Did you know that having a dirty house can affect your health? This isn’t too surprising seeing as how most surfaces can harbor harmful bacteria and viruses.
For example, dust mites and pet dander can cause allergies and skin irritations.
Not only that but studies have also shown that it can contribute to stress and anxiety. On top of that, it can affect your ability to focus, which will lower your productivity.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to prevent these problems- by cleaning your house regularly. How often should you do it? It depends. Take the floor, for instance, it should be mopped and vacuumed at least once a week.
Other fixtures, such as windows and ceiling fans, can be cleaned once a month.
Even for the most dedicated cleaner, however, there will likely be spots that you’ll forget about- things that need cleaning but get missed by the radar.
What are they? How should you clean them? For the answers, scroll down because that’s what we’ll be going over in detail below.
5 Things That You Should Be Cleaning At Home
Without further delay, here are some things that you might not have thought about cleaning.
1. Washing Machine
Your washing machine should be cleaned once a month or once every two weeks, depending on how often you do the laundry. This will help prevent dirt, grime, and soap residue from building up, which can affect the machine’s performance over time.
That’s not all, the moist environment can also harbor bacteria and mold, both of which can be harmful to your health. For example, they can cause skin irritation and even infections.
That’s why it’s so important to clean your washer regularly. For example, some people use white vinegar as a DIY washing machine cleaner. All you have to do is pour two cups into the detergent drawer and run a hot cycle.
Sometimes, however, that’s not enough. In cases like that, you’ll want to use a product that’s specifically designed to clean washers – something like ACTIVE Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets or one of our other recommend washer cleaners.
ACTIVE Washing Machine Cleaner is specifically designed to clean the internal parts of a washing machine like inside the drum where odor-causing grime builds up. It is formulated to work with all types of washers including top-load, front-load, and HE. The enzyme formula removes residue from dirt, detergent, softeners and more.
Not only that but they’re also eco-friendly and safe for the environment. For one thing, they’re septic-safe. They also use less packaging compared to other washing machine cleaners. The fact that they’re tablets also eliminates unnecessary messes and waste. During our testing they weren’t only our top pick overall but they also came in as our best front load, top load, and our best eco friendly washing machine cleaner!
- Free of fragrances
- Eco-friendly formula that's safe for the environment
- Works with all washing machines
- Great for removing odors, limescale, mildew, and bacteria
- Each pack contains a year's supply
- Customers outside of the U.S. will have to pay extra for shipping
The tablets will penetrate the residue and get rid of any grime that’s inside the washing machine, including in areas where you can’t see.
2. Refrigerator
You might think that because the fridge is cold, it’s free of germs- but that’s not true. While the cold temperature slows down the growth of bacteria, it doesn’t stop them from growing altogether
In fact, the average fridge drawer contains 1.8 million bacterial units per square inch, including salmonella, and E.coli. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it can also harbor mold, which can get onto your food and cause foodborne illnesses.
To prevent potential issues (and odors), it’s highly recommended that you clean your fridge every three to four months. This means removing the shelves and drawers and washing them with soap and hot water.
Any old or expired food should also be tossed in the trash. Don’t forget to clean the external surfaces as well such as the door and handle- you can do that with some water and a soft cloth.
Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish features a pH-neutral formula that cleans, shines, and protects all stainless steel surfaces. It'll also leave a barrier that will resist dirt, dust, smudges, and fingerprints. Perfect for stainless steel refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, stoves, range hoods, trash cans, and more. The Kit includes one bottle of spray, one container of stainless steel wipes, and one microfiber cloth.
As for the freezer, it’s best to deep clean the inside at least once a year. While bacteria isn’t that big of an issue due to the cold temperature, it can still accumulate frost and develop odors.
3. Computer Keyboard
Computer keyboards are three times dirtier than toilet seats, with 3,000 bacterial units per square inch. This is especially true for shared keyboards such as those in a school or office.
As you can imagine, this can cause various health issues. For example, it can spread disease-causing bacteria such as E.coli and Staph. Certain viruses such as the influenza virus, can also live up to two days on the surface.
Fortunately, there are many ways to clean a keyboard. For example, you can wipe down the keys with a sanitizing wipe. Rubbing alcohol is also effective; simply dampen a cotton swab with the alcohol and use it to clean the keys.
You can also use a cotton swab to get in between the nooks and crannies.
It’s also a good idea to give the keyboard a shake upside down- that’ll get rid of any particles that might be dislodged between the keys. You can also use compressed air to clean hard-to-reach areas.
4. Remote Controls
Watching TV is a great way to unwind and relax at the end of the day. But have you ever thought about all the different things that you touched before sitting down on the couch?
Unless you’ve washed your hands beforehand, all of these germs will end up on the remote control. And when the next person uses it, their hands will also be contaminated- not just with bacteria, but with other microbes as well such as mold and yeast.
Given that, you want to clean your remote controls regularly, at least once a week (more often if someone is sick). All you need is rubbing alcohol- dampen a microfiber cloth or cotton ball with the liquid and use it to wipe the keys and other surfaces on the remote.
Disinfectant wipes are also effective. And if there’s any build-up of dirt, you can use a toothpick or cotton tip to clean the area.
5. Light Switches
Unless you have voice-activated lights, chances are, you’re touching light switches every day- not just at home, but at the office as well.
But how often do you wipe them down? Because according to one study, they have the same amount of germs as a trash can- approximately 217 bacterial units per square inch, to be exact.
This isn’t too surprising when you think about it- after all, when was the last time you washed your hands before flicking on the lights?
The good news is that light switches are super easy to clean with a damp cloth with mild soap. Just make sure to turn the power off before doing so.
- Quick and easy multi surface spray removes stuck on dirt
- A fresh way to clean, refresh, and remove odors from non-porous surfaces throughout the house
- Garden-fresh Lemon Verbena cleaner has a light, refreshingly mild citrus scent
- Safe to use as a hardwood floor cleaner, tile cleaner, on countertops, walls and more
- Mrs. Meyer's produces cruelty free cleaners. None of our products are tested on animals
- Multi purpose cleaner for use in the kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms throughout the house
Alternatively, you can use a sanitizing wipe. Rubbing alcohol is also great; simply wet a paper towel with the alcohol and use it to wipe down the light switch and wall plate. Dry the surface with a clean cloth afterward.
You can also dampen a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol to clean and sanitize the small crevices.
