When you’re at home you probably feel safe, secure, and well clean… but your home isn’t always as clean as you think it is. Germs, dirt, and even mold can hang out in the most surprising places. Even if you frequently clean your house, there are certain spots that collect germs that you may not be cleaning regularly. We’ve compiled a list of the dirtiest and germiest places in your home that you may not even be aware of!
Sponges & Dish Brushes
It’s pretty gross to think about, but one of the places germs and bacteria love to hang out are right where you clean your dishes! Sponges, dish brushes, and dish rags are a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms. You can cut down on the grossness factor for these items by giving them a deep rinse with soap and hot water after using them each time. Then store them somewhere clean and dry until the next use. Many dish brushes and sponges now come with replaceable heads, so you can cut back on germs by replacing these items regularly.
Pet Bowls
If you have pets at home, bacteria, mold, and yeast may be hanging out in your pet’s bowl. How often do you really wash those things anyway? Most pet owners don’t wash their pet’s bowls very often, so germs start to build up overtime. Your pet is part of the family, right? Wash their bowls regularly and clean the area around their food and water setup to cut back on germs. Look for pet bowls that are high quality plastic and dish washer safe. Plastic alternatives like porcelain and metal are also good options. Make sure whatever material your pet’s bowls are made of, that it’s safe to clean and expose to heat so you can kill those germs!
Sink Faucet Handles
Think about it… you touch the faucet handles twice when washing your hands or the dishes. Once to turn them on and once again to turn them off. Usually when you touch them the first time you’ve recently gone to the bathroom or your hands are covered in food while cooking. Every time you touch the faucet to turn it on with dirty hands those germs linger there. Wipe down faucet handles daily with an environmentally friendly and safe cleaning solution to keep them clean and germ free.
Refrigerator Handles & Shelves
This is another surprising and very gross discovery… our refrigerators are some of the dirtiest places in our homes. The inside and the outside of your fridge is a breeding ground for bacteria. This is especially problematic since we keep our food in the fridge! When was the last time you wiped down the shelves in your fridge with a non-toxic green cleaning product? Do you ever clean the outside of your fridge like the door handle? Our hands can carry a lot of germs to our fridge. When you touch the door handle, you might have just been handling raw meat. If you’re in the midst of cooking and reach for the fridge door handle, what are you carrying with you? The inside of our fridge also breeds germs because many types of foods are mixed together. Our hands and bodies can carry in germs to this space as well when we reach into the fridge or lean over to grab something. It’s best to do a deep cleaning of the inside of your fridge at least once a month and clean the outside on a regular basis.
Cutting Boards
Another culprit that’s likely hiding out in your kitchen – cutting boards! The big fancy wood cutting boards look nice in your kitchen, but this type of cutting board is actually the worst for harboring dirt and bacteria. The wood is porous and it’s difficult to get a deep clean with these cutting boards, especially since they usually don’t fit in a dishwasher. If you have a large wood cutting board and you’re concerned about germs and bacteria, it might be time to look into replacing your cutting board with a high-quality plastic one that can be washed in the dishwasher.
It can be concerning to think about all the places in your home where germs and bacteria may be living, but a regular cleaning routine can keep your home clean and healthy! Use the tips in this blog post to help you keep your home clean and germ-free. If you want to leave it up to the professionals, a green cleaning service can be a great option for a happy, healthy home.
