With COVID having made it’s threats when it comes to health and wellbeing and people spending more time at home than ever before, giving your home a daily once over has never been more of a priority. However, there are still the little things that we all forget to clean which can make your home even safer from germs.

So here are a few tips just to help you around the house.

1. Keyboards

You’d be amazed by how much bacteria lives on your keyboard, thankfully it’s an easy enough job to disinfectant it regularly and is nice and simple. Either using a small brush like our Mini Dustpan and Brush set or even a toothbrush, dip it in a mixture solution of half water, half white vinegar and scrub on your keys to eliminate those horrid germs. Make sure however your brush is not overly wet though as this is an electrical appliance and you don’t want it breaking on you!

2. Sponges

These are probably the most used product in your home when it comes to cleaning. You clean dishes, utensils and even countertops and bathrooms with these, but unfortunately like the keyboard the amount of bacteria that’s growing on your sponge is ghastly, and you could be spreading them when cleaning if not disinfected properly.  One really easy trick we’ve found to kill the bacteria up to 99.9% (according to research) is to soak them in a bowl of water with a cup of bleach and leave them to soak for only 5 minutes! It’s honestly that simple. Other methods you may want to try using though is:

• The Microwave

     Simply place a damp sponge in the microwave (make sure it’s not too wet!) and then heat it on high for one minutes, or two for the tougher sponges. This will also kill up to 99.9% of bacteria according to research.

• The Dishwasher

     The dishwasher like the microwave and black will also kill up to 99.9% of germs. Simply just add this to an EMPTY dishwasher whilst using the cleaning cycle, you’ll be cleaning your sponge and dishwasher all in one cycle.

• Vinegar

    Even though this may not be everyones cup of tea and leaving your home smelling like a chippy, soaking your sponges for five minutes in full strength white vinegar can eliminate up to 99.6% bacteria. Just make sure you give them a good rinse after though if you don’t want the smell to linger too long!

3. Microwave

Place a bowl of lemon juice (even add a few slices of lemon) with water in your microwave and set the timer on high and wait for the solution to start boiling. This will produce steal that will soften the debris and stains in your microwave. Once you’ve removed the bowl simply give the inside a wipe down with a microfibre cloth. Another simple clean and leaves your microwave with a lovely citrus scent!

4. Light Switches

Many people forget about light switches during their daily or weekly cleans yet they are probably one of the most touched places throughout your home, especially the busier rooms you can tend to see them starting to look a little grotty. They are touched by multiple hands and sad to say, not all of these are generally clean, especially if you have children. But like the keyboard and sponges they are so simple to clean. Create a solution of white vinegar or an anti-bacterial cleaner of your choice with water and wipe down with a microfibre cloth. Don’t spray directly onto the light switch! We don’t want anyone getting electrocuted.

5. Door Handles

Just like the light switches, door handles are touched so very often throughout the day and can often be home to a lot of bacteria. Whether it’s from kids not washing their hands or coming home from manual jobs they’re always going to get grubby. This doesn’t just apply to your door handles either, these can be your kitchen cupboard handles, wardrobes, all handles really! And just like the light switch all you need to do is spray the same solution onto your microfibre cloth and give them a good wipe down and buffer. Unlike the light switches if you want to give them a very good clean spray the solution directly on and rub longer.

6. Walls

You are forever mopping your floors and vacuuming your carpets, but do you remember the last time you cleaned your walls? Just think of it for a minute, we constantly lean against them and touch them on a daily basis, so when you think of it, keeping your walls clean is just as important as cleaning your handles and light switches…

The worst areas are typically near doors, in your hallways and any walls next to your bed, especially if you don’t have a headboard, rubbing your hands in the night will no doubt start to create marks. Plus, over time your painted walls will no doubt get scuff marks, stains and dust which will give the surface a dull dirtier appearance in the long run. So make sure you give them a wipe down, or at least the more busier rooms with a microfibre cloth or sponge with some warm water and dish soap, maybe add a little vinegar in there if you come a cross a really tough stain.

7. Remote controls & Gaming Controllers

Another item that gets a lot of use, especially since the introduction of Netflix and Prime is your remote controller. Just like your keyboard the remotes and gaming consoles can get grubby over time and can provide a lovely little home for bacteria. To clean your remote control or game console, first remove the batteries, just to be on the safe side and wipe down with a disinfectant cloth or anti bacterial wipe several times. If you want to give it a good deep clean use a cotton bud or ear bud to clean around the buttons and a toothpick to remove debris stuck in-between (lovely!).