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Ewwww! The surprising places around the home where germs gather

Make sure you disinfect these things in your home regularly to keep bacteria at bay
  • 20 May 2019
Ewwww! The surprising places around the home where germs gather

Sinks, taps and drains

The warm damp environment of your kitchen and bathroom sinks are the perfect places for mini civilisations of bacteria to pop up, ewww! So they need regular wipe downs. Use vinegar and water in a spray bottle and go over everything with a clean cloth. Put a little baking soda and vinegar down your drains and wash through with hot water to disinfect and keep your drains smelling fresh.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Dish cloths and sponges

It’s a given that things you use to clean your home are going to get dirty themselves. That’s why you should make sure your dish cloths and sponges are kept clean at all times as they’re a haven for germs. Rotate your dishcloths and either soak them in a mix of hot water and vinegar or run them through a hot cycle with some bleach in your washing machine. Sponges are especially problematic and hard to disinfect, putting them in your dishwasher is a good way to clean them but do replace  regularly.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Light switches

A regular wipe down with a disinfectant wipe is recommended for light switches that are touched by a hundred grubby hands each week, the same goes for door and draw handles. To clean light switches properly, turn off the mains power and wipe with a damp cloth. Make sure your cloth is damp but not wet and make sure the switches are completely dry before turning the mains back on.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Pet Bowls

Our furry friends' bowls are havens for germs. Give all their food and water bowls a run through a sanitising cycle in your dishwasher or clean in hot soapy water. After every meal is best but if that's not practical than at least a couple of times a week.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Bath Mats

Bath mats are another haven for bacteria, mould and mildew. They should be washed on a cold cycle in your washing machine and then hung out to dry as soon as they’re dirty.  Regardless, always hang your bath mats up after use, preferably outside and rotate them often.

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