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IN AN AGE WHERE A VIRUS HAS RAVAGED COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, cleanliness has never been more essential. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 2019 novel coronavirus is spread primarily when healthy people come in close personal contact with a person who has COVID-19. Still the agency hasn’t ruled out the possibility that one could get the virus from touching something that’s been contaminated, and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. And while washing your hands is kind of a no-brainer these days, there are many areas in your home likely in dire need of a deep cleaning (including some places you might not even suspect). Below, the five places most likely to be teeming with germs.
HANDLES
When was the last time you cleaned your microwave handle? What about the door of your refrigerator? If it hasn’t been within the last few days, then it may be due for a cleaning.
Handles, hinges, and knobs are often forgotten when cleaning, and are on a number of things we use throughout the day—like appliances, tooth-brushes and workout equipment, says Joshua Kennedy, owner of First Coast Home Pros. “Disinfecting all of these high touch areas is important when trying to clean areas where germs accumulate,” he says.
It’s easy to forget about washing doorknobs, but, like handles, they’re something we touch multiple times a day, and the first thing we touch when entering our home from the outside world. Incorporating doorknobs into your regular cleaning routine can help mitigate the spread of outside germs around your house. (Don’t forget the light switches, either).
TOILETS
This one is probably the most obvious of the list, but it bears repeating. Yes, toilets are disgusting and annoying to clean, but we must fight through our reluctance. According to Kennedy, toilets and the surrounding area are one of the most necessary places to keep free from germs.
“The most important areas to clean frequently are kitchens and bathrooms, where germs tend to accumulate due to the frequent use, but also because of what we tend to do in these areas, such as prepare and eat food, brush our teeth, wash our faces, and more.”
When cleaning toilets, washable towels or disposable sponges are recommended, as they remove the risk of cross contamination brought on by reuse.
KITCHEN SINKS
As Kennedy notes, the kitchen might be the most crucial area to keep clean; after all, it is where we make our meals. While wiping down kitchen counters daily is common practice, we don’t always think to clean our sinks. But, we should.
ink about it—this is where we put all of our dirty dishes, and many germs and food that gets washed off of your dishes often goes directly into the sink. If the sink isn’t washed regularly, it can become a hotbed of germ activity. Kennedy encourages making a habit of wiping down the sink after doing the dishes.
TABLES
Any commonly used surface is going to acquire a large number of germs. Coffee tables and work desks, in particular, are areas touched many times each day. Kennedy recommends undertaking daily cleanings of any surface that is frequently touched. In the tune of keeping your home clear of SARS-COV-2, it might be worthwhile to disinfect after each use.
ELECTRONICS
Screens may be the biggest harborer of germs, especially considering we touch objects like our phones before and after we have touched other potentially dirty surfaces. In fact, phones and personal computers carry even more bacteria than the average toilet seat. A study performed by researchers at the University of Arizona found that the average desktop carries 400 times the bacteria as the average toilet seat.
By Joshua Lester
