Mr. Clean may have nothing on you, but germs have a habit of sneaking into your home anyway. As we’re hunkering down for the winter, it’s worth taking another look at the items and spaces you might be missing. Andrea Miller, owner of CLE Cleaning Co., gives us a plan of attack on these commonly overlooked spots.
Launder the linens
You’d think since towels only touch clean hands it might be OK to skip a wash. The truth is, bacteria thrive on damp towels so Miller suggests washing after each use and other linens such as bedsheets every week.“After you take your sheets off, spray your mattress with an aerosol disinfectant,” she says.
Watch where you knock
Ask yourself: how often do you open and close a door by the actual handle? Miller cautions to make sure you disinfect the areas above and below the actual handles of cabinets and doors. “It’s where, by human nature, people just tend to touch more.”
Bundle up
As the temperature drops, our outdoor layers increase. When you touch something with a glove, your hands remain clean but the glove traps and carries germs that can be transferred to your face or hands. “I would do that stuff with your normal laundry, probably once a week,” Miller says.
Get outside
With the increased use of delivery and drop-off services, your doorstep can become a hot spot for germs — even in the cold. “If there’s anything that needs to be opened for mail or packages, those are all commonly touched areas.” Miller says. Clean these spots with heavy duty disinfecting wipes such as Clorox.
