What’s the dirtiest area in your home? You might think it’s the washroom, but there are many other dirtier areas than that. Knowing the dirtiest spots in your home helps you know where to focus your cleaning efforts in order to avoid buildup. If you need help with deep cleaning these areas, consider hiring a professional house cleaning service like Houseproud Cleaning to help you out.
Of course, the most contaminated areas in every home depend on the people in your house, but there are general culprits that are likely to be contaminated across all homes. Read on to learn more about the five dirtiest spots in your home.
The Kitchen
According to the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), places where food is prepared or stored have the most bacterial and viral concentration. That’s not entirely surprising considering that kitchens are often one of the busiest places in most homes.
Dish sponges and cloths often have a significant concentration of microorganisms on them, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and even fecal matter. Other spots in your kitchen that might need deep cleaning include cutting boards, kitchen sinks, countertops and refrigerators.
Knobs, Handles and Switches
Generally, places where people touch consistently are dirty. That’s why doorknobs, handles, and switches are some of the most contaminated spots in every home.
Specific ones that are likely to be infected include bathroom light switches, refrigerator handles, stove knobs, and microwave handles. So the next time you are doing your house cleaning, pay special attention to knobs, handles, and switches and wipe them down with a good disinfectant.
Laundry Room
With a constant pile of dirty clothes, it’s no surprise that the laundry room makes this list. Germs often thrive in wet areas, so if you leave your wet laundry in the washing machine after it’s done, you run the risk of bacterial growth. To be safe, move your clothes to the dryer right after a washing cycle and never leave them on top of the machine. If the washed clothes sit in the washing machine for more than 30 minutes, wash them again.
Living Room
Your living room is likely the most active room in your house. That’s usually the first place visitors go to sit down when they enter a home. From your sofas to your TV remote, several spots and items can become infected with bacterial or viral loads over time.
For example, your carpet is a hotspot for germs. In fact, a carpet can hold up to eight times its weight. In some cases, carpets can be dirtier than sidewalks! With many items like remotes, keypads, and game controllers shared by multiple family members, germs can have a field day in your living room.
Conduct frequent cleaning in your living room with a deep clean each week. Disinfectant wipes are an excellent way to quickly clean common high-touch items, or plain soap and water can do the trick as well.
Pets
Whether dogs or cats or birds, pets bring warmth and joy to many homes. But they can also bring disease-causing germs like Staphylococcus, mold, and yeast – especially from pets who spend a lot of time outside. While pets can carry germs on their bodies, their bowls, beds, and toys can carry them too. As a safety measure, clean pet bowls with warm, soapy water every day. Make a habit of cleaning your pet’s paws every time they come in from outside, and wipe down your cat’s paws after they use the litter box.
Outsource Your Cleaning
Cleaning your house, especially if it’s a large house, can be tiring and challenging. What’s worse is – you might not even be doing a good job. Hiring a professional cleaning service that is experienced in cleaning especially dirty areas ensures that your home is squeaky clean most of the time. Choose a cleaning service that has a good track record and the right equipment to get the job done.
