There are dirty things all around your house and you touch them every day. Learn what they are so you can clean them.
How clean is your home really?
If you dust, vacuum, clean the bathrooms and more regularly, I bet you would swear it’s sanitary. Yet, you would be surprised to know that there are things in your house harboring more germs that your toilet.
It’s not fun thinking about the areas in your home that are grimy but they could make your family sick. Here’s a list of dirty things in your house that you touch pretty much every single day.
10 Dirty Things In Your House
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1. The Toilet Handle
After you complete your business in the bathroom, what’s the first thing you do?
Flush the toilet.
The handle is one of the most frequently touched areas on the toilet but the least likely to be cleaned. Spray the handle daily with Lysol Disinfectant Spray to get rid of germs.
2. Faucet Handles
Most of the time, you turn on the faucet to wash your hands because they’re dirty. But, then that means that you’re transferring the dirt and germs to the faucet handle.
Just like the toilet handle, spray this with a disinfectant spray to cleanse it.
3. Toothbrush Holder
You know the rule—cover your toothbrush to keep it clean especially if it’s in close proximity to the toilet.
Toothbrushes breed a lot of bacteria and maybe you clean yours frequently. But, how often do you clean the holder?
I’ll admit, I’m guilty of wiping down the holder when it starts looking gross but other than that I don’t pay it much attention.
As it turns out, these little suckers can actually carry some serious germs e.g. staph and mould. Not something, I want on my toothbrush!
Soak your toothbrush holder in hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly, then let it air dry.
4. Bath Mats
Bath mats sit on your bathroom floor, slowly drying after every shower. They provide the perfect damp spot for mold and mildew to form. One easy way to combat this is to hang up the bath mat after every use to let it dry completely, just like you would with your towel.
The fabric mats may soak up a whole lot more than just water though. Urine, spilled bath and body products and hair are the most likely suspects you’ll find. Launder your mats frequently. The amount of time in between washes really depends on your household—once a week for large families and less often for smaller ones. Use your judgement for what works for you.
5. Door mats
Another one of the dirty things found in the house that many people don’t think about is the door mat. Every time you enter your home, you wipe your shoes off on it. This means that whatever you picked up on your outing is now sitting on the mat. Yuck!
Once a week, or more often if the mat is really dirty, shake it off outside to remove loose debris. Vacuum the area under the mat and the door mat itself. Try sprinkling baking soda on it before cleaning to remove odours. Doing this helps to keep your floors clean.
6. Keyboards and Mouse
The crevices of the computer keyboard and mouse are great for trapping dirt and germs. In addition to that, you touch these every day.
Switch off the computer, turn the keyboard upside down and shake it to remove larger pieces of debris from the surface. Use compressed air to dislodge dirt between or underneath the keys. Next, moisten a Q-tip with isopropyl alcohol and wipe between the keys.
Use a cloth dampened with the alcohol to cleanse the surface of the keyboard and mouse.
7. Mattress and Pillows
Your mattress and pillows are breeding grounds for dust mites, bed bugs and also absorb sweat, urine, blood and more. Bet you’ll get a good night’s sleep now!
But, you can clean and deodorize your mattress and launder your pillows to remove all of that. Add a mattress cover and pillow protector to prolong the lifespan of these items. Replace your pillow every one to two years.
8. Out-of-Reach Areas
Out of sight, out of mind.
This is so true for out-of-reach places like underneath or behind heavy pieces of furniture and appliances like the bed, living room sofa or stove. The top of areas like the refrigerator and ceiling fan blades also collect a lot of dust.
While you may not include these areas in your regular cleaning routine, definitely get to them when deep cleaning your home. Get a helping hand to lift heavy furniture and appliances out-of-the-way and vacuum up all the dirt and dust that have accumulated. Use a ladder or telescoping duster to reach those areas high up.
The next time you deep clean your kitchen, move small appliances off the counters and clean underneath those as well. It’s shocking the crumbs and stains that set in there.
9. Wooden Cutting Board
A wooden cutting board is an excellent tool for dicing and chopping veggies. But, since they’re porous, they also host bacteria and germs, if they’re not cleaned properly.
Soaking your wooden board in a basin of water can cause it to warp and crack. Rinse it with hot soapy water instead. To remove odours, wipe off the surface of the cutting board with full-strength white vinegar after every use. Sprinkle baking soda onto the board and rub it in with the cut side of half a lemon to get rid of stains.
10. Pet Toys
Your furry family members may have just as many toys as your human children. And, those toys may be a source of yeast, mold and even Staph bacteria. Take the time to clean you pet’s toys just as you would your child’s.
Place plush toys in the washing machine along with natural laundry detergent. Add vinegar or baking soda during the rinse cycle. Toss hard toys into a bucket filled with a 50/50 solution of warm water and white vinegar. Scrub the toys with a clean cloth and rinse.
I’m sure you want to provide the safest environment that you can for your family so keep this list of dirty things in mind while house cleaning.
Related: The 6 Dirtiest Things You Need To Clean Now
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