When it comes to cleaning our homes, most of us have a regular check-list of what needs to be done, and it’s usually the big-ticket items like changing the bedding, cleaning the bathrooms or washing the floors. But there are always a few things we forget to clean – and it’s not because we’re slovenly or neglectful, it’s simply that they don’t occur to us while we’re hygiene cleaning the rest. So, if you want to make sure your home is sparklingly clean, be sure to include the following.
Sink Plugs and Drains
We might all remember to wash out and wipe down our kitchen sink, basin and bath, but how often do you remember to disinfect your plug, the rim around the plug hole and the drain itself? Studies show that our kitchen sinks have over 17,000 bacteria per square inch, and while most of these are harmless, there are the more dangerous kinds like E.coli and salmonella that can take hold if we don’t do a proper job disinfecting everything. Plug holes tend to be dark, warm and wet places which provide the perfect breeding ground for germs, and that goes for deep down in the drain too, so it’s essential to deep clean these areas – this is particularly important if you’re doing a pre occupation cleaning, because you have no idea how often the previous tenants or owners cleaned everything. It’s a good idea to do a weekly drain clean and you needn’t use harsh chemicals – bicarbonate of soda and vinegar do a very effective job of flushing out the pipes.
Toothbrushes and Toothbrush Holders
Do yourself a favour this evening before you brush your teeth – take a close look at your toothbrush and also the container you keep it in. Chances are, if you’re like most of us, you’ll be shocked at the amount of toothpaste still stuck between the bristles and also the gunk stuck at the bottom of the holder. Because we don’t properly clean and dry either of these items every morning and evening, moisture gets trapped in the cup and if left long enough eventually breeds germs and mould – not a pretty thought if you consider that these holders house things that go into our mouths.
Remote Controls
We touch these items multiple times every single day, they fall on the floor, we eat food while holding them, the list goes on – but how often do we clean them? And you don’t even want to think about remote controls in hotels – studies show that this is the most bacteria-laden item in a hotel room, even in the higher-end hotels where hygiene cleaning happens on a daily basis. So, it should be a regular practise to give these a good deep clean – the easiest way to do this is to remove the batteries, wipe the entire thing down with rubbing alcohol, use an earbud for those hard to reach areas around the buttons, and then once it’s dry, pop the batteries back in and you’ll be holding a clean remote again.
Be sure to include these often-missed items the next time you do your spring cleaning, and if you need help with your next deep clean, remember to call QClean – Cape Town’s leading expert and specialist cleaning service.
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