While a lot of people enjoy living in a clean, beautiful home and work hard to keep it that way, even some of the tidiest homes are susceptible to unwelcome germs. Sometimes they appear in obvious places. Dirty sponges, dirty entrance mats, and wet clothes. Other times they seem to sneak in places that you least expect. Below are the best five tips to keep your home healthy and germ-free!9
Tip#1: Keep your kitchen spotless
Most of the germs in your household are found in your kitchen. It seems so obvious, right? The place where you store your food, prepare it, and cook it houses the most germs. Plus, in many homes, kitchens are the center of action. With people coming in and out, there tends to be a lot of things happening in kitchens. Whether they’re in the sink, on the countertops, hiding in sponges, or on your cutting boards, kitchens harbor hundreds of thousands of harmful bacteria. After you cook a meal, make sure that you scrub down your countertops with disinfecting wipes or use a sponge with soap and water. When you’ve finished, put your sponge in the dishwasher and clean that too! Also, if you’re a family that uses rags to wipe hands after washing dishes, be sure to regularly replace the rag. That rag can harbor the most germs AND can transfer them from multiple people.
Tip #2: Wash your wet laundry immediately
Wet laundry is a hotspot for germs, especially if it’s kept inside of your dirty hamper. Moisture and darkness serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and the longer that they sit there, the more infested your laundry will become. Wash your wet laundry as soon as your take it off your back and make sure it gets washed in hot water. Transfer the clothing to the dryer as soon as the washing cycle is finished to avoid germs from multiplying. It’s a great idea to rinse the washer with vinegar once you’ve finished doing laundry to kill off any remaining bacteria. The same idea goes fro leaving wet items in the washing machine. Just because it’s in a place to get cleaned doesn’t mean it will stay clean.
Tip #3: Be mindful of your toothbrush
Our mouths are home to over 100 million microbes and they eat the same things we do. So, when you brush your teeth, particles of food and bacteria stick to your toothbrush and if not kept in the right conditions, could foster more germs. In order to avoid an overgrowth of bacteria on your toothbrush, leave it standing up in a cup to air dry. Avoid putting it on your bathroom counter where it can contract other germs or inside a travel case where the moisture will just make things worst. Also be sure to regularly replace your toothbrush. An easy way to remember is every time you visit the dentist you replace your toothbrush. Also, have everyone in your household use their own toothbrush. Any germs that they may have come into contact with should stay on their own toothbrush. This goes for pets, too. Make sure that Fido and Buddy have their own toothbrushes so that their germs are kept to themselves.
Tip #4: Your bathroom should a clean haven
Your bathroom is a place dedicated to providing hygiene, and as such, should be very hygienic itself. Every time you take a shower, you wash off bacteria and viruses from your body, but unfortunately they linger in your bathtub. Disinfect your bathtub or shower once a week with an anti-bacterial cleanser. Also, be sure to close the lid of your toilet before you flush as fecal matter sprays onto the bathroom floor, resulting in the floor containing more germs than the actual toilet seat. You should regularly wipe down the countertop and mop the floors in the bathroom. These places will harbor the germs from your hands, hygiene materials, and feet. The most forgotten places to regularly wipe down? Any and all handles. We’re talking door handles, cabinet hardware, drawer handles, and more. Those are the places that everyone in your family will be touching, regardless of how clean their hands are.
Tip #5: Leave your shoes by the door
Last but not least, consider taking off your shoes before you enter your home as they carry loads of dirt, chemicals, and pathogens on their soles. Your shoes track everything you walk in outside to the inside of your home, which can include dog feces, pesticides, mud, and pollen that can cause allergies. The simplest solution is to have a doormat, wipe your shoes as you enter, and leave them by the door. You can also have a shoe rack that houses everyone’s shoes. That way you won’t have to worry about tripping over everyone’s shoes when you enter or exit the door. Keeping your shoes by the door will allow for everyone to know exactly where their shoes live. It also allows the smell to be isolated by the front of the house.
We hope these tips help you stay healthy all year round. The best part about these tips? They are also great if you are living in a staged home and need to keep your home looking clean every day of the week.
Want to buy or sell in the Nevada County area? Give a Coldwell Banker agent a call today!
