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Tuesday 8 June 2021

Seven Everyday Objects You May Be Forgetting To Clean !

While you may be routinely cleaning the basics around your house, there are many objects that can slip through the cracks. From the coffee machine to your cutlery tray, how regularly do you clean these dust-prone places?

It's easy to spot the obvious dirty areas in your home like spilled food on the dining table, dirty carpets and smudges on the window, but what about the places that may not look particularly dirty but are the most germ-ridden of all?


Take a look at the everyday objects you may be forgetting to clean...

1. Chopping boards
Cleaning a chopping board by hand is easy enough, but when did you last give yours a thorough clean? To remove excess dirt and grime, mix one tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda, one tablespoon of salt and a little water to form a paste. Then, give your chopping board a good scrub and rinse with hot soapy water. It will look as good as new.

Joyce French, cleaning expert at HomeHow.co.uk explains what to look for when buying a new chopping board: 'Studies show that chopping boards hold 200 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and can contain moulds and yeasts. When choosing a chopping board, opt for nonporous materials as they are much more hygienic. If you prefer wooden chopping boards, make sure it's hardwood.'

2. Stove knobs
As we prepare food on a stove, grease can splatter on the knobs, collecting dust, crumbs and hair. While often forgotten, it's important you give these a regular clean, too. If your knobs are removable, pull them off and let them soak in warm soapy water for a few minutes. Depending on when you last cleaned them, you may need a stronger degreasing agent. Afterwards, wipe down the stove and then place them back securely. Doing this regularly will help keep stubborn stains at bay.

3. Cutlery tray
Our cutlery trays can harbour dust, dirt and crumbs from the kitchen. Despite holding clean silverware, you never know what can slip through the cracks when you're not looking. Although the cutlery drawer is constantly in use, many households do not clean the drawer or tray inside regularly. To clean, remove all the cutlery and wash as normal in the dishwasher. Remove the cutlery tray and wash this down with hot soapy water and wipe down the interior of the drawer too. Don't forget to clean the handles of your drawer as well. Ensure everything is dry before placing the cutlery back in the tray.

4. Toothbrush holder
When did you last clean your toothbrush holder? Giving yours a regular clean will soften any stuck-on residue, such as dried toothpaste. Rinse yours in hot water to loosen any gunk, then add in a few drops of tea tree oil and vinegar. Make sure it's completely dry before placing your toothbrush back inside.

5. Pet toys
In addition to getting dirty, soft pet toys can collect dust mites and germs. Getting into the habit of routinely cleaning toys will not only keep your pets safe, but will leave your home smelling fresh, too. Built up bacteria can pose a real risk to your pet, and potentially lead to infection or animal acne. It's much better to clean toys instead of bin them. Use a natural, sanitising agent like vinegar, so that your pet is not harmed by chemicals in commercial detergents. To clean yours properly, soak the toy in one part vinegar to four parts water and then gently scrub with a clean sponge. Make sure it's completely dry before returning it to your pup to play with.

6. Coffee machine
There's nothing better than a morning coffee, but how often should we be cleaning the coffee machine? An important process that is necessary if you want to increase the longevity of your machine, you can easily descale yours using a vinegar solution. You'll have a delicious brew in no time...

Jan Spencer from Coffee Direct adds: 'To prevent pungent water smells and bacteria build up, simply descale your tank as part of your monthly coffee maintenance. If you don't, the limescale can begin clogging up your coffee machine and affecting the hot water functions, resulting in foul smelling water. If the water tastes off, your machine may have calcium-deposit disease, in which case it is essential to replace your coffee maker.'

7. Kitchen sponges
Sponges are great cleaning tools, but their pores can hold tiny bacteria, mould, and germs. With a previous study by HomeHow.co.uk uncovering that kitchen sponges hold more germs than your toilet, now is the perfect time to learn how to clean them like a pro. Whilst you should toss your old kitchen sponges every two weeks, you can clean them in-between too. Simply saturate the sponge in water and heat on high in the microwave for one minute. The microwave method has proved effective for eradicating 99.9 per cent of germs.
Words above and more from article here


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All the best Jan

32 comments:

Martha said...

I do all of these on a regular basis except the chopping boards. Mine are dishwasher safe, I think that does the job - I sure hope so anyway!

William Kendall said...

Good recommendations.

J.P. Alexander said...

Gracias por los consejos siempre hay que mantener la casa limpia. Te mando un beso

Christine said...

Thanks for these tips I do hate cleaning.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I just wipe down my key board the other day.
Coffee is on and stay safe

Elderberry-Rob said...

I love a cleaning post! my favourite hobby. I do clean my laptop/cooker etc. Things I hate doing the most are the top of kitchen cupboards (where you cant see and the spiders live) and light fittings.

Elephant's Child said...

Some of these I clean regularly. Others (like the cutlery drawer) not often enough.

Margaret D said...

All those things need cleaning thoroughly along with door knobs and places on the door where fingers have been, oh there are so many more places :)

Fun60 said...

Luckily I don't have a pet or drink coffee and as for the rest - well nobody's perfect!

Jo said...

A good reminder.

Rajani Rehana said...

Mind blowing post

Valerie-Jael said...

Good tips for a clean and safe house, thanks! Valerie

Love Affair with Food said...

Good list. And yes these are mostly overseen.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I have been cleaning most of these items. The keyboard, coffee maker and the sponge and the tooth brush holder, I wipe down the stove every day. We wash the cutting board every time we use it. Great tips and suggestions. Have a great day and a happy week ahead.

Tom said...

...easily forgotten!

carol l mckenna said...

Great cleaning ideas ~ Xo

Live in the moment,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Jules said...

Keyboards and mobile phones are the worst for attracting dirt. X

My name is Erika. said...

I never think of cleaning the pet toys. Hmm. I bet they are covered with lots of dried drool and disgusting things. Happy Tuesday!

NanaDiana said...

Oh yeah-cleaning! AND when I get back to the camper I am cleaning up the cleaning closet! Have a fabulous day- xo Diana

Divers and Sundry said...

Good reminders, thanks!

sandy said...

It is easy to let things slide - certain things you can't see. When mike was mostly gone for five months at our son's house I detailed everything... It felt good but now I have to remember to keep up with it. I was also surprised since I don't really cook much anymore how greasy feeling the spice bottles were ...gag... those definitely got sanitized.

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

I do most of them but quite often forget about the kitchen sponge, it does get changed quite often though. I will try the microwave cleaning method.

happyone said...

I'm pretty good at cleaning these things. Don't use sponges.

aussie aNNie said...

Great hint for the sponges, I throw mine out as soon as they look shabby or start to have an unpleasant whiff....

Miss Val's Creations said...

I am definitely lacking in cleaning a few of these!

baili said...


okay among all you mentioned here i missed cutlery try and this is because kitchen is newly made , we don't leave these things for long as i do urgent daily cleaning but hubby enters in the kitchen before we go to bed and cleans everything including stove knobs and stove burners ,key board is cleaned by my elder son and hubby supervise such cleanings .
i used to wash kids toy in boiling water , so they can stay germ free ,not delicate one though
.tooth brush holder is washed once within two or three weeks
great post as always !

Iris Flavia said...

I think I do a good job (ignoring these ... kidding!) - I just detected the underneath of the kitchen drawer being dirty and even cleaned that.
No one will notice, but it felt right.

Teresa said...

Muy bueno. Alguna cosa siempre se olvida. Besos.

Sue said...

Oh I was doing so well then you got me on the cutlery tray lol. Ah well, a job for tomorrow. Have a great day, Sue xx

Snowbird said...

I'm guilty of a lot of these.xxx

Jeanie said...

I'm good on some of these but there were a few where I sort of cringed and thought I'd best get to work!

Magic Love Crow said...

Thank you Jan! Good list! Big Hugs!