An expert has revealed some of the 'grimiest' areas in a home, and some aren't as obvious as you may think. When doing the regular house clean, most people will declutter each room, run a hoover through the house and then wipe down surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom.
However there are some things that can easily slip people's mind - like remote controls, or the rubber seal on the fridge. And it can sometimes be easy to forget these spots if the house is otherwise spotless.
With that in mind, Emily Barron, cleaning expert, Property Rescue, has shared some areas which might not be getting the attention that they properly deserve.
While the grimiest area can change depending on the room that're in, there are two spots throughout the home which you should clean on the regular if you aren't already.
- Door handles - Ever stop to think about how many times your door handles are touched every day? These seemingly innocent items can gather a huge amount of germs and bacteria and should be regularly wiped down with a weak soap and water solution.
- Light switches - as with door handles, our light switches see a lot of action and should therefore be wiped down with a damp cloth
As for each individual room, here's the expert's recommendations.
The kitchen
Emily said: "For most of us, the kitchen is the heart of the home - and one which can be a hotbed of germs if not cleaned regularly and properly. In order to keep your kitchen fresh and free of bacteria, the following areas should be cleaned right now."
- Chopping boards - always scrub your chopping boards with hot soapy water to get rid of any lingering germs.
- Blender - A lot of people are guilty of just giving their blender a quick rinse after use but this won’t get rid of bacteria, particularly on the rubber seals. Always wash straight after use with lots of hot water and dish detergent to keep your family healthy.
- Rubber seals - The rubber seals on your fridge can become party central for germs - and even insects - if not cleaned regularly. Pulling the rubber back with your fingers, use a brush and a mild soap and water solution to clean thoroughly.
- Pet beds - Neglecting to wash pet beds can make your kitchen a bit whiffy as well as potentially harming your pet's health. Keep fleas and germs away by washing regularly either by hand or in the washing machine depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Living Room
While you probably dust your living room regularly and clean / hoover the floor, you may be overlooking some other germ danger zones, according to the expert, including:
- Remote controls - These items see a lot of action and neglecting to clean them can spread germs as well as make them work less effectively. Remote controls should be cleaned at least once a month with a damp cloth to keep them clean and germ-free.
- Plants - If you have house plants, these should be wiped regularly to prevent a build up of dust and to keep them healthy.
- Lamps and lampshades - Depending on the type of lamps you have, these should be either dusted or cleaned with a damp cloth to keep them looking their best.
Bedroom
"Our bedrooms should be a haven of peace - not a home for germs and, as such, the following should be washed or cleaned regularly." Emily said.
- Duvet covers and pillowcases - These should be changed at least once a week and washed regularly to prevent germs and bedbugs.
- Mattresses - These should be cleaned every six months by first vacuuming to remove any debris, then sprinkling the entire mattress with baking soda. Leave for 20 minutes and then vacuum up the powder before wiping down with a damp cloth. Turn the mattress over and repeat the process on the other side and then leave to dry.
Office
The cleaning expert said that if you have a home office, the following should become part of your cleaning routine:
- Keyboards - A build-up of dirt and dust can make keyboards less effective as well as harbour germs. Invest in a keyboard vacuum and use this regularly as well as getting into the habit of wiping the keyboard down with a damp cloth.
- File holders and boxes - These can quickly gather dust and become grimy and so should be dusted / cleaned every couple of weeks.
- Printers and other equipment - Get into the habit of turning these off and wiping them down once in a while to prevent a build-up of dirt and germs.
Speaking on how to get round to all of these tricky spots on the regular, Emily said: "While all of this may sound like a lot, in practice these things shouldn’t take a huge amount of time once you make them part of your regular routine."
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