Germs are everywhere. It’s a fact of life. Do you clean your home regularly for fear of germs? Good for you, but how often do you change your hand towels, kitchen sponges? When was the last time you washed the knobs on your stove or washed out your knife block?
Because of the current pandemic, everyone is required to stay at home as much as possible and maintain good personal hygiene. We are consciously aware to avoid touching the dirty things like rubbish bins and toilet bowls.
But the truth is, there are many spots in our homes that may not be as ‘germ-free’ as they seem. But don’t worry, with the right tools you can keep these areas germ free!
Shop Essentials to fight Covid-19 at home
Here are some of the germiest surfaces in your house that you’re not cleaning:
1. Kitchen Sponge and Rag
I’m sure most of us are spending a lot of time in the kitchen these days. Even if you’re a diligent hand-washer while cooking—you are, right?—bacteria may still be spreading throughout your kitchen and beyond.
That kitchen sponge you have been using it with dishwashing detergent is the most bacteria-laden object.
A study has revealed that those sponges are like “microbial incubators”. There are 362 different species of bacteria living in used kitchen sponges; 82 billion bacteria were living in just one cubic inch of space!
Experts recommend that you change your kitchen sponge regularly, every one to two weeks before it gets really nasty and smelly.
You can try to keep your sponge dry by microwaving it or putting it in the dishwasher, but according to the scientists, the bacteria grew right back. So, just stick to the experts’ recommendation to change your kitchen sponge regularly to be safe.
2. Kitchen Sink
Here’s where you prepare your food, wash your dishes and throw all the gunk. And here is where food contamination can happen, just look at where did you place that piece of kitchen sponge.
According to a study, the researchers found coliform bacteria – a family of bacteria that contains E.coli and salmonella – on 45% of kitchen sinks. The sink is an ideal breeding ground for E. coli because it is wet and moist and the bacteria can feed on food leftovers on the sink strainer. You really shouldn’t be cutting up your salad in the kitchen sink.
It is highly recommended to disinfect your sink weekly. Clean the sides of the sink and you should also disinfect the drain by using a pipe and sink cleanser to prevent future clogs.
3. Refrigerator Door Handle
Well, this is one of the dirtiest spots in your home. The refrigerator door handle is exposed to dirt from constant use. For instance, you are prepping a meat dish in the kitchen and you went back to the refrigerator to take out other ingredients, some cooking grease would have got onto the refrigerator door handle. For others, your kids’ chocolates could be on that handle. Just like the toilet handle, it is a petri dish for germs, the refrigerator door handle should be cleaned daily, using disinfectant spray or wipes
4. Toothbrush Holder
You do brush your teeth twice daily right? But how often do you sanitise your toothbrush holder? The fact is many of the germs on your toothbrush drip into the holder. The next time you brushed your teeth, don’t forget to rinse the toothbrush holder with soap and water.
5. TV Remote Control
We know you’ve been wiping down your phone daily ever since the virus outbreak. It is also scientifically proven that the cellphone that we used daily is a germ factory which is why it is so important to wash your hands regularly. Scientists at the University of Arizona found that the phone is ten times dirtier than most toilet seats. Gross!
Now, that TV remote control you have been using at home is also a germ-ridden spot that you often overlooked during house-cleaning! The TV remote could have been on the floor, touched by semi-cleaned hands, and collects dust behind your TV. It really can get awfully dirty over time. Researchers at the University of Virginia discovered that half of the remote controls that they tested for cold viruses had positive results. Surprise, surprise!
You don’t have to get rid of your TV set. Just make sure you sanitise the TV remote control monthly with disinfectant wipes or cotton swabs. Remove the batteries from the TV remote control before you wipe down the entire surface.
A final piece of advice, you should always wash your hands thoroughly after tidying up your house.
