If you’ve been avoiding giving your home a thorough once-over after entertaining during the holidays, you’re not alone. For many of us, the thought of cleaning makes us want to crawl under the covers. Here’s some expert advice on how often you should clean everything and, more importantly, why. As it turns out, your home is harbouring more bacteria than a public trash can. But it’s not just your toilet seat that’s riddled with germs; experts suggest computer keyboards and microwaves are also likely culprits.
Motivated yet? Take a deep breath and read on to find out how frequently you should be cleaning your house. Truth time: It’s more than once a year.
Frequency: every week
For years, the conventional wisdom was that cooking food in a microwave oven was a great way to kill bacteria (and made it safe to eat). Although, new research suggests that microwaving food doesn’t kill bacteria. That said, keeping your microwave splash-free is crucial. We recommend wiping it down once a week then doing a deep cleaning twice a month. You can even clean it with a DIY concoction. Simply mix 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a heat-safe dish, microwave it on high until the window steams up. Finish by wiping the interior with a sponge. Easy.
Frequency: every one to two weeks
Surprisingly, fresh findings suggest your bed linen isn’t as dirty as you might think. But before you forgo washing your sheets, take note: depending on your sleeping routine. If you don’t shower after work or snooze in the buff, opt to wash bed linens with hot water every one to two weeks.
Frequency: every week
The toilet has a reputation for being one of the dirtiest areas of a bathroom, but it’s got nothing on your bathtub. Your bathtub is officially grubbier than the toilet and the trash can. Clean your bathtub as often as your toilet—ideally every week.
Frequency: every month
Scientists say salad drawers contain 750 times the safe level of bacteria, making them one of the main places to clean regularly. Don’t wait for a spring-cleaning reminder; this part of your home deserves monthly attention.
Frequency: every week
70% of people eat lunch at their desk, making computer keyboards a breeding ground for bacteria. Keyboards can harbour five times the bacteria found on a toilet seat, but 10% of people never clean them (eek!). Set aside time every Friday to give your desk a once-over with disinfectant spray. Don’t forget to pay attention to the mouse, and use an alcohol-dipped cotton swab to clean between keys.
Frequency: every three months
Pillowcase protectors can help shield your bed from dust mites and daily grime, but don’t forget to wash the pillow itself. In fact, every three months is ideal. Depending on your allergies, pillows should be replaced as often as every six months, although people are fine to keep them for three years.
Frequency: every two months
You might regularly wash your linens, but what about your mattress? Mattress pads need to be washed every two months and that you get bonus points for cleaning your mattress while the protector is in the wash. Cleaning hack? Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda to absorb odour, vacuum it, then spray the mattress to kill bacteria.
Frequency: every six to 12 months
We hate to break it to you, but vacuuming doesn’t count as carpet cleaning. If you don’t regularly steam your floors, research suggests that it could be harming your health. Indoor air quality can be eight to 10 times worse than outdoor air quality if you don’t clean your flooring, clean your drapes, and let air inside regularly. Opt for a professional steam cleaning every six to 12 months, or more frequently if you have a pet.
Frequency: after every three uses
How often do you clean your bath towels? If your answer is every one to two weeks, that’s not enough. Researchers have found that washing your towel after only three uses removes millions of dead skin cells (yes, you read that right). Be sure to wash hand towels every three days to avoid that musty scent.
Frequency: every day
If you cook regularly, chances are you already wipe down kitchen surfaces daily. That’s a great start, but there are a few key zones to focus on. According to experts, countertops are dirtiest near the sink area because people tend to use sponges contaminated with food. The bottom line is wipe surfaces daily and swap out your kitchen sponges and washcloths every week.
Haus Maids
Here at Haus Maids we are not only house cleaners, we also tidy and present your home to you at its best.
We clean homes in Farnham, Winchester, Alton, Godalming, Guildford and surrounding villages.
Domestic cleaning services are available to all clients, whether you are looking for a one off clean, end of tenancy clean or a indeed a regular cleaner we have a solution for you.
