Certain germs are good, but what about when they put you and your loved ones in danger for viruses and bacteria, as per House Cleaning specialists in Irvine. Rust, staph germs, microbes, and coliform bacteria thrive in your home, with all of its nooks and crannies.
Because some areas of your home are germier than others, cleaning them requires a bit more effort. We consulted research by the National Sanitation Foundation, a public health and safety agency, and the House Cleaning professionals in Irvine with Dr. Germ, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. We determined the nine germiest spots in your home with their help. As a bonus, they helped us figure out how to disinfect and sanitize them.
Sponges for washing dishes
“The household sponge is number one – practically all of them have E. coli growing in them, and 15% of them have Salmonella in our studies,” explained House Cleaning specialists in Irvine. “When the sponge continues to be wet and moist, it provides plenty of food for bacteria.” Mold and yeast were discovered in 86% of sponges, 77% had coliform bacteria, and 18% had a staph infection.
Microwaving the moist sponge should help kill bacteria. Coliform bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli can cause stomach pains, diarrhea, and vomiting. House Cleaning expert in Irvine suggests, “Dishcloths can be tossed in the dishwasher.” Use different sponges or cloths for the kitchen and the bathroom.
Sink in the kitchen
According to House Cleaning experts, the kitchen sink is second on the list of the germiest areas in the house. We remove dirt and bacteria from raw food when we cleanse it in the sink. Disinfect the sink at least once a week, ideally twice. If you’re going to use bleach, be sure you rinse afterward.
Holder for toothbrushes
According to House Cleaning professionals, the toilet seat is the slightest germy spot in your bathroom. If you keep your toothbrush holder near the toilet, it may be exposed to particles blown into the air when you flush. Mold and yeast were found in 64% of toothbrush holders, coliform was found in 27%, and staph was found in 14%.
Handles of bathroom faucets
According to House Cleaning experts, faucet handles are some of the germiest spots in your home unless you have a touchless faucet in your bathroom. It makes sense: turning on the faucet is the last step before washing your hands after using the restroom. According to the NSF study, staph germs were discovered in 27% of faucet handles and coliform bacteria were found in 9%.
Clean your faucet handles with a disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes daily.
Knobs for the stove
How often do you clean the knobs on your stove? Probably not frequently enough: Mold and yeast were found in 27% of the knobs in the NSF study, whereas coliform bacteria were found in 14%.
Take the stove knobs off and wash them in soapy water every week, according to House Cleaning experts.
