Most people assume the dirtiest place in an apartment is the bathroom, or more specifically, the toilet. However, that’s not the case!
Do you use your phone when you sit on the toilet? When was the last time you used an anti-bacterial wipe on your TV remote or keyboard?
Do you wash your reusable grocery bags regularly? If not, don’t panic; join us as we uncover some of the dirtiest places in an apartment.
Using Your Phone While Sitting on the Toilet is a Dirty Habit
Many people use their phone while sitting on the toilet, which exposes the phone to bathroom germs. However, phones are already covered in bacteria from everything else that you touch throughout the day.
To keep your phone clean, you can use a mixture of rubbing alcohol, distilled water, and a microfiber cloth. It’s also a good idea to clean other phone accessories, like the charging cable and earbuds, on a regular basis.
Since the mouth and ears (as well as nose and eyes) are common entry points for illness, it’s important to ensure your phone is clean.
Hands Are Dirty, Making Your Remote and Keyboard Filthy
Your keyboard and remote can accumulate germs from all the other dirty objects you touch during the day. It’s important to clean them regularly to prevent the buildup of germs. Electronic-safe disinfecting wipes can be used to clean your keyboard and remote without worrying about damaging your electronics.
The frequency of cleaning will depend on your usage, but it’s generally recommended to clean them every other day to multiple times daily.
If you or someone you live with is sick, you should increase the number of times you clean your keyboard and remote to help prevent the spread of illness.
Doorknobs Are Downright Disgusting
Even if you wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, it’s still important to clean the bathroom doorknob to prevent the spread of germs.
You should also clean all the other doorknobs in your home regularly to prevent the spread of illness.
Disinfecting wipes are a good tool to use for cleaning doorknobs. It’s important to use a new wipe for each doorknob to avoid spreading germs from one knob to another.
Are Your Cutting Boards Clean or Trapping Bacteria?
Bacteria in the kitchen can lead to food poisoning and other illnesses. Cross-contamination, improper handling of food, not washing produce, and not cooking food to high enough temperatures are all common sources of kitchen bacteria.
Cutting boards, especially wooden ones, can harbor bacteria because of the microscopic grooves and cuts in the surface. To prevent bacteria from growing on your cutting boards, clean them thoroughly with hot soapy water after each use.
To avoid cross-contamination, use different cutting boards for meat and vegetables.
Kitchen and Bathroom Sponges Hold Generational-Germs
Foul odors from kitchen sponges are often caused by trapped bacteria, such as salmonella or E. coli, in the pores of the sponge. If you use the same sponge to wipe down countertops and clean dishes, you may be spreading bacteria rather than actually cleaning.
The microwave will not kill bacteria in your sponges. To properly disinfect your sponges, you should use a heavy-duty disinfectant in boiling water.
It’s generally recommended to replace your sponge every five to seven days to ensure that it stays clean and free of bacteria.
Clean Your Green Grocery Bags
Although environmentally friendly grocery bags are a good choice, they can accumulate germs and bacteria from other shoppers, employees, and even from the groceries themselves.
Many people leave their reusable bags in their car between shopping trips, but this can cause bacteria to grow due to the heat.
To keep germs and bacteria at bay, it’s important to include your multiple-use grocery bags in your laundry at least once per week.
Learn more about healthy apartment cleaning habits in our blog!
