In a more germ conscious world, it is important to think about the areas that might be a bit more neglected with the regular cleaning schedule. Perhaps you are cleaning these surfaces to some degree, but not in a way that is eliminating all harmful or degrading substances.
Take a look at our list of the six surfaces that most people forget to clean and see if you are doing all you can to reduce bacteria, improve air quality, and keep your home looking and smelling fresh!
1. Carpets & Rugs
Chances are you run a vacuum cleaner over your rugs, carpets, and other fabric floor coverings, but this is not enough. You would not just vacuum your clothing and say it was clean. So why would you think that any other fabric would be healthy and clean after a once-over from a suction device?
Furthermore, you cannot remove the stains and odors that accumulate in carpets and rugs without using a more advanced cleaning method. Take a look at options for carpet cleaning and rug cleaning that assure the surface is properly cleaned.
2. Door Handles
Certainly, more people began wiping the knobs and handles on their homes after we experienced a pandemic, but do you still do it? For most people, this was one of the first cleaning protocols to be adopted and also abandoned.
If you are not worried about germs due to your handwashing and anti-bacterial regime, still consider that there is just a lot of dirt and oils on your hands. It is a good idea to wipe these surfaces down to get rid of the grim that may be accumulating in crevices. Your keys might also be gunking up your locks, so those could do with some cleaning.
3. Furniture
In the case of furniture, I am not just talking about couches and loveseats, but even chairs. In most homes and commercial buildings, if you can sit on it, people eat on it. The result of food consumption is always some amount of spillage (crumbs, oily foods, beverages).
You might not need upholstery cleaning if your furniture is lacquered wood, wicker, or plastic, but everything could use a good cleaning regularly. If there are any cushions where items can fall between, clean these out as well.
4. Electrical Switches
Similar to the concerns with door handles, electrical switches get a lot of use from the hot bed of grime and bacteria (your hands). These are not just the light switches on your wall. Any lamp switches are also perfect for depositing bits of finger tip filth.
If any of your switches are white, you can likely see the brownish discoloration that is really only a coating. This can usually be rubbed off with soap and water. It is not difficult to clean these very small surfaces, but it can be difficult to remember to clean them.
5. Mattresses
You wash your sheets, blankets, and pillow covers, but what about your mattress? Most people do even know that mattress cleaning is an option. If you were already aware of this service, you are much farther ahead than all those other dirty people out there in the world.
It is a good idea to clean your mattress not only to get rid of stains and smells but also to rid your bed of allergy-inducing pollen and particulate matter. This can lead to a much more restful night of sleeping and even diminish the severity of your allergic responses during the height of allergy seasons.
6. Computer Gear
Unless you have an Apple computer, most of the accessories for your desktop or laptop are going to be darker in color. This can make it difficult to see all the grime collecting around your keys, cords, trackpad, mouse, etc.
The grime from your floor and fingers can be devastating to your electronics. Keys can bind or become unresponsive. Track pads can lose functionality. A mouse can stop moving as precisely. Go ahead and clean these surfaces regularly.