A study into germs found the filthiest area in the entire home and one everyday item in particular that harboured potentially deadly bacteria inside it such as salmonella
When you think about the dirtiest room in your home you might guess that it’s the bathroom, or, for some parents, your teenager’s bedroom. However, a study by an independent public health organisation found that the filthiest place in your home is somewhere where dangerous bacteria is potentially rife. The next time you’re planning a dinner party, then, it’s worth taking note of these findings.
The 2011 NSF International Household Germ Study discovered that the dirtiest place in entire home is the kitchen. It went on to find that a family of bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli, was found inside more than 75% of dish sponges and rags, making the dish cloth perhaps the dirtiest item in the home.
However, there is one quick and easy trick to know whether or not your cloth or sponge needs replacing. Simply sniff it and if it doesn’t smell too good then this is proof that there is bacteria inside it, according to AD It Yourself. It’s a good idea to regularly clean your clothes and sponges or just replace them each month to be sure they are always as clean as possible. One method for cleaning your rags is to dampen them and then put each in the microwave for a minute.
Alternatively, soak them in a solution of one-quarter teaspoon of concentrated bleach per quarter of warm water. Lastly, you can always pop them in the dishwasher on the hottest cycle.
Elsewhere, a cleaning expert listed a number of other everyday household items that regularly need cleaning as they could be harbouring germs. Terry Fisher, from home buying service We Buy Any Home, said: “These surfaces can provide a nice home for a range of bacteria, from Staphylococcus aureus and salmonella to E.coli and mould.”
One item was the computer keyboard because, whether you use for work or for watching Netflix during the evening, if you are touching it everyday and so there is a chance it is in desperate need of a clean. Most of us may never have done this but Terry added: “Failing to disinfect our keyboards regularly allows the germs and bacteria to continue to build up and for new ones to be transferred from our fingers, too.” While another less-considered item includes toothbrush holders as the expert says these can pick up germs from a flushing toilet every day and so should be cleaned once a week.
