FOR the house-proud among us, we like to think we keep a clean and tidy home, however there are always some spots that get missed.
Which means areas within our home can harbour dirt and germs without us even realising.
So while cleaning our home is a weekly ritual with close attention paid to our carpets, furniture and kitchen counters, it’s the bits that are out of sight, therefore out of mind, that may be harbouring harmful germs.
Here First Mats cleaning expert Richard O’Connor shares the five areas that a significant number of us overlook while cleaning, and what you can do to rectify this now…
Our door mat is the one thing that stops dirt from outside on our shoes being traipsed through the house, and yet it’s something many of us don’t factor into our regular cleaning schedule.
Richard says: “Despite the fact that we use these every day, many people often forget to clean their door mat.
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“This means they can be hiding dirt and germs including faeces and viruses.
“Cloth mats can often be cleaned in the washing machine, however, for others, a combination of cornstarch and bicarbonate of soda sprinkled onto the mat and then hoovered up should do the trick.”
Fridges are bulky, and while we clean the inside, it can feel like a huge chore to clean behind it.
Richard says: “Experts say that we should clean behind our fridge every three months but, most of us neglect this as moving the fridge is a hassle.
“The areas behind and underneath your fridge can harbour some pretty nasty germs so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of moving the fridge and washing these areas down with hot water and washing up liquid as regularly as you can manage.”
This was something we thought about more during the pandemic, but door handles are often also overlooked.
Richard says: “If you stop to think about how many times a day your door handles touched, it may make you feel a little queasy if you’re not in the habit of cleaning them.
“Use a mixture of hot water and vinegar to wipe these down with a damp cloth once or twice a week.”
Again, light switches are something we only touch for a second and barely think about it, but so regularly.
Richard says: “Just like your door handles, your light switches see a lot of action and can quickly become a hotbed of germs.
“Using a small amount of furniture polish and a damp cloth, give your switches a wipe two or three times a week.”
We all, rightly so, have tried to get into the routine of using reusable carrier bags, and try to remember to take them to the shop to avoid needlessly using plastic.
However make sure you wash any material tote bags you may use regularly, and clean reusable plastic ones too.
However, Richard says: “According to some experts, regular use of our bags for life can mean a build-up of germs and bacteria.
“Every week or so, turn your reusable bags inside out and clean them with hot, soapy water to remove any nasties ahead of your next shop.
Of course, we can’t always keep on top of everything, but by being aware of areas we often miss, we can incorporate into our cleaning routine the tasks we regularly miss.
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Richard adds: “In a busy world, most of us don’t have the time to go through our homes with a fine-toothed comb every day.
“However, paying attention to areas that might be hiding germs can help to keep your home fresh – and your family healthy; particularly during the long winter months.”
