Eliminating Common Home Bacteria

Damp corners of the home and shared living spaces are a haven for bacteria. From the bathroom countertop to the garbage area, your household could be the home of millions of microorganisms that can cause illness, allergies and other health problems. I've found that areas that accumulate mold and water residue, such as bathroom fixtures, kitchen countertops and sinks, are among the hardest to clean so it's important to take extra steps to disinfect and decontaminate these common-use areas as often as possible.

Thoroughly cleaning the areas of the home that tend to play host to bacterial colonies can help to keep your living spaces as germ-free as possible. Use some of these tips to eliminate common home bacteria:

The Kitchen Sink
Scrub behind the kitchen sink and inside the drain area to get rid of bacteria that has accumulated from foodstuffs and the garbage disposal. The area around the kitchen drain can be especially susceptible to accumulating germs, so invest in a high-quality disinfecting solution to spray and clean this area thoroughly.

Toilet Bowl
In addition to using a gel or spray toilet bowl cleaner around the rim of the toilet bowl at least once per week, make sure you are cleaning and disinfecting the area right around the edges of the toilet seat and under the toilet. Germs can multiply rapidly in the dark and damp areas around the toilet bowl and it may be difficult to see grime and dirt deposits without a close look.

Home Office Equipment and Electronics
If you have a large household full of kids and everyone shares the home office and living areas, you'll need a plan to clean the remote controls, electronic devices and other equipment regularly. From the CD player to the computer keyboard, get rid of bacteria by wiping down items using a disinfectant wipe and electronics cleaning solution.

Bathroom Fixtures
Bathroom faucet handles, the area around the drain, towel grab bars and other bathroom fixtures can attract a lot of bacteria. Clean these areas thoroughly using a bleach-infused spray or other cleaning solution that will disinfect while polishing and retaining the fixtures' shine.

Kitchen and Bathroom Countertops
Your kitchen and bathroom countertops are among the "most touched" areas of the home and are chock full of bacteria. If you're not cleaning your countertops with a powerful disinfecting solution regularly, you could be contaminating food, dishcloths, towels and other items that make contact with the countertops on a daily basis. Plan to clean these areas at least a couple of times per week to get rid of germs.

Sources:
Listverse.com: Top 30 Spots for Bacteria in the Home