12 Germ Hotspots in Your Home

Sharon Moore November 01, 2013

You may scrub the toilet and countertops until they shine, but the following bacteria breeding grounds need your attention too.

Washing Machine

Think this is the cleanest place in your home? Unfortunately, it’s not. Dirty laundry can fill your washer with tons of bacteria and viruses. To keep it fresh, run your washer empty with a cup of bleach. Do this cleaning routine weekly.

Kitchen faucet

The running water keeps the metal aeration screen of your kitchen faucet moist – an ideal environment for bacteria growth. Over time, these potentially harmful microorganisms will form a wall of pathogens called biofilm. This biofilm can grow big enough to break off and get onto your food or dishes. Gross!

Soap dispensers

Just because they get hold of your soap doesn’t mean they are already free from germs. Most people don’t clean their soap dispensers, so bacteria grow and spread as the soap scum builds up.

Kitchen sink

Kitchen sink is the second dirtiest place in most households. It’s even dirtier than the toilet! In fact, it has around 500,000 bacteria, which is 1,000 times higher than that of the bathroom. It gets all the bacteria from food leftovers, meat, fish and fresh produce, and dainty dishes. So make sure you clean it with disinfecting cleanser every day. And don’t forget to clean your kitchen sponge too! Dry it in the microwave for two minutes daily to kill any E. coli and salmonella thriving in there.

Phones, computers and electronics

Computer keyboards, telephones and mobile phones, remote controls and other electronic gadgets are hotspots of germs and bacteria at home, especially if you share them with other people or you eat whilst working on your desk. Clean them using disinfectant solutions regularly.

Kid’s room

Toddlers like putting almost everything in their mouth. So make sure all your kid’s toys and belongings are clean all the time using disinfecting sprays or wipes. If you have a baby, be sure to clean the diaper changing area, plastic toys, crib rails and slats, and other areas or surfaces your child is exposed to.

Fridge

Keep your fridge clean by washing the surfaces inside – including walls, trays, and shelves, with hot soapy water. To get rid of the smell, use a mixture of baking soda and water or a mixture of water and vinegar. Always clean the refrigerator spills right away.

Garbage disposal

Your garbage disposal can also be a prime resource of disease-causing bacteria, contaminating whatever that touches it – utensils, dishes and even your hands. Disinfect the disposal’s rubber stopper using a diluted bleach solution because soap and water are not enough.

Welcome mat

You really don’t want to welcome your guests with tons of bacteria, do you? So don’t forget to list your welcome mat in your cleaning list. One study found that 96 per cent of shoe soles had traces of coliform, including faecal bacteria. So spray the mat with a fabric-safe disinfectant, leave shoes at the door and avoid putting bags and groceries on your mat too.

Vacuum cleaner

Whilst vacuums help keep your house clean and free from dust, they are also a haven of bacteria, including the spreadable germs. So regularly change your vacuum bag to avoid the cloud of bacteria that filters into the air.

Dish towel

Yes, kitchen sponges can harbour nasty germs, but dish towels can be as dangerous. In fact, it is rated as one of the leading hotspots of E. coli and other bacteria at home. So don’t forget to wash them daily and keep them dry.

Bathroom

There’s no doubt that the bathroom may contain bacteria. One way to keep it clean is to use a mixture of 2 tablespoons of dish liquid and 2 tablespoons ammonia dissolved in one quart of water. Baking soda paste may also help get rid of marks in your bathroom sink and tub.