This article discusses how you can disinfect your home’s six most germ-ridden areas and prevent the spread of illness.

Germs aren’t as scary as we think. Your home’s porcelain throne is not the germiest spot despite popular belief. Using the toilet is not even one of the top 10 places in the house to find contaminants such as mold, yeast, and coliform bacteria (the bacteria that cause salmonella and E. coli). It is often discovered that the kitchen, like an unwelcome dinner guest, contains the most germs when house cleaning in La Habra.

That’s not to imply that all bacteria will make you ill, but by maintaining a regular deep cleaning regimen, you can lower your risk of infection and foodborne disease. Most household germs may easily be eliminated with a bit of bleach.

How Do I Use Bleach? Why Does It Work?

Being one of the most efficient household disinfectants, bleach is frequently included in deep cleaning supplies for the kitchen or bathroom. The substance’s main component is sodium hypochlorite. By attacking the proteins in bacteria and viruses, this chlorine molecule alters the structure of those proteins. The cells are unable to survive if the proteins lose their structure. Hello, germs. Bleach cleaner solutions are incredibly effective disinfectants for cleaning hard and non-porous materials.

1. Dish towels and kitchen utensils

Almost every mess you can find in your kitchen comes into contact with dish towels and kitchen sponges. It’s not shocking that they’re full of germs, but how many? A 2017 study discovered 82 billion germs in one cubic inch of space and 362 different bacterial species on kitchen sponges.

Depending on the type of sponge, you might be able to clean your dishes again with it after washing it in the dishwasher.

The following actions can be taken to reduce the spread of bacteria:

• Replace your dishcloths once or twice per week.
• Set your washing machine’s sanitizing cycle for dish towels.
• Every day, microwave wet sponges for two minutes (bacteria grows back quickly)
• Every one to two weeks, change the sponges.

2. Bathroom Sink

A lot of bacteria tend to gather in the kitchen sink. In addition to being moist (which encourages the growth of bacteria), many individuals thaw and rinse raw meat in their sinks. Among most people’s houses, it was the second most contaminated location, according to a research survey. Even washing your sink with dish soap won’t eliminate the germs. Instead, you ought to use one of these items to clean your sink twice weekly:

• A disinfectant that is EPA Safer Choice
• A mixture of one gallon of water and one tablespoon of bleach

Additionally, you or your maid should clean out your garbage disposal and drains once a month using a harsher solution made of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart of water. Simply combine everything and pour it down the drain.

3. Brushes and Holders for Brushes

Bathrooms may quickly become an environment where germs and viruses flourish because of all the foot activity, flushing toilets, and water near the sink. The third-most germiest place in your home, according to the NSF, is your toothbrush holder, which needs deep cleaning once or twice a week by one of the following:

• placing (if dishwasher-safe) in a sanitizing dishwasher
• Use a disinfectant alcohol wipe after washing with hot, soapy water
• Cleaning your toothbrush involves:
• Spend a few minutes soaking it in an antibacterial mouthwash.
• Use a toothbrush cleaner that has received U.S. approval. Drug Enforcement Agency (FDA)

Note: Never mix bleach with ammonia products (since it produces a toxic gas) or hydrogen peroxide. Store your toothbrush holder and toothbrushes away from the toilet bowl and sink (because it could trigger a harmful chemical reaction).

4. Coffee Brewers

Most coffee makers heat water to a temperature between 195 and 205 °F, which is usually sufficient to destroy pathogens like salmonella and E. E. coli that could get into your beverage. Even still, one of the germiest places in your house is still the coffee machine. Put it down to the humidity and heat. You should wash your carafe every day in either warm, soapy water or the sanitizing cycle of your dishwasher. Use a sanitizing cleaner spray or cloth to clean the handles and buttons.

Per the manufacturer’s recommendations, the reservoir needs deep cleaning once a month. Also, some folks use vinegar (but again, check with the manufacturer).

5. Countertops and faucet handles

Faucet handles are high-touch surfaces that can harbor bacteria, mold, and yeast, whether they are in the kitchen or bathroom. The same is true of counters, which frequently interact with microorganisms, unwashed fruit, and raw meat. Cleaning is necessary every day, especially after meals. Your maid should clean your surfaces and faucet handles with:

• a disinfectant cleaner (be sure it’s compatible with the material of your tabletop).
• Sprays or wipes for disinfection
• Five teaspoons of bleach in 1 gallon of water is a bleach solution.

Additionally, you may clean your stove’s knobs using the same technique once a week. Run a vinegar brewing cycle.

Continue brewing cycles after that with water until the vinegary scent has disappeared.

Coffee makers that auto-drip and make single servings typically work well with vinegar.

6. Chopping blocks

Your cutting board is the area of your kitchen that comes into contact with raw meat the most frequently. Since it’s a necessary component of food preparation and some researchers even assert that it’s the germiest object in your entire home, you’ll want to keep bacteria at bay. After finishing cooking, clean your cutting board by:

• If it’s dishwasher-safe, sterilize it in the dishwasher or deep clean it with warm, soapy water.
• After that, immerse it in a mixture of 1 gallon of water and five tablespoons of bleach.

It can seem like a significant task to disinfect your home’s germiest areas, but having a bleach solution or sanitizing wipes on hand will make deep cleaning as you go easier. Make sure to spend additional care on high-touch surfaces like knobs, handles, and pulls—it won’t take more than a few minutes a day. If you can’t seem to do it regularly or simply don’t have time, you can hire a professional for house cleaning in La Habra.