We all like to think we’re safe in our own homes. When we say ‘safe’, this usually equates to dangers we can see such as other individuals, animals or even the elements. We sometimes neglect those dangers we can’t see, like germs though we would hate to think our own home is a haven for them (at least you would hope so). Others decide to bury their heads on the sand than actually do something about it, even despite the fact that this can risk illness and infestations.
There are those places which most of us go over routinely because they’re easy to get to, show up as unclean very easily, or that we know come into contact with bacteria frequently. There are however just as many which we neglect due to time constraints, how easy they are to reach or because they look clean. Some places just don’t even occur to us as a place for germs. So below we list five places in the home which you might not consider as being popular for germs:
1: Doormats
The reason doormats are sometimes forgotten about is that they’re always in use so rarely get a good wash in most cases. There’s also the problem of when to wash it because you don’t really want to put your clothes in the wash with them. They also take longer to dry because of the material. They seem like a good place for germs when you think about it though. They’re the first place we encounter when we enter the home, and we actively rub our shoes on them to get rid of moisture and dirt (when we go to other people’s homes, we make this a grander gesture to be good guests even). The other reason why they may be forgotten about is because they’re near the door, which may be in the hallway and is not exactly a place where people settle; rather you see that bit of the home as a transitional area.
2: Kitchen Counters
Because they’re often crowded with plates and cooking utensils we may not pay as much attention to entire counter-tops and only a fraction of them we can see. This makes little sense considering that we prepare the food we consume there. Because of the material of most surfaces, they look clean even with a quick wipe of a moist rag or kitchen towel, which isn’t the same. The other hazzard we risk with kitchen counters is when we’ve prepared raw meat on them, or when ingredients get lost or fall from preparation boards. In fact using rags or cloths is considered unhygienic because they often go a long time without being washed, and spread germs from surface to surface. Always have anti-bacterial cleaner at hand, and a proper bin to dispose of wipes.
3: Sides of Bed
This one is for the students out there who enjoy eating in bed and everything else. Crumbs fall down the side and when a bed is pushed against a wall, these areas often go neglected. The effort to move the bed to clean behind it can be off-putting. As well as large formations of dust, it’s not uncommon for old clothes to fall down the side and be susceptible to mould. Have someone strong at hand when doing the cleaning so they can move furniture for you.
4: Telephone
This makes sense as we hold it close to our faces, which means a transfer of grease from our face, as well as germs from behind our ears and our mouth. If we all use the phone in a household, which very well may happen, that means that germs can spread very easily into these orifices. Wipe down the phone every few days (or more frequently in flu season).
5: Bathroom Surfaces
Though they look clean because of the way that tiles reflect light so well, this is not necessarily the case. Just because they look gleaming, does not mean they are clean. After all, bathrooms are where we go when we want to get clean; so it’s no wonder that germs linger even after we do so. Bacteria likes moisture, as in mould, so make sure you wipe down surfaces and don’t leave wet towels lying around. Keeping the area well-ventilated after showers will also help.
Paul is writing on behalf of a client who specialise in stain removal, whether simple everyday spills, or more difficult, long-standing marks.
