No one wants to live in a property riddled with germs, but it could be a reality for you and your loved ones. Despite your cleaning efforts, you could be housing a substantial number of germs in different areas of your home.
If you’re eager to create a more hygienic space, here are some tips you must read. Check out your go-to guide to banishing germs throughout your home.
Sanitize Your Living Room Accessories
You might not realize it, but your living room accessories could be a haven for germs.
Most people in the home will touch TV remotes, coffee tables, video game controllers, and their telephones daily, so you must routinely sanitize the items with disinfectant wipes.
Also, spritz an antibacterial spray onto a microfiber cloth to dampen it (ensure it isn’t wet) before running it over your TV, decorative accents, and surfaces to banish dust and bacteria.
Clean Your Kitchen Towels and Sponges
Most homeowners rely on kitchen towels and sponges to wipe surfaces or clean and dry dishes. Yet, bacteria can accumulate on these if they’re not cleaned regularly.
Prevent germs from multiplying by soaking used sponges in warm water with half a teaspoon of bleach. Also, you could place a damp sponge in a microwave to banish its bacteria.
If you’re unsure how often to change your dish towels, it is wise to change them a few times a week to stop bacteria from growing and spreading in your kitchen.
Eliminate Bacteria from Pets and Pests
Almost every type of pet will bring bacteria and germs into a property, especially cats and dogs that spend time outdoors. In addition to germs developing on your pet’s fur, bacteria will form on their pet bowls, toys, and bedding. For instance, these items might become a haven for yeast, staph, and mold.
Like your dishware, you must wash your pet bowls with warm, soapy water daily. Also, soak the bowls and toys in some bleach once a week, and wash their soft toys at least once per month.
Of course, it is not only pets that can increase bacteria and germs in your home, your property could house one or more pests that will pose a risk to your health.
For instance, an ant infestation could increase your family’s risk of disease, as these insects are known for carrying E. Coli and salmonella. Also, a rat or mice infestation in your attic or basement may make your loved ones vulnerable to hepatitis C, hand, foot, and mouth disease, listeria, tuberculosis, Weil’s disease, and much more.
If you suspect your home has a pest infestation, you must not hesitate to reach out to an experienced pest control service near you that can eliminate rodents or insects from your home. It will provide peace of mind that your property is pest and germ-free.
Regularly Clean High-Touch Surfaces
In addition to cleaning dust off your side tables, photo frames, and shelving, you would be smart to pay close attention to various high-touch surfaces in the home.
Take a walk around your property to identify the surfaces that people in your home will touch eavery day, such as:
- Cabinet handles
- Doorknobs and handles
- Lamps
- Light switches
- Toilet handles or flush buttons
- Faucets
- Oven knobs
Clean these surfaces at least once a week with disinfectant cleaner or wipes. Also, you must clean the areas more frequently if a family member catches a contagious illness, such as a cold, the flu, or COVID-19.
Banish Dust and Germs in the Bedroom
Your bedroom might look stylish and cozy, but it could be housing many germs due to a build-up of dust, dead skin, hair, and loose, dirty clothes.
Stop germs from forming by washing your bed linen and vacuuming your mattress (uncovered) once a week. Also, avoid placing dirty clothes onto your carpet, bed, or over a chair; make sure they go straight into a laundry basket.
Never eat food in your bedroom, as the crumbs will cause bacteria and mold to grow and spread.
Make Your Kitchen Sink Sparkle
Did you know your kitchen sink ranks second for the dirtiest place in the home?
Bacteria from various foods like raw meat will thrive in your sink, which is why you must make it sparkle on a regular basis. Clean your kitchen sink by scrubbing away at it with a disinfectant cleaner at least once a day. It will help you maintain a clean and hygienic kitchen for you and your family.
Spruce Up Inside Your Fridge
Food spillages inside your refrigerator can cause bacteria to flourish, which is why you must clean them up immediately.
Also, deep clean your fridge every few months by scrubbing away at its doors, walls, and shelving with hot, soapy water.
If your refrigerator has developed an unpleasant scent, apply a mix of one part water and one part white vinegar onto its surfaces before opening the doors for a few hours so that in can air dry. Alternatively, you could wash it with a mix of water and baking soda.
Ventilate Your Home Regularly
You might not realize that high levels of moisture can cause bacteria and air pollutants to form across the home, which could arise from high humidity levels.
For this reason, you must ventilate your home regularly to banish moisture and keep it nice and dry. Open your windows daily to allow fresh air to enter your home and moisture to exit.
If it’s too cold outside, turn on a dehumidifier to reduce your home’s moisture levels, which will prevent dampness and mold from forming on your walls and surfaces.
Don’t Forget to Clean Your Curtains
Many homeowners might not think to clean their curtains, but doing so could remove more bacteria from the property while protecting your interior design.
Curtains don’t just accumulate dust but can develop bacteria from dirty hands or can serve as a comfortable nesting area for spiders.
Take your curtains down once a month and put them through the washing machine to banish dust and germs while improving their scent and visual appeal.
Originally posted 2023-01-23 18:32:11.
