Our home is the comfiest place on earth! This is where we spend almost all our day at – aside from work. As much as we love our home, it may not be as clean as we think. We listed down the top places at home that needs a little bit of love and more cleaning.
Dirtiest Spots
Those that made it to the list might surprise you! Majority are commonly used items and are often touched by you and your family while some just really love being dirty. Get to know them well:
The Kitchen
According to the National Sanitation Foundation, food preparation or storage areas has the greatest number of bacteria and has probable fecal contamination apart from other areas at home. The most popular ones are the sponges used in cleaning the dishes and rags to wipe away surfaces. They were found to have Salmonella and E.Coli . These bacteria cause loose bowels and diarrhea.
Kitchen items such as cutting boards, kitchen sink and countertops, refrigerator and even coffee maker should be cleaned often as they are highly exposed to dirt and possible contamination.
The Bathroom
This place surely is a part of the dirtiest part at home because this is the area where you clean and scrub off all the dirt on your body. Aside from that, the moisture caused by the hot shower and use of water is a good medium for the bacteria to stay and multiply. Areas such as the shower tub, drains, faucets, floor, bath towel, and toothbrush should be paid extra attention because these are the areas that the germs love to stay at.
The Living Room
Things such as remote controls, computer keyboards, cellphones and tablets are the ones you often share with family members and guests at home. Common pathogens that is found on these items are yeast and staphylococcus.
The Knobs, Handles, Light Switch
These knobs, bathroom light switches, refrigerator handles, stove knobs, microwave handles are considered high-touch surfaces. Recent studies show that these areas might even have more dirt and bacteria than the bathroom doorknob or switches. These areas are often forgotten and not commonly cleaned.
The Makeup Bag
Makeups make you look good, but it is also a good place for the germs and viruses to multiply and stay. If your job requires you to bring your makeup bag outside, it might even be dirtier than you think. It can carry the germs from outside and bring it to your home.
You should also keep in mind the expiration date of your makeup. Some makeup loses its touch as the expiration date nears. Change your makeup once expired or when needed. To prolong your makeup, store it in a clean, dry space and at room temperature.
The Pets
Aside from being your bestfriend, your favorite pet is also loved by the germs and viruses in your home. Every time they go out and play then come back, the bacteria and viruses tag along with them. A study conducted by NSF showed that the feeding bowl of your pet is included in the top 5 things that has a lot of germs at home.
Tips on How to Clean
Cleaning is easy but doing it properly is different. It requires a little bit of research to know which areas to focus on. Knowing these will help you in preventing your family from getting sick. Also, it makes you feel even more comfortable because you are sure that you have a nice and clean environment. Here are some tips on cleaning that you should know:
- Scrub the sink using a mix of baking soda and vinegar. Mix a few tablespoons of vinegar with warm water or vinegar and this will be your cleaning solution. Let it stay for a while before rinsing it to remove stains and disinfect it.
- Apply a small amount of dishwashing soap on the refrigerator’s door handle to remove the bacteria. Do not use bleach or any harmful chemical as it might get into your food.
- Remove the faucet filter every few months. Soak it on white vinegar and brush it to remove dirt and stains.
- To prevent bad odour from your garbage disposal, mix a half cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar then flush it on the drain. Let it stay for a few minutes before pouring hot water to rinse it.
- Replace your toothbrush often. You may also put it on the dishwasher and sterilize it for about 10 minutes to remove the bacteria.
- Clean your shower curtain with a mixture of water and vinegar then spray it on the curtain. This helps remove the bacteria and clean the shower curtain.
- In the living room, use disinfect wipes on the remote control or on every item that may be shared with guests when they visit your home.
- Clean your pet’s feeding bowl by removing the food and water left on it. Use vinegar to remove the stain the clean it with dishwashing soap.
- The walls are included in the cleaning too. Wipe off that fine dust on the wall using a soft cloth then gently scrub it off using a cleaner that is safe for your wall.
Try these few tips and let us know if it works for you!