Do you know which room in your home is the dirtiest and contains the most bacteria?
Contrary to what you might expect, the bathroom is not the dirtiest part of your house. Surprisingly, according to National Sanitation Foundation, your toilet seat doesn’t even make the top 10 list of filthiest places in your house.
The kitchen is considered the most active place in the home, just as the dirtiest. This is due to bacteria found on raw meats, unclean fruits, and bacteria from everyone’s pockets everywhere in your kitchen.
Such food products will naturally have plenty of bacteria around, such as campylobacter, salmonella, staphylococcus, E. coli, and listeria, which can result in diarrhea, vomiting, and skin infections.
7 Dirtiest Spots in Your House
Let us check the areas of concern together and reveal the places where bacteria and dirt hide the most.
- Kitchen sponge
Before you put your pots and pans in the wash basin, stop for a while and give your old sponge a good look.
Parasitic bacteria, including Salmonella and E. coli, were determined to be present in more than 75% of dish sponges and rags. Streaks and smells are proof of a dirty sponge.
Cleaning a sponge once a week and replacing it once a month can be good tricks, too.
How to clean:
- Heat the damp sponge
- Wash with a simple bleach solution in a quarter of warm water after every use.
- Kitchen sink
It is the second dirtiest place because leftovers after all sorts of food preparation and grease end up in the sink. Once or twice a week, clean the kitchen sink (the edges, faucet handles and the drain plugs) with a disinfected solution. Or keep disinfecting wipes to clean the sink and counter top after each use.
How to clean it:
- Wash the sink with a mix of dish soap and lukewarm water.
- Disinfect by the cleaner or the mixture of water and bleach or vinegar.
- Leave the solution sitting on the exterior of the surface for up to a minute, during which time you will have eliminated all the germs.
- Rinse and let it naturally dry.
- Window Blinds
Due to their location, blinds are great collectors of millions of dead dust mites, hair ends, skin flakes, carpet fibre, pollen and allergens. Dirt particles easily fall off and get scattered throughout the room.
How to clean:
- Use a water-damped microfiber cloth to remove the dust as well as debris.
- Push the blinds together so it will be easier to wipe each shutter.
- Make sure to open up the blinds completely to expose the reverse of the slat, then give each slat a damp cloth wipe once again.
- Bedding and Pillows
What you view as a serene and cosy hideaway could become a perfect breeding ground for fungi, bacteria, dust mites and other particles. If the sheets, blankets, pillowcases, quilts, and bedspreads are not washed often, they can harbour dirt, sweat oil, and dead skin cells. It can cause itching, infections, acne and breathing issues.
How to clean:
- Change the bed linens weekly
- Encase pillows, mattresses and frames in allergen-proof covers
- Wash bedding at a high temperature and use a drier to kill bacteria and mites in the highest choosing mode.
- Wait till the sheets dry fully before storing.
- Blender gasket
The blender is a real miracle of the kitchen as it can mix and grind everything from smoothies to vegetables. However, be aware of the bacteria that might be your companion along with all the required nutrients. Some food remains inside it from repeated use, resulting in clogged microbes.
How to clean:
- Wash the gasket with warm soap water for 10 minutes and rinse it
- Detach the entire blade and gently use a thin brush to loosen any debris.
- Air Ducts
Have you ever thought the HVAC vents could trigger asthma or allergy flare-ups? The back spread of dust, hair, and insect remnants into the indoor air is taken as you breathe it daily. Gross!
How to clean:
- Use household vacuums to loosen dust and dirt
- Scrub gently around the rim of the bowl with a stiff-bristle paintbrush.
Don’t forget to wear a face mask while cleaning
- Showerhead
While we shower daily, one rarely pays attention to the overhead showerhead. If you look up, most holes aren’t throwing water. It is because the holes get clogged up with mould, mineral deposits, and soap scum over the time.
How to clean:
- A rinse-off foam cleaner to remove soap scum, lime scale and mould is what you need next.
- Keep it in the solution of 50% vinegar and water for some time
- Use a plastic bag of vinegar and wrap it around the shower head.
- Let it stand overnight.
Other Dirtiest Areas That You Might Overlook
- The drain stopper
- Remote controls and electronics
- Stove knobs
- Shower and tub
- Hood interior
- Pet toys and bowls
- Tiles and grout
- Toothbrush holder
- Cutting boards
Conclusion
You may have hundreds of bacteria around your house in the kitchen, bathrooms, and living areas. Yet, you can create a healthy and safe living environment by regular cleaning. Or, hire a professional cleaning service that ensures less germ exposure and greater health though deep cleaning.