Light Switches
Just think about how many times a day you switch on the lights. No matter how clean you think your hands are, each time you touch the light switch, you’re spreading germs.
Dampen a cloth with your favorite cleaner, and wipe them down regularly.
Remote
Gross as it may sound, your TV remote is covered in germs and dead skin cells if you don’t clean it on a regular basis.
Wipe it down once a week with an alcohol-based wipe or spray that contains 70 percent alcohol. Then dry the surface thoroughly.
Pillows
You should wash your pillows about every four months or so. Throw them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle with hot water to remove dead skin cells and sweat.
And when drying, add a couple clean tennis balls to help speed up drying and keep the pillow guts from clumping.
Phone
As much as we’re on our phones, it’s no wonder they’re covered in bacteria. Clean it daily using disinfectant wipes with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or a disinfecting spray (spritzed onto a cloth, not directly on the phone).
Door Knobs
We all have them, and we all touch them. But when was the last time you cleaned your door knobs? (Or one of these other high touch surfaces?)
It only takes a few minutes to kill any lingering germs (use an alcohol-based cleaner) — just be careful not to get any on wood doors or trim, because it could damage the finish.
Vinyl Siding
Though vinyl siding tends to stay fairly clean, occasionally you’ll develop stubborn stains that need more than just a quick spray from your hose or pressure washer. Learn how to give your siding a deep clean and really make your house shine
Refrigerator
Your refrigerator is the most important appliance in the kitchen because it has the critical job of keeping the food you eat fresh and bacteria-free. Regular cleanings help on both counts.
Oven
Built-up spills and remnants of old food and liquids inside ovens can cause smoke and smell issues. It’s important to clean up big spills as they happen, and make it a habit to put your oven through its cleaning cycle regularly.
Dishwasher
You’d think your dishwasher is pretty much self-cleaning, but unfortunately it’s not. Food bits and grime find their way into all the nooks and crannies of your dishwasher, leading to bad smells and eventually, your dishes not getting clean.
Garbage Disposal
Does your kitchen sink have a
funky smell? It’s probably coming from your garbage disposal. Be sure to clean under the splash guard with a sponge or an old toothbrush, then throw citrus peels down the drain and run the disposal with hot water.
Window Weep Holes
Many sliding windows and vinyl replacement windows have weep holes on the exterior bottom of the frame to drain away rainwater. Weep holes can get plugged with bugs and debris.
To clean them, poke a wire hanger into the hole, or spray it out with compressed air.
Bath Fan Grill
Household dust, moisture and humidity combine to cake bathroom exhaust fans with debris. Luckily, bath fan grills are easy to clean. Grab the edge of the cover and pull down. Squeeze the springs to release them from the slots and remove the cover.
Trash Can
Sure, you line it with a garbage bag, but that doesn’t mean your trash can is free from germs. Who knows what lingers in the bottom of that bin thanks to trash bag leaks. Each time you take out the trash, spray the inside of the trash can with a disinfectant.
Once a month, wash it out thoroughly with bleach and hot water.
Computer Keyboard
In addition to the germs on your hands, your keyboard collects food crumbs, hair and dead skin cells. Yuck. Every two months, use compressed air to get all the crumbs out. Then use a cotton swab dabbed in a little rubbing alcohol to wipe between the keys.
Toothbrush Holder
Your toothbrush isn’t keeping its germs to itself. A study from public health organization NSF International found that 64 percent of toothbrush holders contained mold and yeast, compared to 27 percent of toilet seats.
Most holders can go in the dishwasher, which will get rid of any icky residue and the germs feeding on it, so toss yours in weekly or monthly.
Shower Caddies
Hanging shower caddies are a convenient spot to stash your shower necessities. But often shower caddies are covered with soap residue and shampoo drips. You may be able to simply rinse down the caddy during your shower.
For more stubborn soap scum or mold, let the caddy soak in hot water with a little bleach. Once it’s clean, hang it up to dry thoroughly before returning your products to the caddy.
Hairbrushes
Even if you pull the hair out of your hairbrushes and combs, they should still get a little rinse off every so often to get rid of any lingering debris and residue left behind from your hair products.
Shower Curtains
Your shower curtain attracts all kinds of yucky mildew and more from being in a moist environment, so it’s best to give it a good wipe down with baking soda or a turn in the washer every once in a while.
Dryer Vent
A plugged dryer vent will cause your dryer to run inefficiently, and that’s bad. A plugged dryer vent could also cause a house fire, and that could be deadly! Remove the vent from the back of the dryer to clean it.
Under Your Fridge
The space between your fridge and the floor is a magnet for pet hair, dust, food crumbs and other small trinkets. And if gone too long without cleaning, it can attract ants and other pests.
Bagless Vacuum Filter
Vacuum owners empty the dirt canister but often don’t clean the filters. Plugged filters lead to an overworked motor. Take the vacuum out to the garage and clean the pleated filter with a shop vacuum. Some pleated filters have a special coating that you can damage, so be gentle with the shop vacuum nozzle.
source: familyhandyman
