Everyone is talking about washing your hands like it is some new trend, when really it should be common sense.
(Oh, just wait until you get to the 2:28 mark . . . Please do not take cleanliness advice from Adrienne Houghton.)
A good rule is to wash your hands with soap and water for a length of thirty seconds. That’s basically the chorus to Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene” . . . and who doesn’t love that one?!
OK, so what about other items that really should be getting the special clean treatment . . . and are being left neglected?
Thanks to the Huffington Post’s StyleList, here are the top ten dingiest, totally germy items/places in your home that totally need some cleaning love and care:
1. Toothbrush Holders: Have you ever taken a good long look inside your toothbrush holder. BLEH!! Yeah, that mold . . . grime . . . other gross discoloration could totally end up in your mouth!! Go on, let that one sink in. Need another minute? It’s really gross, right?! Try this cleaning suggestion — make a cleaning solution of one part bleach and three parts water . . . pour it in the toothbrush holder and let it soak for an hour . . . rinse and dry upside down on a dish rack.
2. Light Switches: Think about how often those suckers get touched. Bacteria is spread by germy hands touching things and transferring germs (ie light switches). Put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle (or use an all-purpose cleaner) and spray onto a cloth, then wipe the switch and plate until it is clean and free of any type of grease.
3. Credit/Debit Cards: Handling your credit/debit cards is not a one man job. You and them over to other people every time you use them to pay for something (you don’t know when the last time was that person washed their hands), and if you are at a self-pay station, think about other the other dirty cards that have been swiped in the same location (who knows what germs are lurking in there). Grab some disinfectant wipes and go to work. It only takes a minute to clean a couple cards. Just be sure to let them fully dry before you pop the cards back in your wallet. Do your driver’s license while you are at it, too. You know you hand it over when you get carded at the club or ordering adult beverages at dinner.
4. Salt and Pepper Shakers: If you like it fancy and get the reusable/refillable kind, make sure you let it go empty before refilling so that you can clean them. Go ahead and put the empty shakers in your dishwasher (unless you’re uber fancy and they aren’t dishwasher safe, then hand wash them (use a bottle cleaning brush to help). Salt and Pepper shakers are known to be a hot spot for germs that can cause cold and flu viruses to infect the body. Give the outside of the shakers a good wipedown with disinfectant wipes between the big cleans. Speaking of, don’t use the salt and pepper shakers on the table at restaurants. Bring your own, or get stock of on those little S&P packets you get with takeout.
5. Bottoms of Throw Rugs: Sure, we vacuum the top, but how often are you flipping the rug over and getting underneath? Rugs tend to move around (even with runners) and spread the dust and germs around its immediate location. Whenever you pull the vacuum out to get the floors, take an extra moment to flip the rug over and get the underside.
6. Electronics: Your cell phone, tablet, and other e-stuff . . . yeah, totally coated with germs. You would be shocked at the true level of contamination on those suckers. Some studies even show that mobile devices contain way more germs than the toilet seat handle in a public restroom Think about how often you set your cell phone down on various surfaces, and then touch it with your hands or fingers and even put it up on our face! Take a moment to swap the e-devices down with disinfectant wipes.
7. Toilet Roll Holders: Be honest . . . Have you ever actually cleaned the toilet roll holder in your house? When you flush the commode, water from the toilet is sprayed around the area (another reason to always put the toilet seat lid down first . . . and to keep your toothbrush and toothbrush holder as far away from the commode as possible), and this includes the toilet roll holder. Once a month, take a sanitizing wipe and go to town, or use a bleach and water solution to wipe it down.
8. Box Springs: Take a peak under your bed, and you are likely to see a lot of dust. Odds are, the box springs under your mattress are covered in it. Use the extender hose of your vacuum for an easy clean.
9. Ceiling Fans: Another super dust-filled spot. If you don’t have one of those awesome (and totally worth getting) ceiling fan brushes, get one. Chances are there is already a super thick layer of dust and grime on your ceiling fans. Each time you turn the fan on, many of those particles are released into the air. Another way to clean ceiling fans is to put two tablespoons of white vinegar into a spray bottle and fill the rest with water, then spritz on the fans and wipe down the blades with a pillowcase. Use an additional clean cloth to wipe down anything that is left.
10. The Top of Large Appliances: Those spots hat are too tall for you to regularly see are probably dusty with all kinds of yuckiness. Think about it . . . out of sight, out of mind. Tops of refrigerators . . . stove vents . . . (ok so this one isn’t an appliance, but) the tops of your cupboards if they have room up top. Get a ladder, and get to work. Wipe the surfaces with white vinegar, then mix up a warm water and lemon juice mixture to rinse. Dry it all with a clean, dry cloth and you’re good to go. If you do a good job at changing your air filter regularly, you’ll only need to do this once a month.
