10 Things In Your Home You Need to Clean Immediately

Germs are hiding in common items all throughout your home. Some of these dirty and germ-infested items you touch almost every single day. Take a look at these 10 things in your home you need to clean immediately.

1. Hamper

After being filled with dirty laundry and wet towels, hampers often become musty and smelly. Keep your hamper clean by vacuuming it out and washing the liner regularly. For plastic or wicker baskets, you can easily disinfect them using a soft cloth soaked in warm, soapy water.

Photo Credit: Kerkez (iStock).

2. Makeup Brushes

Unwashed makeup brushes are notorious for holding dead skin cells, dirt, oil and even deadly bacteria like staph. To avoid acne and potential skin infections from dirty makeup brushes, be sure to wash your brushes in warm soapy water at least once a month.

Photo Credit: Marco Verch (Flickr).

3. Curtains

How often should you be cleaning your curtains? The truth is your curtains are loaded with dust, pet hair, dander, and pollen. By washing your curtains on a gentle cycle you can instantly improve the air quality in your home and reduce allergies. For best results, get in the habit of wash curtains every season.

4. Carpets

Did you know your carpets are hiding everything from dirt to pet hair to even food crumbs? Keep your carpets clean and looking great with a combination of vacuuming once a week and shampooing your carpets at least twice a year. Not only will carpet cleaning keep your home in good shape, but it will extend the useful life of your carpets for many years to come.

Photo Credit: perfectlab (iStock).

5. Electronic Devices

Your electronic devices could be harboring tons of bacteria, especially your smartphone or tablet. According to a recent study, your cell phone carries 10 time more bacteria than most toilet seats. Give your screen and keyboards a good cleaning using a microfiber cloth. Avoid using items like paper towels as they can easily scratch up or damage your screen.

6. Bed Linens

Not changing your sheets and pillowcases regularly is just plain gross. Suprinsgly your bed sheets are filled with dust mites, bacteria, fungi, and even food crumbs from late night snacking. Keep your sheets fresh and tidy by washing them once a week. It’s also helpful to keep an extra set of sheets on hand, that way you change them more frequently without falling behind on laundry duties.

Photo Credit: solidcolours (iStock).

7.  Fan Blades

Washing your fan blades is one of the most annoying chores you can possibly think of. Most likely your fan blades are covered in dust. By dusting off ceiling fans you can keep fresh and clean air flowing throughout your home.

8. Light Switches

Don’t overlook the smallest items in your home including light switches. Think about how many times a day we turn on and off light switches. These switches are a breeding ground for bacteria and should be cleaned at least twice a week.

Photo Credit: russellstreet (Flickr).

9. Car Keys

You probably didn’t even realize you should be cleaning your own car keys. Prevent the spread of germs by using a Lysol wipe to clean off your car keys. You can even keep disinfecting wipes in your car to stay clear of germs!

10. Toothbrush Holder

You’re definitely going to want to clean your toothbrush holder after hearing this. According to a recent study,  27% of toothbrush holders contain dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli. In addition to disinfecting your toothbrush holder, it’s not a bad idea to throw your actual toothbrush in the dishwasher every once in a while for a deep cleaning.