Autumn Cleaning Tips - Think Germs

The best autumn cleaning tip ever is that one can "think germs" when doing autumn cleaning. Where would germs be hiding? What causes bacteria? What products kill germs?

These tips can be used in any season, but autumn and springtime are when a home needs disinfected the worst. Think about all the dust bunnies, mold, water marks on the shower, or worse yet, grime on the windows and curtains both! Is the time at hand to take action? Remember that

Getting Started
First off, do the cleaning when the sun will be out and the temps will be warm. Open up all the windows in the house, garage, basement, and whatever else you can expose to fresh air. Let it in and let those germs out.

Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning. They are inexpensive and very good for warding off germs that jump on the hands and can spread to foods. Also, fungus nails can be the result of not covering the hands when dealing with germs.

Disinfect throughout the home by making a bucket of hot water, adding one forth to one half cup of bleach, and a few dish soap suds. Dawn is super for germs, grease and grime. In addition, Mr. Clean is real good to use. Wipe down heavily used areas on a day to day basis.

In the Kitchen
Start by getting rid of the worst germ infested areas first. Start with the kitchen sink because all types of illness-inducing bacteria live down in the drain! Think of all the food specks that wash off down a drain, nothing more than a breeding ground for sickness.
Germs love to spread by dancing in the oddest of places.

Clean out the refrigerator germs every few days to a week. Discard any old foods, wipe off any messy ones, check expiration dates, and double check for soured or rotten foods. Replace a box of open baking soda in the frig once a month. Pour the old one down sink drains to refresh them. Pour a cup of bleach per day in kitchen drains to kill that nasty bacteria caused by germs.

In the Bathroom
Don't forget to look at the toothbrushes in the house. Clean them with disinfectant too by soaking them in baking soda water. If bleach is used, do less than half a teaspoon, and replace every family member's brush at least once every month or two. Never, ever place brushes where they are exposed to the most germs: A. Where they will stay moist B. Are closer to the toilet flush than six feet. C. Near spray areas.

Make sure to clean the germs in bathtubs in the home on a daily basis. Dangerous bacteria can be found in tubs. Clean entire tub with the bleach disinfectant. This will prevent spreading bacteria, letting icky germs slide right out the drain. Rinse with hot water.

Prevention of Germs
Other nasty places that can leave creepy crawly germs are in the spice rack or spices. Do you keep yours above the oven? If so, be careful that all spices are kept clean and are not clumping with moisture into one big yukky mess inside the spice jar. To prevent moisture, add uncooked rice into the same container that the spice is in.

Last but not least, is a computer and computer keyboard.These two can make one sick from germs and bacteria. If you do not own one, consider your calculators, microwave knobs, and other small places that will hold germs where you normally don't reach. Cleaning a keyboard by sweeping it with the smallest little sweeper one can find, will help tremendously.

Also, turn the keyboard over and shake out the particles of whatever is hidden in there. Continue with using Q-tips and rubbing alcohol, cleaning down into each key. Spraying a very light mist of rubbing alcohol onto the keyboard then wiping gently over the tops of keys with a cotton ball.