your hands, make-up, and saliva. Several people often use home and office landline phones–increasing the amount of germ and grime build-up and the possibility of infection. Wipe them weekly with disinfectant wipes or rubbing alcohol to keep them clean.
Switches, Knobs, and Handles
Germs can live on handles for two days. Many people use handles, knobs, and switches every day–leaving traces of whatever is on their hands. Wiping handles with a disinfectant cloth should be part of your weekly cleaning routine. These places should be on the list.
- Refrigerator Handle.
- Stove Controls.
- Microwave Handle.
- Toilet Handle, Vanity Knobs, Bathroom Switches, and Door Knobs.
- Front Door Handle.
- Appliance Handles such as toaster ovens, mixers, blenders, dishwashers, etc.
Cutlery Drawer
Cutlery trays and drawers accumulate counter crumbs, grime, and germs. Many hands–not always clean–reach in to grab implements. The drawer, tray, and cutlery should be cleaned monthly.
Your Stove – In, Under, Behind, and Beside
Spills, splattered food, and crumbs run down between stoves and adjacent counters and can end up under or behind the stove. Germs and bacteria thrive in these warm dark locations that are rarely cleaned.
Stoves should be pulled out regularly for cleaning. Stove walls and back, kitchen cabinets, floor, and wall need to be cleaned and disinfected. Don’t forget the burner trays and under the cooktop. Disconnect the power first. Water and electricity together are dangerous.
Toothbrushes and Holders
Toothbrushes remove bacteria from teeth and mouths–and then are left in a container where bacteria can multiply. Spray from handwashing, shaving, and make-up application can also get onto brushes and into the brush holder.
Replace toothbrushes every three months. Disinfect the container every week by soaking it in warm water with a little bleach. Or put it into the dishwasher.
Home Office
Mouse, keyboard, touch screen, and desktop are all touched regularly. Often while eating, after bathroom breaks, or playing with a pet. Germs, bacteria, and grime transfer easily onto everything in the office. Then hitch a ride on your hands to contaminate other areas in the house.
Just using compressed air to clean the keyboard is not enough. All office surfaces should be cleaned every few days with disinfectant wipes and/or cotton-tipped swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol. Make sure you are not dripping liquid into delicate electronics.
Sink Faucets
Faucet handles, spouts, and surrounding areas are usually part of the weekly cleaning routine. Make sure they are disinfected every time. Faucet aerators are often never cleaned until someone notices restricted water flow or unusual spray patterns.
Aerators are the last thing water touches as it leaves the spout. The screen and other parts are often clogged with an accumulation of rust, limescale, and grime. Remove the aerators every couple of months, disassemble them, and soak them in vinegar or lime and rust remover until they are clean.
The Bathroom
Bathrooms are viewed as the dirtiest place in a home. Toilets, showers, humidity, and personal hygiene activities all combine to create the perfect environment for germs and germ growth. Use these bathroom cleaning tips to keep them clean and safe.
- Tub/Shower. Dry after each use.
- Toilet. Clean and disinfect weekly.
- Floor. Stuff gets sprayed or dripped on the floor regularly.
- Walls Around the Toilet. Toilets spray microscopic fecal matter into the air when flushed which sticks to adjacent walls. Use a cleaner with enzymes to break down organic matter.
- Towels and Facecloths. Wash weekly to keep hygienic.
Kitchen Sink and Countertops
Studies have found that in most homes food preparation areas have more bacteria and fecal contamination than other areas. Raw meat, unwashed vegetables, and food preparation along with dirty dishes and leftovers all combine in a small area. Cross-contamination of Salmonella and E. coli is possible.
Use disinfectant wipes regularly on countertops, sinks, refrigerators, and stoves. Clean and disinfect cutting boards after each use. Wash your hands with soap before handling food.
Pets
Pet bowls rank fourth for the most germs in a home. Pet toys can be carriers for mold, staph, and yeasts. Most pets lick, eat, chew, and roll on disease-carrying things outside and then bring the results into the house where they eat, sleep on your lap, and lick your face.
And a Few More
Yeast, mold, fecal matter, viruses, and bacteria have been found on items you may not think of.
- Keys.
- Headphones and Ear Buds.
- Shoes.
- Wallets, Money, Purses.
- Lunch Boxes.
- Backpacks and Gym Bags.
