Germs lurk everywhere. Whether we like it or not!
And while we can’t get rid of everything, it’s good to know where the germs like to hide so we can better tackle them.
Related: My Most Popular Cleaning Hacks
A couple of years ago, I did a segment for the TODAY Show titled “These are the Germiest Palaces in Your Home,” and did a bit of an investigation to find what areas housed the most germs.
Some were surprising!
So, in the spirit of spring cleaning, I thought I’d put together a blog to share with you some places you can do some deep cleaning and what products you can use.
The Germiest Places In Your Home
When I was on the TODAY Show, I tested these places to see how grimy they really were:
- Front door
- Refrigerator door
- Remote controls
- Gaming controller
- Laundry basket
- Kitchen sink faucet
- Bathroom faucet (of my son, Trevor!)
- Dog bowl
- Toilet handle
- Toothbrush
- Makeup brushes
- Computer/tablet
I tested all of these places with a sterilized swab, sealed them, and sent them to a lab.
The results?
The kitchen sink faucet was one of the germiest places in my home. Probably because of handling raw food and because of the number of people touching it throughout the day.
Another grimy place was Brosky’s dog bowl… no, not because Brosky has a dirty mouth. But just as human food spoils if you don’t clean it off your plate, the same will happen with dog food.
So, it’s essential to clean it regularly!
Related: 12 of The Cleaning Products I Always Keep In My House
This is one I didn’t expect… makeup brushes!
To think how many times I touch these, it kind of makes sense. But with something so close to my face so often, it makes me cringe a bit. Luckily, there’s a way to keep them squeaky clean (or at least close to squeaky!).
Best Products to Tackle Household Germs
I only checked a few of the many places in my home where germs may hide. But you’ll also want to make sure to regularly clean the places below. Just to be safe!
- Railings
- Kid’s toys
- Door knobs
- Countertops
- Bathroom tubs and sinks
- Toilets
- Lightswitches
Here are some of my favorite products and ways to tackle the germiest of places!
No matter what cleaning products I have in my home, I always have Lysol Disinfectant Spray.
The great thing about this spray is you don’t have to wipe anything down after. Just spray and go about your day.
Plus, it’s safe to use on countertops, doorknobs and nearly any hard surface.
Speaking of Lysol, this Laundry Sanitizer is fantastic. It makes all of my laundry smell super clean and fresh, and it kills 99.9% of bacteria without the use of bleach.
When cleaning something like a dog bowl, I feel most comfortable using Dawn Dish Soap. It’s safe for use around animals and it gets the job done.
But if you’d like to use something more natural, you can make a homemade solution with white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
Those grimy makeup brushes? They don’t have to stay covered in germs.
I recommend using a makeup cleanser (this Deep-Cleaning Brush and Sponge Shampoo is nice). Because just as they clean makeup off brushes, they also clean germs off of brushes.
If you really want to make sure your countertops are clean, a mixture of bleach and water is your best bet.
Mix 1/2 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water and use this for sanitizing. No need to wipe anything up afterward — air drying is the way to go.
Want to watch the segment I shared with Hoda and Jenna? You can CLICK HERE to find it!
It’s important to keep your fridge clean on the inside and outside. But when cleaning the inside, you want to disinfect in a food-safe way.
Related: My Best Refrigerator Organization Tips
I recommend using hot, soapy water every few months to clean all inside surfaces.
And when you’re dealing with a bit of a stench, try washing the inside of the fridge with baking soda and water and letting it air out for a few hours.
I hope you found some of this helpful! It was sure enlightening to me to learn which places in my home were the germiest…
Happy Spring cleaning!
From my home to yours,
Jill
