Places you Probably Aren’t Cleaning

There are dirty areas in a home that everyone knows are teaming with an army of germs. Toilet bowls and garbage cans are just a couple of those taboo areas. Most people don’t realize that there are many other places in a home that tend to be a breeding ground for bacteria that can make you and your family sick. Because many people aren’t aware of these areas, they are overlooked when cleaning and could possibly pose a threat to your family’s health. Don’t make the same mistakes by following these tips.

Bathroom

Bathroom mats are a highly ignored area of the bathroom. The oft overlooked bathroom mat soaks up shower and bath water while picking up germs from the areas surrounding them. The dark, dense part on the bottom of a mat makes a great home for mold and bacteria.

You can solve this problem by washing and drying bathroom mats on the highest heat setting. If the color allows it, you should also use bleach. Remember to always keep bathroom mats away from clothes and bedding to avoid spreading those unwanted germs and bacteria to the other areas of your home. Once the mats are clean, make sure you thoroughly disinfect the floor before placing the mats back down.

Make up and their brushes have been known to grow dangerous bacteria. Eye make up causes the greatest concern. A study done on mascara showed that after three months, 40 percent of the tubes tested had dangerous microscopic creatures growing in them.

Since makeup products can’t be cleaned, the only way to address this is to throw away eye products every season. Face creams should be replaced every six months. Powers and lipsticks should be replaced every two years.

Bedroom

Pillows and sheets are great places for fungi that inflame allergies to flourish. This is because of all the sweat, dead skin, and drool that get absorbed into the soft fabrics. These conditions also attract dust mites that can trigger bad allergies as well.

The best way to address this is to launder all bedding on the highest heat setting available. It is also wise to add bleach to kill the bacteria in the fabrics and inside the washing machine.

Kitchen

Sponges are undercover petri dishes. Food particles get easily stuck in all the nooks and crannies of a sponge. The moist and dark crevices inside a sponge make ideal breeding conditions for bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli.

Fix the problem by using antibacterial sponges and dish soaps. Also remember to disinfect your sponges at least once a week. Do this by soaking the sponge in a bleach and water solution for five minutes. You can speed up the process by popping it into the microwave for about two minutes. Using the microwave kills more germs as well.

Cutting boards also retain a lot of germs. This is especially the case if you use the same cutting board for many different kinds of food. Cutting vegetables on the same board as raw meats tends to cause cross contamination and can be extremely dangerous.

For plastic cutting boards, you can address this issue by regularly running them through the dishwasher or dousing them with near-boiling water to kill the germs. You can kill bacteria in wooden cutting boards by putting them in the microwave. Let both types of cutting boards air dry completely before storing. Replace the board altogether if it has numerous cuts in the surface.

If you need it, the experts at J & J Window Wash can help keep your windows and home clean year round. For more information about Las Vegas cleaning services, contact 702.274.8128.

August 26, 2014