I was listening to the radio on my way to work the other morning and they had a segment on germs in the house and what the worst offenders were. Playing along in my head (ok I was probably talking out loud as though the DJ could hear me), I guessed doorknobs. I wasn’t wrong – they are on the Top 10 list. But some of the items on the list were ones I might not have through about. Of course, I am now obsessed with wiping them all down/washing them each day.
Before you read below, think about what items you would guess are on the list.
1) Bathroom faucets
2) Toothbrushes – Think about the daily transfer of germs. Yuck. Be sure to store upright and replace every 3 months.
3) Cutting Boards – Salmonella, staph and E. coli are commonly transmitted this way.
4) Sponges and Rags – A big germ pool transferring germs from one place to another.
5) Doorknobs – Ick factor warning: When you touch a doorknob, you touch the hand of everyone who was there before you.
6) Counter Tops
7) Cell Phones – Touch screen technology is wonderful but basically we are just spreading germs all over it all the time. Wipe them down with a small amount of multi purpose cleaner on a (clean) rag.
8) Washer and Dryer – I will admit- this one surprised me! I thought it was basically self cleaning. But germs can multiply in the washer and be transferred into the dryer. Say what?! Clean it by starting a warm wash cycle and add 5 cups of white vinegar. Run the cycle (no clothes!).
9) Remote Controls – For some reason, this one I hadn’t thought about either.
10) Vacuum Cleaners – No joke, one time I vacuumed up cooked quinoa that had spilled onto the floor and didn’t think twice…until the next time I vacuumed just days later and there was this giant patch of mold growing inside the vacuum.
11) Bonus! Pet Bowls – Do you wash those as frequently as your own dishes? Didn’t think so.
Who else plans to do some deep-cleaning this week?
