Here's another series I am starting this year; it's called "Top Spots." The first post in this series will be "Top Spots To Clean To Stay Healthy This Winter." Yes, I know, who wants to clean, right? But it is necessary to keep your home environment healthy and in turn, keep you healthy. First, let's talk about what the difference is between cleaning disinfecting and sanitizing. Did you know there was a difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing? Here is the simple definition of each.
Cleaning doesn't take away all the germs, but it does lower the number of germs in your home.
Disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs on items though it doesn't clean surfaces.
Sanitizing is the process when you clean or disinfect an area to reduce the number of germs on it to a safer level.
Wasn't that interesting? We will be focusing on cleaning today. So, here we go.
Routine cleaning works best to help you keep germs at bay. If you don't have time to clean from top to bottom in your home, focus on these areas.
BATHROOMS
Toilet
Tub
Sink
Floor around the Toilet
KITCHEN SURFACES
Kitchen counters
Kitchen sink
Cutting boards
KNOBS AND HANDLES GALORE
Door Knobs
Cabinet knobs
Toothbrush handles
Faucet handles
Oven knobs
Toilet handle
FABRICS
Sheets / Bedding
Dishtowels
Tablecloths
Bath towels / Hand towels / Wash clothes
Throws
Winter gloves
Winter Coats
SWITCHES AND PULLS
Light switches
Pull strings for fans and ceiling lights
TECHNOLOGY
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Laptop keyboard and mouse
Phone display and case
Tablet display and case
Television remote controls and on buttons
Calculator keys
Telephones
OTHER INFORMATION
Washing your hands often, of course, is crucial to keeping yourself healthy this winter as well.
Did you know there is a Global Handwashing Day? It's on October 15, 2019.
I hope this helped you get your home clean so you can stay healthy this winter. Let me know if I missed other areas in your home by leaving a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
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Janet Schiesl
Great idea for a blog post. Knowing what needs to get done and then using a list to plan when it's going to happen would mean more success in keeping up your home.
Julie Stobbe
I have heard that the dishcloth in the kitchen is one of the dirtiest things. So we change the dishcloth everyday. It is an interesting dilemma because most people wipe the counters and stoves with their dishcloth.
Nancy Haworth
Great tips, Sabrina! It is scary how many germs there are on the technology we use every day! I like your tips about cleaning light switches and doorknobs, they can easily be overlooked, but are touched frequently.
Linda Samuels
The germ data about the desk area is quite sobering, with desks harboring 20,291 germs per square inch. You motivated me to do some extra cleaning. Yikes! I often do what I call a "quick clean." It's better than not cleaning at all, but clearly, I need to up my game. Thanks for the nudge.
Sabrina Quairoli
I feel your pain! Every time I come across germ stats it makes me clean more thoroughly. Thanks for commenting.
Janet Barclay
Of course I read this sitting at my desk, so I was a little grossed out by the data, but it was a good reminder!
Sabrina Quairoli
I know how you feel! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Jason B
Those are some great tips. I admit I only clean about half of the spots that are listed. I need to do better.
William Rusho
Tips like this is so beneficial to me, and are time savers.
I have an apartment, where I work. Cleaning that is hard enough during the week. I also have a house where I go to on the weekends. It is closed up until the weekend, so I do the work of cleaning and maintaining it in 2 days, instead of the whole week.
Little tips like this means a lot and helps me get the job done faster, thanks for sharing.
Sabrina
I'm glad it helped, William. Thanks for commenting.
Doreen Pendgracs
Great tips! Thx for sharing, Sabrina. I'm always amazed at how many places bacteria can be lurking.
Sabrina
I know what you mean. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Doreen.
lenie
Hi Sabrina - great list and I follow most of them, although my computer and mouse are often neglected. Will have to smarten up there.
I once read somewhere that keeping the doorknobs, cupboard and especially fridge handles sanitized will do two things - keep things sanitary and people will think the rest of the house is clean.
Glad you put the bathroom first - that is always my priority.
Sabrina
I heard that too. I agree, it does make the house seem cleaner too. =) Thanks for mentioning it.
Marquita Herald
Great list Sabrina and I see a few things on there that I never think about, like handles and light switches. Anything on my desk is normally a priority for me since I spend so much time working here, but the rest of the house, well I can always use a good reminder. Thanks!
Ken Dowell
I have another one for you Sabrina, the refrigerator. The only reason I thoguht of that is that I cleaned my fridge today after defrosting a piece of meat in it and having it srip down into the vegetable drawer.
Sabrina
Great one, Ken. Thanks for sharing.
Rose Mary Griffith
I was crazed about cleaning my desk, phone, door knob, etc., when I worked in an office. Oh the cooties those employees brought to my HR door! I'm less of a maniac working from home but totally can see how important keeping up on this stuff is. If there's a way to avoid being sick, I sure want to use it!
Sabrina
It's so important wherever we for long periods of time.
Seana Turner
Glad you mentioned the computer. I think this, the mouse, and the phone are common bacteria "share" points that we don't tend to think of!
Sabrina
I totally agree.
Phoenicia
So many germs lurking everywhere!
I wipe my keyboard, phone and mouse almost daily at work, especially if someone has sat at my desk. There are no excuses nowadays with sprays and wipes available specifically for this.
Antibacterial sprays are a must. I have a bottle at home and a mini bottle in my bag. I normally offer some to people who have sneezed into their hands.
Thank you for your tips.
Sabrina
I totally agree. Thanks for commenting.
Beth Niebuhr
Handy list of tasks! Glad I have a cleaning service! I can hand it to them. October 15, 2016 sounds like a perfect time to start thinking about winter.
Sabrina
Great idea, Beth. =) Stay healthy.
Catarina
Great suggestions for keeping your home free of germs. When it comes to not getting flu or something similar this winter the main thing is to wash your hands whenever you have been in contact with other people and touched surfaces outside your home. And, not to forget, use antibacterial gel apart from soap. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with a virus on your hands you will get it.
Sabrina
Great tips, Catarina. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Erica
I've never heard of global hand washing day but that surely sounds like a good idea. I'm always flabbergasted when I see people leave a public restroom without washing their hands. Ewwww. I do a lot more cleaning than disinfecting in my home because I don't like to use chemicals, so these are definitely some good tips for me.
Patricia Weber
Global Handwashing Day?! What a hoot. Well, let me say, I'm so grateful to have a housekeeper who does 75% of this cleaning to sanitizing. But I do prefer to do my own fabrics, and technology items. Your list is as complete as I can think about. Thanks Sabrina.
Sabrina
Thanks Patricia. It was fun to put it together. Yes, Global handwashing day is a thing. =)