You think your house is clean. You vacuum and wipe down counters. But did you know there is so much more happening than you think?
Germs hide on your remote controls, light switches, and doorknobs, things you use every day but never clean. These are places that harbor more germs than even your toilet.
And if you ignore them, the germs continue to multiply.
Take a few minutes a day to clean a few of these hidden germ spots listed below. Your house and family will thank you for it.
The rubber seal
When was the last time you peeked inside the folds of your washing machine’s rubber gasket? That rubber seal is a breeding ground for hair, fuzz, and rotting soap.
If you neglect it, you are essentially washing your clothes with moldy water.
There is no need to buy those expensive machine cleaner tablets weekly. Just find a rag and scrub the funk out of those folds. Don’t let a $0.05 piece of lint destroy a $1,000 machine.
The filter
One common misconception is that dishwashers magically clean themselves. Most dishwasher models come equipped with a removable filter, usually located at the bottom of the machine.
This filter traps any food particles that are not washed away. If you fail to rinse this filter, old food particles will begin to decompose and smell awful.
You will also start to see stains on your dishes from the old food decomposing in the filter.
Simply remove the filter and rinse it out with some warm, soapy water. Taking the time to do this will allow you to get cleaner dishes, and your dishwasher will last longer.
The Bags
Have you ever thought about everything you put in your grocery bags and never wash? Gross. You’re essentially transporting one year’s worth of waste with you.
Raw meat juices, potato soils, plus everything else that fell on the grocery store conveyor belt.
If it’s not fit to eat off your kitchen floor, why place your fresh fruits and veggies in there?
Treat them with the same care you give your other kitchen gear. Give those bags a rinse and you’ll notice how much cleaner your groceries will be.
The Mat
Yoga mats and exercise mats absorb sweat and body oils, making them prone to bacterial and fungal growth.
We often roll them up when they are still wet, which means they don’t really get a chance to dry.
After a while, this may cause skin irritations or fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot.
Give your mat a quick spray, and then let it air out fully to keep things clean. You’ll be exercising in a much cleaner setting, and it’s super fast.
The drawer
Cleaning your spoons is no good if the drawer you’re placing them in is crumb- and hair-filled. Every time you open that utensil drawer, you’re shoving a sprinkle of dirt onto your clean silverware.
If it’s been a few months since you yanked that plastic drawer liner out and shook it over the trashcan, it’s likely quite disgusting in there.
Don’t let your clean spoons eat with your dirty kitchen leftovers. Take two minutes and wipe it out.
The Buds
Earbuds spend hours tucked away inside your ears. They pick up wax, oils and dust on those small speaker grills.
It’s easy to forget about cleaning them because they’re so small. Dirty buds irritate your ears and muffle the sound.
Give them a wipe with a damp cloth. Then scrub the silicone tips with care. Your buds will be good as new. Just be sure they’re dry before use.
The Holder
Most folks rinse off their toothbrush after brushing but neglect the holder it sits in.
As water and toothpaste drip down the brush head and into the holder, the holder’s bottom becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, such as E.coli. Believe it or not, it’s one of the dirtiest places in your home.
Simply running the holder under some hot, soapy water once a week can eliminate excess buildup and help you keep your bathroom fresh and clean.
The Touchpad
I know I’m guilty, scrubbing everything else, but ignoring those often-touched buttons on the microwave. That little spot is easy to miss since the buttons usually seem alright in regular kitchen light.
But consider how many times we press those buttons with food-handling hands.
It’s absolutely worth taking those few seconds to clean, and your kitchen will feel much more really clean.
The Bowl
Pet bowls don’t seem like much of a health risk, especially if you fill them with dry food. However saliva, food residue and moisture can make them bacterial breeding grounds in no time.
It turns out that, when it comes to common household items, pet bowls are surprisingly riddled with bacteria.
Guidelines from veterinarians and public health officials urge us to wash pet bowls regularly with hot, soapy water.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
I’m a Professional Cleaner and These Are the 10 Dirty Things I Always Notice in People’s Kitchens – Here’s How To Get On Top of Them Easily
It’s easy to focus on the usual suspects when you’re cleaning the kitchen, like wiping down counters or mopping the floor. But don’t worry—here are the top ten dirty secrets lurking in your kitchen, according to professional cleaners, and some straightforward tips on how to deal with them. Who said cleaning has to be difficult? Not us!
I’m a Professional Cleaner and These Are the 10 Dirty Things I Always Notice in People’s Kitchens
