Germs…they’re all around us, and oftentimes in the places we least expect.
Whether you’re meticulous about maintaining a clean home or tend to neglect a few areas of the house from time to time, germs are lurking in some dangerous household locations. Germs and bacteria can cause serious sicknesses when they get out of control, so it’s best to know the problem areas to prevent potential infections.
So pay attention to these common places that germs hide in your home before it’s too late!
Kitchen Sink
You might think that the kitchen sink would be clean because that’s where you’re washing dishes, but it’s probably one of the dirtiest places in your home. In fact, some sanitation experts have actually said that the average toilet is cleaner than the average kitchen sink!
Bacteria can grow from food particles on dishes that you leave behind to soak or that you rinse off before placing into the dishwasher. An easy mixture of bleach and water can kill bacteria living in your kitchen sink in on the drain plug.
Kitchen Sponge
As if kitchen sink germs weren’t bad enough, that sponge you use to clean your dishes may be doing more harm than good. The USDA has tested quite a few methods for disinfecting these sponges and found that the most effective method is zapping germs away in the microwave.
Put your wet sponge in the microwave for one minute and then run it through the dishwasher. Other sanitizing methods used include soaking sponges in bleach and lemon juice.
Dish Towel
I know what you’re thinking…we still haven’t moved out of the kitchen?! Well unfortunately, the kitchen is a very germ-filled place, and the dish towel you use may not be as clean as you think.
Similar to sponges, dish towels should be swapped out or sanitized every one-two days. Run them through the hot water cycle in your washing machine with bleach to kill germs.
Soap Dispenser
The soap that comes out of your soap dispenser may be clean, but hands rarely are when you reach for it.
Wash your soap dispenser with the soap contained in it at least once per week to get rid of bacteria, and always scrub your hands for 15-20 seconds with hot water. If you have some hand sanitizer gel lying around, it doesn’t hurt to follow up your washing routine with a bit of it.
Toothbrush Holder
One of the germ-ridden places that grosses most people out the most is the toothbrush holder. Many people place their toothbrush holder near the toilet, and bacteria particles fly from the toilet when it’s flushed and find a new home here. Any surface that’s wet, including the bathtub and bathroom sink too, are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria flying through the air after every flush.
If possible, store your toothbrush holder three feet away from the toilet and scrub it once a week with warm soapy water.
Electronics
In today’s modern world, most of us are glued to our electronics 24/7. Whether it’s a cell phone, TV remote, or laptop, we are constantly touching screens, key pads, and buttons. Avoid putting your devices down in questionable locations, and disinfect them at least once a day during frequent use.
Toilet bowls
It might surprise you that the toilet bowl itself may be cleaner than your kitchen sink. However, the situation changes once you have used it and are about to flush. Whether you have a low-flush toilet or the turbo-charged variety, the act of flushing the wastes down causes some of the water to aerosolize – to spray back out of the bowl in a fine mist and land on anything within several feet of the bowl such as your sink counter, soak, and toothbrush. The solution is to close the toilet’s lid before flushing.
To wash germs away without harsh chemicals, we recommend Olive Leaf Surface Cleaner, which comes in convenient 2-ounce and 8-ounce spray bottles.
To use, hold the bottle close to surface, depress pump completely, and wipe area with a cloth or paper towel. For keypads and other electronics, spray a cloth or tissue paper and use to wipe germs away from the surface.