14 Disgusting Things You’re Definitely Forgetting to Clean at Home

Certain areas of your home (such as the bathroom floor and kitchen countertops) make a good scrub-down obvious. Other household objects, however, are easier to forget during your regular clean-up routine, which means dirt, dust, and germs can build up without you noticing. Even if you diligently stick to a weekly cleaning schedule, your home isn’t completely clean until you’ve wiped down and sanitized these items. To help safeguard your family’s health and safety, start paying attention to these 14 commonly used items and areas you might be forgetting while cleaning your house. Get your favorite cleaning solution or disinfecting product ready: you’re going to need it.
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Kitchen Handles
Need a hand during dinner prep? You’re likely using one to open the refrigerator door—even if you just finished handling raw meat. If left uncleaned, kitchen handles become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Wipe cabinet and appliance handles down once a week (or immediately after touching them with messy hands) with a cloth and a disinfectant spray or a mix of one part hot water and one part vinegar.

Toothbrush Holder
Keep your pearly whites clean and your toothbrush holder cleaner. Throw the dirty bathroom accessory in the dishwasher once a week, or sterilize it by hand with hot water and soap. It’s also a good idea to regularly clean toothbrushes, especially during flu season. Boil brushes in water for two to three minutes.

Computer Accessories
Think of all the times you’ve coughed, sneezed, or blown your nose at your desk. Now try to remember the last time you cleaned your mouse and keyboard. To clean your desk and office items, use disinfecting wipes to banish bacteria and prevent germs from spreading in your office. Alternatively, you can detach your computer’s keyboard and mouse, then dip a soft-bristled toothbrush in soapy water and gently scrub the surface. (Make sure it’s damp, not dripping wet.)

Placemats
Placemats are great at protecting wood finishes from food stains, but they can get filthy fast. Rinse plastic or vinyl placemats with warm water and soap and let dry completely. Fabric mats can be thrown in the laundry machine with like-color linens, but be sure to hand-wash anything embroidered.

Handrails and Doorknobs
Keep your balance without picking up any pathogens by regularly wiping down railings. To clean wood handrails, use a microfiber cloth dampened with a solution of hot water and vinegar or warm, soapy water. Wipe dry with a polishing cloth. Treat door knobs to the same cleaning routine. You can also use disinfecting wipes on metal ones.

Light Switches
Grimy hands touch light switches every single day. Luckily, you probably already have what you need to clean them well. Clean the switch plate with a disinfectant or a slightly damp cloth soaked in hot water and vinegar. Wipe dry with a polishing cloth.

Reusable Shopping Bags
Reusable shopping bags hold heavy items and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. However, the bags can start to smell, collect stains, and become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold if not stored properly and cleaned regularly. Wash fabric grocery bags in your laundry machine, or invest in plastic bags that can easily be wiped down.

Ice Cube Trays
It’s easy to refill ice cube trays for months without a thought, but trays are susceptible to food remnants or odors inside your freezer. It’s smart to clean plastic ice cube trays on a regular basis. Each time they’re empty, give the trays a thorough wash with hot water and dish soap. Many can also be placed in the top rack of your dishwasher.

Water Bottles
Put down your reusable water bottle. Before you take another sip, draw a hot, soapy bath for it: That’s the best, easiest way to clean a water bottle. Let soak for five to 10 minutes. Use a bottle brush to scrub the interior, and utilize a toothpick to get inside the mouthpiece if needed. Rinse thoroughly.

Faucet
Faucets might just be the dirtiest thing in your home. To clean your faucet, scrub handles daily with hot water and dish soap, or sanitize them with a disinfecting spray. For stuck-on stains or watermarks, make a paste with baking soda and vinegar, apply it to the faucet, let sit, then rinse off with warm water.

Kitchen Sponge and Scrub Brush
Your dishes and kitchen surfaces don’t stand a chance at staying clean if you’re not regularly disinfecting your sponge. Between uses, disinfect your kitchen sponge with one of our recommended cleaning methods. For a natural kitchen sponge cleaning solution, opt for boiling water or vinegar. For a deep clean, wash with bleach, or pop your sponge into the microwave or dishwasher.

Bedside Tables
Turns out the bedroom is likely the dustiest room in the house, with the bed being the top source of dust mite allergens, according to a study for the OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban, and Mobility Studies at Delft University of Technology. That means your bedside table really needs to be cleaned on a regular basis, especially if it has a lower shelf where dust can collect unnoticed (right next to your head). Be sure to get rid of dust mites and dust, vacuum regularly, and wipe down the table with a damp cloth.

Remote Controls
Picture this: It's movie night, you're using the remote, then eating popcorn, then using the remote again. Or maybe it's game night and the kids have friends over and they're eating chips and passing gaming controls around. These handheld devices are rarely given a wipe-down—eliminate bacteria and prevent germs from spreading by cleaning them on a weekly basis. Spray disinfectant on a cloth (lightly, don't soak it) and give them a good washing.

Between Seat Cushions
Speaking of the remote control—nothing is worse than losing it and then plunging your hand between the sofa cushions in search of it, only to find a fistful of crumbs instead. Keep it clean by regularly vacuuming between the cushions with a small handheld vacuum or the narrow attachment on an upright vacuum. Just be sure to turn the force down to low so that you don’t suck up the fabric while you’re at it.

Source: BHG.com, Katie Bandurski