You’ve dusted the furniture, swept and mopped the floor, vacuumed the carpets and squirted anti-bacterial spray all over the house in a valiant effort to keep your family safe from bacteria. However, before you rest and have your much deserved celebratory drink, make sure you haven’t missed a few tiny nooks where germs could be hiding.
The TV Remote
We never stop to think about where the remote has travelled every time it was misplaced. The floor, or between the cushions. It has been handled by anyone who has stayed home sick and been coughed and sneezed on. It has been put in the mouths of young children. If you have a pet, perhaps it has spent time in their mouths too. Everyone in the house has handled it in sickness and health.
Every once in a while you should wipe the remote down with an antibacterial towel. Even if you have everyone wash their hands before handling the remote, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
The Kitchen Sink
This is another high traffic area that you might not think about, even if you only have a compact kitchen sink. Just because you’re washing things whenever the sink is used, doesn’t mean the sink is clean after you’re done with it. Food particles left over from dirty dishes or plates left to soak can serve as a breeding ground for E. Coli and salmonella. Clean the sink by washing it with a solution of bleach and water once a day, then letting it run down the drain. Don’t forget to clean the plug, and around the faucet.
Can openers
There are quite a few kitchen utensils that come into contact with a lot of food before they’re properly washed. Can openers are complicated because the food can get caught in their blades, which makes them very tough to get completely clean. The best solution is to wash them after every use to prevent the dirt from building up. However, if it has been a while, then soak the can opener in a solution of soap, warm water, and disinfectant. This kind of deep cleaning should also be applied to kitchen knives, rubber spatulas, and food storage containers. A good germ killing soak to try with your kitchen utensils consists of four cups of warm water, 25 drops of tea tree oil, 25 drops of lavender oil and 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide in a large tub or sink basin. Let utensils soak for 1 hour, then rinse clean.
The Bath Tub
Yet another area that may seem clean but might not be. Bathtubs and showers may be dirty because the water tends to get trapped in the pipes, and bacteria thrives in this environment. The water you’re using to clean yourself may not be as clean as you would hope. To eliminate bacteria in your bathroom, disinfect the tub with bleach and bathroom cleaner after you’ve finished showering, then pat it dry with a clean towel.
