Do you clean up at home?
If so, what do you clean? And how often do you clean it?
You might think you're a domestic god because you clean the dishes once every month but I'm afraid that just won't do. Every now and then isn't good enough.
Most of us don't have a cleaning routine; let alone a checklist.
If we don't clean right, we're living in filth. And that's NASTY. A clean home is a healthy home – and that contributes to a healthy life.
In today's article, I'm showing you 21 things you should clean more often and how exactly to clean them.
Without further ado; let's get into it. Read this article and take notes. Make your home sparkle!
Cleaning Checklist: Frequency – After Every Use
The following items need to be cleaned after every use. No excuses!
1. Your Toothbrush
Here's what you may not know: a British study shows that over 10 million bacteria reside on your toothbrush!
That's even higher than the microbes found on your toilet seat!
How clean is your toothbrush?
Clean your toothbrush regularly by soaking it in an antibacterial mouthwash then rinse thoroughly before using it again.
Another method you can try is to boil your toothbrush for 3 minutes. Or you can buy a UV toothbrush sanitizer, which combines steam with dry heat to cleanse your toothbrush – if you've got the budget.
And guys – remember to lower the toilet seat before you flush the toilet. Unless you want unpleasant particles flying around your bathroom and landing on your toothbrush head.
Soak your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash and rinse thoroughly before using again.
The American Dental Association recommends that you change your toothbrush every 3-4 months – or sooner if the bristles get frayed.
Think about the quality of brushing here. It's much more costly for you to deal with tooth decay than to replace your toothbrush from time to time.
2. Coffee Maker
Your coffee maker needs basic cleaning after each use, especially as it creates a damp environment that can trigger the growth of bacteria.
Remove the pot and brew basket and wash them in warm, soapy water. Make sure to wipe down the outside of the machine.
If you're like me, you'll use your coffee maker daily. Regular cleaning is important but you also must ensure you carry out a monthly deep clean.
Deep Clean Your Coffee Maker
Start by adding a vinegar-water solution (50-50 in amounts) to your coffeemaker – roughly enough to fill the reservoir. Then run half a brew cycle.
Once about half the pot is filled with the filtered vinegar-water mixture, turn the pot off. Let the coffeemaker sit for an hour to give the vinegar time to clean out any mold.
Bacteria thrives in a damp, dirty environment so ensure you clean your coffee maker regularly.
When the brew cycle is complete, filter all of the vinegar – water solution into the pot. You can pour this mixture down the sink. Then run two brew cycles with plain water afterward.
3. Contact Lens Case
I'm sure we can all agree that our eyes are among the last body parts we'd want to risk getting infected. So if you wear contacts, don't just practice cleanliness with the lenses but also with the actual case.
Replace your contact lens case every 3 months.
The first course of action is emptying the case each time you put in your contacts. Then you refill them in with a fresh solution once you take them out. Rinse the case with the solution and wipe it dry in between uses. Do NOT reuse your solution. As for the case itself; replace it every 3 months or so.
Cleaning Checklist: Frequency – Daily
4. Cell Phone & TV Remote Control
We handle these objects and press buttons on them every day. And yet we hardly ever clean them. Every square inch of your cell phone contains about 25,000 germs!
That makes it dirtier than your toilet seat, your pet’s food dish or the sole of your shoe.
Clean these items using antiseptic alcohol wipes and don't run them through water. It also helps to pour rubbing alcohol on a q-tip and clean around the buttons gently.
5. Computer Keyboard
It's the same deal as cleaning your cell phone and remote control. What makes this one trickier though are the unwanted “extras” lying in between the keys of your keyboard.
To clean it efficiently, start by spraying compressed air to dislodge all those crumbs and particles from the openings in between the keys. Then follow that up with applying tech wipes, an electronics spray or some good old rubbing alcohol. Don't forget about the keyboard mouse too!
6. Your Home & Work Desks
Would you go to a restaurant and be okay with eating on a table that hasn't been cleaned and wiped? No. You'd expect the waiters to take care of that before you even sit down. So you want to treat your desks similarly.
Don't allow yourself to start a new day at the office – or resume work right after your lunch break – without a clean workspace. Use antibacterial wipes and immediately throw away any plastic bags or wrappers after you eat. Do likewise with your computer desk at home.
7. Doorknobs & Light Switches
What makes these objects so nasty?
As small as they are, the fact is everyone touches them! Each time someone enters and exits the room only adds to the germs nesting on their surfaces. So do wipe them with a non-toxic disinfectant (like white vinegar) on a regular basis.
White Vinegar's acidity makes it a great cleaner. It dissolves away soap scum and will also help remove dirt and grime.
8. Your Shower
As much as possible, you want to use a squeegee to remove water from the walls of the shower. Then dry off those surfaces with a towel. It really helps to leave the shower curtain or door open and use a vent fan to allow humidity to disperse.
You should also do a more thorough clean once a week. Wipe down the shower walls, floor, and door with an eraser sponge that contains no harsh chemicals. Also, clean any grout using a soft scrub brush and a vinegar-water mixture.
While we're on the subject of showering – here's 10 Shower Mistakes Most Men Make.
9. Towels
Your bath towels should ideally be washed and cleaned after every three uses. But it's the hand towels that need daily washing, as they're prone to soaking up leftover germs from newly-washed hands.
When it comes to the washing itself, try adding vinegar as it helps prevent mildew and keeps your towels fluffy.
Check out my Recommended Home and Lifestyle Products.
10. Kitchen Sink
Studies have proven that your kitchen sink houses more E. coli bacteria than your toilet bowl does after you flush it. So do clean the sink basin daily, specifically with a disinfectant that's specially made for the kitchen use.
Also, create a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol to one part water and spray over the newly cleaned sink.
11. Trash Can
The plastic material of a trash bag isn't enough to safeguard the actual trash can from germs. Traces of food and beverages can still escape the bag and contaminate the trash can. Be extra wary of the inside of the can’s lid, which is where mold and bacteria are drawn to forming.
Hence, use disinfecting wipes on the lid of your trash can after taking out the trash. Be sure also to deep-clean once a month. Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the bin and let it sit for 10 minutes to deodorize the can.
Afterwards, spray the can with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe with a paper towel. Then rinse and dry.
12. Reusable Water Bottle
You may think a personal water bottle isn't that big of a deal to wash since you're the only one using it. But saliva is saliva and bacteria are bacteria, regardless of the source.
You should either run your reusable water bottle through the dishwasher or hand wash it with hot soapy water.
Cleaning Checklist: Frequency – Weekly
13. Refrigerator
Once a week, you want to inspect your fridge for any obvious spills or sticky spots and immediately wipe them off. Check as well for any old produce that should be discarded pronto. Then wipe down the refrigerator door and handles with either disinfecting wipes or a warm cloth containing detergent.
Then for every month, do empty out each shelf on the fridge and toss everything that's expired or past its prime. Then clean the shelves using a mixture of water and baking soda.
14. Couch
You want to vacuum off your couch cushions using a brush attachment every week. Remember to do the same for the area under the cushions. And if you’re using any cleansers, always check first for any inconspicuous spots to prevent serious damage to your couch.
15. Your Sheets
I know. Sheets take up a lot of room inside the washing machine. They can be a pain to air dry.
But remember that just like the clothes on your body, your sheets easily welcome bacteria that comes from your sweat, your hair or even your pets when you cuddle them on the bed.
So for the sake of health and hygiene, do wash your sheets once a week.
And make sure your bedding looks nice. That means out with the Transformers bed covers and in with a crisp, classy high thread count cotton.
16. Laundry Basket
Hopefully you've designated one basket for dirty clothes and another for clean clothes. And you want your dirty-laundry basket to be cleaned with disinfectant wipes every week.
Why?
Because even if you're just going to reload it with dirty laundry, the fact is there are germs lying around that you wouldn't want accumulating.
17. Bath Mat
For your bath mat, be sure to use warm or hot settings in the washing machine. It's very important that you dry it thoroughly after. But also note that if your bath mat has a rubber backing, then it can’t tolerate regular washing and should only be cleaned once every 3 or 4 weeks.
Cleaning Checklist: Frequency – Monthly
18. Loofah
Like any type of sponge, a loofah makes a great habitat for moisture and germs. You want to replace it every month or two because otherwise, there comes a point where it only spreads more germs around your body as opposed to scrubbing them off.
19. Vinyl Shower Curtain
Vinyl shower curtains are a haven for disease-causing microbes like Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium. These microbes can be particularly harmful to those with a weaker immune system. So stay on the safe side by properly cleaning your shower curtain. Do have it washed separately from the rest of your laundry on a “gentle” or “delicate” setting.
Cleaning Checklist: Frequency – Twice A Year
20. Bed Pillows
Surprised by this one? The pillows you sleep with are prone to the accumulation of dust mites and unfortunately, as well as their waste. That's the reason why over time, a pillow becomes heavier and heavier due to these unwanted, invisible materials forming!
The good news is most pillows are washable. You should have them laundered every six months (consider doing so on the same days you see your dentist). Place synthetic pillows two at a time in the wash. Use a gentle detergent and run them through a heavy cycle.
Most of your pillows are washable – make sure you launder them every 6 months.
Afterward, put the pillows inside the dryer on low heat. To help beat out excess moisture, also add to the pillows a few tennis balls tied in sports socks. Then dry until there is completely no moisture left to prevent any mold growth.
21. Mattress
At least twice a year, you've got to take time to clean your mattress thoroughly. There are multiple steps involved. First, spot-clean the mattress to remove sweat and other stains. Try applying a paste of salt and lemon juice to the stains, then let it stand for 30 minutes to an hour. Wipe off the salt with a clean towel.
Next, deodorize the mattress with baking soda. Sprinkle a light layer of over the whole surface and let it sit for a few hours. This will absorb any excess liquid from the stain removal process. It'll also leave your mattress smelling clean and fresh.
Clean your mattress thoroughly – twice a year.
Afterward, vacuum the baking soda off the mattress. Make sure you've gotten into all crevices to remove all the powder. Then finally, leave the mattress outside to dry in the middle of the day. Fresh air and the sun's UV rays are the perfect tools for killing all bacteria.
Cleanliness is a great thing. I look at it as a sign of purity and godliness. Why? Because a clean home reflects pro-health practices. You choose to value a clean home, which contributes to a healthy body and lifestyle.
And on top of that, you show that you're a responsible man.
Click Here To Watch The Video – Things You Should Clean More Often
