Wash your hands and sing happy birthday…how quaint that counsel feels now! Since that rather lacklustre advice was issued some 14 months ago, our relationships with hand hygiene and our dedication to sanitation have changed irrevocably.
It seems like our home cleaning routines during the global pandemic have seen several stages of severity. There was that phase when we thought we should be microwaving our letters for fear they were contaminated. Or, that period of leaving our grocery shopping outside the door for several days to ensure all germs had taken flight before bringing it inside.
And who remembers that time we hosed down the postman? Oh, just us? Let’s move on.
Since then, as scientific consensus has solidified, some of these extreme practices have faded away; all but a distant memory of a peculiar time.
That said, it’s still important – pandemic or otherwise – to sanitise your home from time to time, to ensure you’re keeping germs and pathogens at bay. Considering domestic sanitation essentials, here’s how to leave your home spotless.
KEEP A DAILY ROUTINE
As laborious as home chores may be, and as tyrannical it sounds to be drawing up a cleaning rota, it’s essential for a spotless house that you have a system in place. Dishes, dusting and de-scaling don’t just happen by chance; you have to set aside a specific slot to do these tasks. If you care about your home being spotless rather than simply clean, then these chores are going to have to be done daily.
Effective cleaning is all about scheduling, routine and timing things with precision. A simple way to pull this off is by tackling things room by room; set aside a day of the week or a specific time slot to clean a particular room or space, and stick to it.
Focus is a great driver for efficiency and stops you from spreading yourself too thinly. A ‘little and often’ approach is also a prudent one; if you do your chores systematically, completing tasks regularly bit by bit, you’ll more likely be able to maintain acceptable levels of cleanliness without ever having to a do a blitz job because things have gotten way out of hand.
GO HARD ON THE KITCHEN
Certain areas of the house are particularly prone to getting dirty and accumulating bacteria, and these should be wiped down several times a day, ideally.
Interestingly, according to Home and Garden, the areas in your home which boast the most bacteria are:
- Sponges and tea towels in the kitchen
- Kitchen sinks, countertops and chopping boards
- Door knobs, cupboard handles and light switches
It’s in the kitchen, then, that you should pay closest attention. Use wipes and surface cleaners to help you sanitise hard surfaces and touch points, in particular, which tend to be the most touched – and therefore, dirtiest – places in the home. Always wash your dishes immediately after eating, and regularly sanitise your kitchen sponges in full strength vinegar for five minutes.
Indeed, many experts believe that the kitchen even harbours more germs than the toilet. The professionals behind Do It Right Cleaning point out that it’s important to clean down these areas most regularly as they are some of the most used in the house. You want to be careful of foodborne germs that can spread easily and cause harm to you and your family, so go hard on the kitchen cleaning to ensure your house as a whole is spotless.
Read: 4 kitchen appliance cleaning tips you need in your life.
CLEANING THE BATHROOM
The bathroom and toilet is the first place your mind goes to when you think of germs in the house, and so we naturally take extra measures to clean the bathtubs and toilet bowls regularly. Unfortunately, in honing in on the obvious, we ignore a few ‘forgotten’ places where germs breed in the bathroom. This includes the walls, the faucets, the toilet flusher and door knobs.
To ensure you’re not missing a spot:
- Endeavor to use disinfectant sprays to clean these often forgotten places
- After a bath or shower, wipe down the tub and walls of the bath. Clean the shower glass using a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar after each use
- Use bleach in the toilet regularly, and use disinfectant wipes on the seat after every use
- Dispose used tissues properly, and empty the bathroom bin daily
- Don’t forget to sanitise your toilet brush – this can be done in bucket, using boiling water and bleach
USE SANITISER SUITABLE FOR SOFTER FABRICS
Many of us clean our carpets only when they get visibly dirty. However, bacteria, bad odours and dust mites can quickly get out of hand.
You want to use sanitisers that can be specifically used on soft fabrics such as rugs, couches, and throw blankets. These items can also carry allergens that can affect those in your family who are allergy-prone, have sinus issues, or suffer from asthma, so do need sanitation, as fabrics are adept at holding onto airborne germs.
Alternative, you can make a DIY solution to clean soft furnishings. Get rid of dirt, grime and smells from your carpets by sprinkling them with bicarbonate of soda around 20 minutes before hoovering. If you like, you can also spray the carpet with white vinegar for added effect.
USE AIR PURIFIERS AND LED SANITIZERS
Air purifiers and LED sanitizers are a great way to help keep your home clean. They can be set on a timer to operate at various time intervals, which will chime nicely with that strict cleaning routine we recommended earlier.
You’ll find yourself having to dust a lot less and you can rest assured that your LED sanitiser is working to clean your home without the need for heavy cleaners and harsh chemicals.
DON’T NEGLECT THE EVERYDAY ITEMS
Did you know some of the most bacteria-laden items in your home are sitting right under your nose? Or rather, sitting right in your pocket. Indeed, smart phones, credit cards, keyboards and remote controls are all items which we are constantly touching, and are therefore prone to accumulating dirt and germs. To keep in the loop, check out these 7 everyday items you might not be sanitising enough. Happy cleaning!