There are plenty of visibly dirty spots in and around our home that we are all too familiar with (bathroom grout anyone?) However, a fact that no one likes to acknowledge is that our homes are host to a multitude of germs and bacteria – the majority of which we do not see, or even know exist!

From yeast and mould, through to the even more scary Staphylococcus bacteria, there are plenty of spots around the home that have rolled out the red carpet to these unwanted guests.

Whether you’re simply curious, or want to nip these nasties in the bud, it’s helpful to get a handle on where they like to hang out the most. After all, knowing where dirtiest hot-spots are – and regularly cleaning them, is the only way to get on top of any potential germ outbreaks and leave your property sanitized and sparkling.

Keep reading for 6 of the most dirty spots in your home
and how to clean them!

#1 – Handles, switches and knobs

Clean freaks are always paranoid of touching door handles, knobs and switches with their bare hands, and for good reason! These are some of the most germ-ridden places in your home. Human hands are the cause for the spread of dirt and germs on everything including doorknobs, taps, light switches, faucet handles, fridge door handles, toilet flush handles and everything in between.

These small and fiddly places in the home are often overlooked in the regular cleaning routine in favour of the big ticket items such as cleaning kitchens, carpet cleaning and dusting furnishings.
To kill germs quickly and easily, the easiest way to sanitise these objects is to give them a thorough wipe-over with disinfecting wipes. Pay attention to all the handles in the home, along with doorknobs, light switches, kitchen appliances, cabinetry, taps, stove knobs, and any other area prone to finger prints and handling.

#2 – Carpets

We all love walking around on the soft padding of our plush carpets, but what else could be walking on? Dust particles, food crumbs, pet hair, skin cells, soil and other debris accumulate in our carpets on the daily. Unfortunately our beloved carpets provide a warm and fuzzy breeding ground for a number of invisible nasties as well, if they’re not cleaned properly.

Regular vacuuming of carpets is the very least a property owner should do – whether they do this themselves, or enlist the services of a professional cleaning company. But to really get your carpeting clean and santised, an annual steam clean is recommended.

While DIY carpet steam cleaning is an option, a professional carpet cleaning company is highly recommended. That’s because, tackling this difficult task yourself can lead to more problems than you started with. For instance, over-wetting of your carpets can cause mould and bacteria to flourish in the fibres triggering skin complaints and respiratory problems;
while the misuse of strong chemicals can be damaging to your health and property.

#3 – Kitchen Counter and Dish Cloths

The rumours are true: your kitchen benches and dish cloths and likely to be dirtier than your toilet! Sure, we may try to wipe down the counter in between meals, but how often do we thoroughly disinfect those bench tops and sinks?

Surfaces that come into contact with raw and cooked meat, diary produce, or virtually any other foodstuff are hot-houses for toxins and bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
And who can forget the always-damp sponges and cloths used to clean up messes? If not themselves cleaned between uses, kitchen sponges are a fast track to spreading germs around the kitchen and into our mouths.
Disinfect your kitchen surfaces (paying special attention to the sink) at least every day.
Wash and disinfect your kitchen cloths and sponges after use, then allow them to dry out completely between uses.
And if you’re finding that keeping on top of kitchen cleanliness is too much? A professional house cleaning company such as Clean House Melbourne will give your kitchen the thorough clean it needs – speak to us about setting up a regular home cleaning booking!

#4 – Underneath Appliances

It’s often not until you embark on an end of lease clean or move out of a property that you see what dirt and grime has been lurking under your appliances. Until then, it’s often out of sight, out of mind… It’s just too easy to forget to clean the small nooks and crannies under appliances such as under microwaves, washing machines, fridges, and coffee machinesand the like.
But these small spaces are a magnet for masses of dust, dirt, grime, and of course, food. If you truly want to keep a clean and germ-free home, it is essential to get to the bottom of these places and clean them regularly. Not only do these cramped spaces accumulate debris, their sheltered and warm environment is a breeding ground for pests such as cockroaches and ants.
So, pull your refrigerator out, clean the coils with a brush and vacuum the area. Wipe down the sides of the refrigerator (often host to a myriad of spillages) with a cleaning cloth and disinfectant. Repeat this process for under your microwave, kettle, oven, and any other appliances.

#5 – Shower and bath

These areas are always under the blast of hot water and soaps so they must be automatically germ-free? Sorry, on the contrary! Unfortunately, the wettest areas of the home are often the dirtiest. Bacteria and germs just love to invade wet areas such as shower recesses, underneath sinks, in and around bath-tubs – anywhere it’s moist you’ll find a whole host of nasties.

Shower germs include staphylococcus or “staph” bacteria; fungi such as athlete’s foot; and general mould and mildews, which exacerbate asthma and allergies.
To keep your home sanitised, a regular cleaning schedule to tackle these problem areas is key. The combination of the right shower chemical applied with some elbow grease and expert know-how will kill bacteria and leave your tiles and grout bright and sparkling.

#6 – Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans may not be your home’s biggest germ magnet in terms of bacteria, but they are not innocent bystanders either. If you’re like most people, ceiling fans probably never make your cleaning checklist, but they should.
In most homes, ceiling fans are packed with dust and pollutants which gets spread into the air each time the fan is in use (often while sleeping.) It’s little wonder your eyes are watery and your nose itchy! So, to breathe easy, it’s important to give your fan a thorough dusting every once in a while.

Luckily, unlike the other germy areas in your home, cleaning your ceiling fans is relatively easy to do and takes only a few minutes. Simply wipe down the blades and base with a damp cloth to remove the dust particles completely. And of course, never use a feather duster this just spreads the dust around further.
What parts of your home do you find the most difficult to keep clean? To rid your home of germs and other nasties, give Clean House Melbourne a call today to schedule a regular cleaning routine that’s completely hands-free!