The Germiest Spots in Your Home⁠-And How To Keep Them Clean

Home is where the heart is, but it is not just your abode, it is home to several germs that can potentially harm you and your family. If you think that just regular cleaning is all you need to keep it spot- and germ-free, then you may be wrong. What you don’t know is that your house is a hotbed of pollution and germs, in places that you won’t even suspect. So, besides your regular germ hotspots such as the toilet seat and dustbin, even the living area and refrigerator need deep cleaning ever so often. Here are some ways to make your home more sanitized and heathy.

Kitchen

Even when your kitchen looks clean to you, there are some germ-ridden tools that you end up paying less attention to. They may harbour enough harmful bacteria to make you seriously ill, such as the kitchen sink. It’s best to give the kitchen sink a chlorine wash every other day to disinfect it properly. Also, the kitchen sponge and counter wipes can be a bacteria haven, so keep them dry and replace them every two weeks. Clean the kitchen counter with a strong anti-bacterial liquid. Wash your dustbins ever so often with a good disinfectant. Also, keep your refrigerator temperature under 2 degrees to reduce the growth of bacteria in food items. Have a good-quality hand wash handy in the kitchen. Wash your hands every time you start working in the kitchen and in-between and train your staff to do the same.

Bathroom

One of the most used rooms in the house, a bathroom can quickly become a health hazard if not cleaned properly and on a regular basis. The sink itself harbours the most amount of germs, so disinfect it once a week with a cup of vinegar or a drain cleaner. Limescale can build up on the shower heads and taps and mould can form on the surfaces. Make sure you frequently clean and disinfect them and also surfaces you often touch, such as the toilet seat, flush handle, door handle, faucets, counter tops, mirror, light switches, shower, buckets and tub. Keep your bathroom ventilated and as dry as possible as bacteria breeds and thrives in a moist environment. Install a quality exhaust fan and a bathroom fan to make sure the bathroom remains fresh and dry every day. Use an air freshener to keep unpleasant smells at bay.

Bedroom

There’s a lot lurking under your otherwise clean-looking bed. While the bedding can be home to moulds and fungus, mattresses and pillows provide food to dust mites due to residual sweat and human secretions. Change your bed linen every week and ideally wash them in warm water with a quality wash to kill all bugs and infectants. Air your mattress and pillows every month and vacuum your mattress every week.

Living Area

The rise in pollution levels, both outdoor and indoor, especially in certain parts of India is alarming. Not many know that the house is full of irritants such as duct, toxic fumes, moisture, etc., which when absorbed through the lungs, digestive tract, eyes and skin, can lead to allergies and respiratory issues. So, try to keep the indoor air clean. Open your windows for a few hours every day to keep the house ventilated. Add air-purifying plants to your home décor to reduce the level of toxins indoors. A lot of carpets can emit formaldehyde, a strong irritant, so clean them regularly with a carpet cleaner. Wet mopping with a disinfectant floor cleaning liquid is the best way to keep germs off your floor.