Gross! 7 Smelly, Dirty, Bacteria Hotspots Around Your Home

We’re all enjoying the pleasant temperatures in Las Vegas during the first week of spring. For many Southern Nevadans, it’s time for a good spring cleaning. But there are quite a few bacteria hotspots in your home which could use frequent disinfecting.

I must say, I’m not a germaphobe, but I do like things clean around our home. Of course, I’m aware that bacteria hotspots around our home are places which may spread illness or allergies. So, we’re not constantly cleaning, but we may want to clean these particular items and areas more often than not.

So, the owner of custom logo mat company Ultimate Mats is generously listing some items and areas of our homes which are bacteria hotspots. David Chapman recommends making sure we clean our electronic remote controls quite often. After all, everyone in the family is touching these remotes. It’s a perfect place for bacteria to be spread to every member of the family.

Of course, door handles and light switches around your home are breeding grounds for germs. Everyone in the family is touching those too.

And how about the mouse and computer keyboard you use all the time? That’s another bacteria hotspot where germs are constantly spreading.

I’m a stickler for keeping our kitchen sink sponges and cloths as clean as possible. These damp surfaces can become bacteria-infested very quickly. Many health experts recommend changing these items out every week. At the very least, you may want to put them in your dishwasher to disinfect them every time you do a load of dishes.

Another item in your home that is often very damp is the shower curtain. Per Chapman at Ultimate Mats, experts say your shower curtains could contain "60 times more bacteria than your toilet seat." Yikes!

It’s best to wash cloth shower curtains regularly. Likewise, if your shower curtain is plastic or vinyl, then wash it with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar.

I never would have guessed it, but Chapman says the washing machine is also a breeding ground for germs. More recently, everyone is doing their laundry in cold water to save on energy bills. It’s recommended that you clean your washing machine drum at least once a month.

Here’s an item I would have never guessed. Doormats. Ultimate Mats suggests you regularly shake out your doormats. Then, spray them down with a strong disinfectant. They’re one of the dirtiest places in your home. After all, everyone’s bringing all that dirt from streets and sidewalks into your home when they step on those mats.

Now, feel free to scroll down for more content which may interest you.

Think about how easier cleaning would be if we had the help of Cinderella's magical animal friends. Unfortunately, this is not our reality. Many of our realities include piles of dirty clothes, dirty dishes that "you’ll get to later," and always-accumulating dust. But there is hope for maintaining a clean home. Sure, we all have our hacks and tips, but which ones are worth trying out?

Many people have been sharing how they keep their homes spotless or tidy home habits they developed. A good habit to develop is making sure everything has a place. This could be something you developed from your parents, a relative, or on your own. Making sure everything has its own spot can prevent clutter and get you in the habit of putting things back after using them. This also makes it easier to wipe down surface areas like your countertops without appliances constantly getting in the way.

You don't want things to get to a point where you feel overwhelmed by cleaning. Here's a bit of advice: don't leave deep cleaning for cleaning day. Try coming up with a cleaning schedule or a routine. This could be cleaning the bathroom on Thursdays and washing bedding on Sundays. Just cleaning a little bit every day helps in managing keeping a clean home.

There are all kinds of ways and methods for cleaning anything. Of course, some are more effective than others. And some require a handful of steps and instructions. But let’s be real here: we all just want the best cleaning tips and hacks. Those that leave your place spotless with minimal effort.

Some of us may think we have it all together when it comes to cleaning around the home, but there’s always something new to try. For instance, when you have a stained or spotty plastic or vinyl shower curtain, you can just toss it into the washing machine with a little detergent to get it clean. Then there’s descaling your coffee maker. It just takes a mixture of half vinegar and half water brewed until the reservoir is empty. This can help get rid of calcium buildup and keep your coffee maker running a little longer.

Check out more cleaning hacks people swear by below.

Lemons are great for cleaning. This is especially true if you're trying to ditch chemical cleaning products. Not only is the scent amazing, but you can use the fruit to clean wooden cutting boards, deodorize your drains, and degrease pans. According to Taste of Home, lemons work well for cleaning ovens. They said for oven buildup, just fill an oven-safe baking dish with water and lemon juice. Then, bake for 30 minutes at 250 degrees. After the oven has cooled, remove the side and wipe any remaining grime from the oven's interior.

This one is for those with kids or who often watch them. If one of the kiddos decides to draw their best crayon artwork on the walls, your wooden living room tray, LCD screens, clothing or appliances, there are ways to remove it. Some people swear by WD-40. They say it's good for clothing items and LCD screens. For clothes, The Spruce suggests flipping the fabric inside out, spraying WD-40 on a cloth, and dabbing it onto the crayon stain. Then, scraping off the solid bits left behind. You can also treat crayon stains with detergent and a toothbrush scrub, or a dab mayonnaise on a cloth for walls.

There are several ways to remove wine stains. But if you find yourself in a bind, then try salt or club soda. You start by spritzing the wine stain with club soda. Next, blot the wine, or colored drink stain, with a microfiber cloth. Just repeat this until the stain is gone. Some people swear by kosher salt. Usual Wines reported that salt will absorb the wine and lift away the color from the surface.

You may have heard of this cleaning hack. Most comforters are machine-wash-friendly. If the comforter fills only half the washer then you should be good to go. When ready to dry, add tennis balls to the dryer to keep the comforter's stuffing from collecting in one corner. According to Real Simple, if you have ever pulled a washed comforter or pillow out of the dryer to find it lumpy, the tennis ball trick can prevent that.

Dusting is a task that many of us can live without. But if you're looking for an easier way to tackle dust, try using a dryer sheet. They collect dust better than a cloth. You can run it along your baseboards or lines. Apartment Therapy reports that you can also dust surfaces with a sock. Obviously, you want to make sure it's a clean sock. Some people even say that using a pillowcase for hard-to-reach places like ceiling fan blades does the trick. Just open it up, carefully slide it over the fan blade, and use it to wipe out from the center of the fan to the tip of the blade. "The motion collects the dust from the blades and any dust that falls drops into the pillow instead of onto your floor," said Apartment Therapy.

Nobody's a fan of stubborn brown stains in coffee mugs. Here's a cleaning hack to try. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the bottom of your stained cup, add just enough water to form a paste and scrub. Then, give it a good rinse. Some people have also tried distilled white vinegar. Just fill the mug with vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Molly Maid recommends another approach, which is pouring salt into the bottom of the mug and dumping a few pieces of crushed ice on top. Cover the mug with a few layers of plastic wrap and shake vigorously. They said the coarse salt removes the coffee stains without any chemicals.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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