The 8 Germiest Places in Your Home And How to Clean Them
Most people think of home as their personal comfort zone, refuge, and safe haven. However, even the tidiest homes host a multitude of unwanted guests, a.k.a., germs. You may not be able to see these pesky, illness-causing microorganisms lurking in your home, but the next sneeze, sniffle, or stomach flu may be the result of bacteria and viruses on surfaces that you and your loved ones touch every day. Your home, with all of its nooks and crannies, is a veritable breeding ground for mold, staph germs, yeast, and coliform bacteria.
Some places in your home are far more germier than others, so cleaning takes a little extra effort in these areas. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) found that areas, where food is stored or prepared, had more bacteria and fecal contamination than other places in the home. More than 75% of dish sponges and rags had Salmonella, E. coli, and fecal matter compared to 9% on bathroom faucet handles. Other kitchen items that need frequent cleaning include cutting boards, coffee makers, refrigerators, especially areas in contact with uncooked and unwashed food, kitchen sinks, and countertops.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, making sure your home is as clean as possible is more important than ever. According to Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona who is better known as “Dr. Germ,” and a study by the National Sanitation Foundation, a public health and safety organization, here are some of the germiest places in your home and the best way to clean and disinfect them:
1). Kitchen sponge
According to Gerba, the number one germiest household culprit is the kitchen sponge. “Bacteria find a happy home in sponges. When you wipe, you take up food and drink and bacteria can feed on that,” said Gerba. The kitchen sponge is wet and moist, always soaking up coliform bacteria. It’s like bacterial heaven. In addition to coliform bacteria, Gerba also found 15% of sponges in a random study had salmonella growing in them.
In the NSF study, 86% of sponges had mold and yeast, 77% contained coliform bacteria and 18% were filled with staph bacteria. There are many types of coliform bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli, which can lead to stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. In more serious cases, E. coli can also cause pneumonia and respiratory problems.
“You can reduce germs by microwaving that wet sponge. Bacteria grow to large numbers in the sponge and [the sponge] needs to be washed – microwave for 30 seconds every five to six days. But be careful, because they get hot,” Gerba says. “You can toss your dish rags in the dishwasher.” Use paper towels to wipe up spills. Clean counters with an antibacterial kitchen wipe like Lysol or Clorox. Make it a habit to microwave thoroughly wet sponges for 1 to 2 minutes every day to sanitize them. You can also soak sponges in a quart of warm water with half a teaspoon of concentrated bleach.
2). Kitchen sink
According to Gerba, the kitchen contains more germs than the bathroom and places second on the heels of the kitchen sponge as the germiest places in the home That’s not hard to believe when you consider that this is the place where you wash dirt and germs off of raw food. It’s also the spot where you rinse your plates and utensils before placing them in the dishwasher.
In the NSF study, 45% of the sinks contained coliform bacteria, and 27% contained mold. At least once a week, preferably more, disinfect the kitchen sink including around the sides. Drains and disposals should also be disinfected a couple of times a month.
3). Toothbrush holder
Contrary to popular belief, the toilet is not the germiest place in your bathroom. It’s actually your toothbrush holder. Because your toilet seat gets cleaned more regularly than other places, Gerba believes it might actually be the least germy place in your bathroom. However, if your toothbrush holder is located close to the toilet area, it may be subject to particles that are sprayed through the air when you flush.
Toilet plume is what happens when the force of flushing sprays microscopic particles of pee, poop, and whatever else is in the bowl into the air. “[This plume] is easily transmitted in a wide range of air space when you flush the toilet,” says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Arizona who has studied toilet plume. You want to keep the toothbrush holder as far away from the toilet as possible.
Additionally, an alarming 64% of toothbrush holders contained mold and yeast, 27% contained coliform, and 14% contained staph. On a weekly basis, put your toothbrush holder in the dishwasher on the sanitizing cycle and consider replacing your toothbrushes every couple of months.
4). Pet bowls and toys
According to the study conducted by the NSF, pet bowls placed fourth in spots with the most germs in a home. Many of your pet’s favorite objects are riddled with germs. The study revealed that 45% of pet bowls contained mold and yeast and 18% contained coliform bacteria. 55% of pet toys contained yeast and mold and 23% contained staph bacteria.
Pet toys also carried staph, yeast, and mold. Pets and their bowls, toys, and beds can all carry coronavirus as well. Pets aren’t typically affected by COVID-19, but they can carry and transfer the virus to you via your hands and face. You can prevent your pets from bringing in dirt and germs by washing or wiping their paws before letting them into the house.
Other tips include washing pet bowls daily with warm, soapy water, soaking toys and bowls in bleach weekly, cleaning hard toys regularly with hot, soapy water. The NSF recommends either washing them on the dishwasher’s disinfecting cycle or washing them by hand using soapy water. Soft toys can be cleaned on your washing machine’s sanitizing cycle.
5). Coffee maker
Whether it’s the single-serve Keurig-type machine, an espresso machine, or a traditional coffee maker, it’s important to keep these appliances clean to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and even mold. Lisa Yakas, senior product manager of Consumer Products at the National Sanitation Foundation, says that these appliances are relatively harmless as long as people follow the manufacturer’s cleaning directions. However, without routine cleaning, they can get pretty germy and grimy. Mold and yeast can grow in your coffee maker.
Yakas points to the water reservoir, the part of the coffee maker that stores water, as one of the dirtiest parts of the kitchen if not cleaned on a regular basis. The coffee reservoir is not only damp but also dark, making it an ideal place for germs to thrive. In the NSF study, half of the reservoirs contained yeast and mold and 9% contained coliform bacteria. To clean the coffee reservoir, pour four cups of vinegar into the reservoir, wait 30 minutes, then brew the vinegar just like you would brew coffee. Afterward, run two cycles of water through the coffee maker to thoroughly rinse it out.
6). Bathroom faucet handles
Unless you have a touchless faucet in your bathroom, sink handles are some of the germiest places in your home. Bathroom faucet handles contain more than 600 times more microorganisms per square inch than a toilet handle. According to the NSA study, 27% of faucet handles contained staph and 9% contained coliform bacteria. You probably wipe down your flusher every time you clean the toilet, but sink handles are a less-than-obvious spot for germs. On a daily basis, you should clean your faucet handles with a disinfectant spray or disinfecting wipes.
7). Kitchen countertop
If the kitchen is the home’s hub, the countertop is the kitchen’s hub. Packages and bags of groceries (which were previously on the floor of your car) are placed on it along with handbags and backpacks. And yet, this is also where you prepare food, and some of it raw. It comes as no surprise that 32% of countertops contained coliform bacteria and 18% contained mold.
“Kitchen countertops tend to be the dirtiest near the sink area because people wipe them down with sponges and cleaning cloths that have E. coli and other bacteria. The sponges and cloths just spread the germs all over the countertops,” says Gerba. Keep non-food items off of the countertop, and disinfect the surface prior to and after preparing food. Make sure to use a clean microfiber cloth and hot soapy water to wipe down commonly used countertop spaces daily and all areas and under countertop items weekly.
8). Stove knobs
Did you consider that nasty germs may be lurking on your stove knobs while you’re preparing meals? How often do you clean your stove knobs? If you are like most people, probably not often enough. In the NSF study, 14% of stove knobs had coliform bacteria, while 27% harbored molds and yeasts. On a weekly basis, take the stove knobs off and wash them in soapy water.
Additional germ hotspots
The areas listed above are not the only germ-ridden places in your home to be concerned with. According to Gerba, “The cutting board usually has 200 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.” He recommends using two cutting boards: one for meats and one for cutting vegetables. “Also, your refrigerator door is quite germy because of handling raw foods without washing your hands,” says Gerba.
Other germy places in your home include toilet handles, the toilet seat, bathroom doorknobs, bathroom light switches, cellphones, computer keyboard/mice, remote controls, and hand towels. “You don’t need to clean more – just take care of your cleaning tools and use disinfecting wipes or a kitchen cleaner with a disinfectant in the kitchen,” says Gerba. “You do not have to keep your home germ-free, just keep the numbers down.”
Cleanstart Residential Cleaning Services
If you are in need of residential cleaning services, Cleanstart cleaning pros are standing by and ready to help. We have over 28 years of experience in the cleaning industry and have been on the front lines fighting the spread of COVID-19 since the outbreak in early 2020 (See Cleanstart featured in TIME Magazine Video). Your safety, security, and satisfaction are our number one priority.
Worry-free services
We understand how important it is to protect your home. That is why we make sure that each member of our cleaning team undergoes extensive vetting, including a background check before they are hired; receives thorough training in all aspects of professional cleaning (cleaning agents, chemicals, methods, technologies, equipment, and safety protocols), and is insured for your protection. Our screened, insured, and bonded cleaners will make sure you 100% satisfied.
Your satisfaction is our top priority
We strive to provide the highest level of service possible. If, for whatever reason, you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our cleaning services, give us a call within 24 hours and we will make it right at no additional cost to you. We want you to feel completely confident in our ability to accommodate all of your house cleaning needs.
✓ Over 28 years of experience in the professional cleaning industry
✓ Thoroughly trained and vetted cleaning professionals
✓ Commitment to the highest quality clean
✓ Local, licensed, insured, & bonded service
✓ 24/7 cleaning options & support
✓ Customized cleaning solutions
✓ One-time and recurring professional cleaning visits
✓ 100% satisfaction guarantee
✓ OSHA, HIPAA, EPA, CDC, AORN compliant
✓ A+ BBB-rating
If you are looking for professional house cleaning services, you can count on Cleanstart. For more information about our quality services or to request a cleaning visit, please give us a call at (253) 921-2593 or get your free online estimate now!
We service the following locales in the Greater Puget Sound region:
Auburn, Bellevue, Bellingham, Bonney Lake, Bremerton, Factoria, Fife, Gig Harbor, Kent, Lakewood, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, and Thurston County.
5013 Pacific Hwy E unit 16 Fife, WA 98424 • Phone: 253.921.2593 • Email: Caleb @ thecleanstart.com
