Nothing is better than spending a leisurely day at home. You’ve prepared a delicious meal for yourself in the kitchen, which you decide to eat while watching TV. You put your food down on the table, then proceed to sit on the couch you spent days searching for online. Everything seems perfect. Or is it? What if your home – a place of comfort and safety – is quietly getting intertwined with invisible invaders that are threatening to disrupt the sanctity of your home? Germs and bacteria cling to the surfaces you place your trust in at home, lying in wait, ready to spread and multiply with every casual touch from you.
This article will pull back the curtains on these hidden threats that lurk in your home. From the seemingly useful kitchen sponge to the unassuming light switch, these everyday items are among the top 10 hotspots for germs you likely overlook. Whether your aim is to know how to clean your home better or if you’re preparing for end of lease cleaning Melbourne, knowing where these invisible dangers hide is the first step in reclaiming your home’s safety.
1. Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths
The kitchen sponge is one of the dirtiest items in the home. It’s no surprise that this is so since you use it to scrub away dirt from other items. The sponges and dishcloths you use can often be found harbouring bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, due to their moist and warm environment.
Unless you sterilise these items before use, you may spread them to other parts of your home. To prevent this, replace your sponges regularly, sanitise them in the microwave or place them in a bleach solution to soak for a while. This will help kill off the bacteria in them.
2. Sink Drains and Faucets
Following along the lines of the sponge, the sink is another bacteria hotspot. You wash away the grime from other items inside it, so all the bacteria and germs have now been transferred to its surface. Food remnants and moisture create the perfect breeding ground for harmful pathogens.
Hence, you’ll find most of the now-transferred germs thriving in the sink (be it the one in the bathroom or the kitchen). So, what do you do? Get cleaning is the answer. Clean the sinks regularly with disinfectants and ensure proper drainage is maintained. If you’re planning for end of lease cleaning in Melbourne, this will help you tackle the germ issue.
3. Cutting Boards
Cutting boards are pretty useful. They help protect your countertops from stains, and the reverse is also true; they keep the food safe from the dust on the counters. But they, too, are prone to accumulating germs, especially if you use them to cut raw meat. Even if you rinse them after every use, harmful bacteria like Campylobacter can still be found lodged in the crevices of the wood or plastic boards. To maintain hygiene, use separate boards for cutting raw meat and vegetables, disinfecting both after every use.
4. Handles, Knobs and Switches
The handles on your doors, refrigerator, microwaves and even your light switches can harbour a lot of germs. The reason is that they are high-touch surfaces; you unknowingly end up transferring a lot of germs from other areas onto them, daily. And during flu season, these areas become prime real estate for bacteria.
So, be sure to wipe them regularly with antibacterial wipes or sprays to keep them disinfected and clean. For end of lease cleaning in Melbourne, this step is critical.
5. Bathroom Surfaces
The bathroom is where you cleanse your body of the dust and dirt picked up from the outside world. Due to the moisture from the bath water, the surfaces in the bathroom are the perfect place for germs to grow. Surfaces like toilet seats, flush handles, countertops, etc., can be breeding grounds for E. coli, whereas showerheads may be mould prone spots . So, thorough cleaning is required. Use strong disinfectants to eliminate germs and properly ventilate the area to keep humidity levels under control.
6. Remote Controls and Gadgets
Things like remote controls, smartphones, tablets and keyboards are frequently handled but rarely do we think about cleaning them. These items can host thousands of bacteria per square inch as they often come in contact with unwashed hands. For this reason, it is important that you clean them. Wipe these gadgets regularly with alcohol-based cleaning solutions to sterilise and kill off the germs.
7. Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs are prone to trapping dust, allergens and microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Even with regular vacuuming, these textiles can become germ hotspots, especially if you share your home with pets. Steam cleaning and professional services like those offered during end of lease cleaning in Melbourne can ensure a deep clean of these items. A monthly deep clean can keep these textiles healthy and hygienic for your home.
8. Bedding and Mattresses
Things like bedding and mattresses are another hotspot for germs to linger. These items often harbour dust mites, dead skin cells and bacteria, which can aggravate the allergies of people with sensitivities and can also affect sleep health. To prevent this, wash the bedding weekly in hot water and vacuum your mattresses periodically to reduce the germ load from your bedrooms.
9. Pet Bowls and Toys
Our pets are beloved and we buy various things to care for them, like chew toys, food and water bowls, etc. But these items can become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria like Salmonella (they thrive in food residue). Hence, it’s important that you keep them clean not only for the sake of hygiene but also for the health of your furry friends. For the purpose of cleaning, wash these items using warm, soapy water. This will help kill the germs and return the items to a “safe to use” state.
10. Garbage Bins
For obvious reasons, garbage bins (both indoor and outdoor ones) are germ magnets. Not only do they attract bacteria, but they also encourage the increase of pests like flies and rodents. So, to keep these pests away from your home, empty out your bins regularly and disinfect using appropriate cleaning solutions to maintain sanitation. Additionally, you can use bin liners to make the cleaning process easier.
Germiest Areas in Your Home and How to Clean Them
Wrapping Up
To maintain a happy and healthy home, cleaning these germ hotspots is important. Make a cleaning schedule and list these hotspots in them. This way, you can clean these things weekly and not subject your home to harmful health effects. By being consistent with cleaning, you’ll be able to protect your family and your precious pets from these invisible threats.