Is your home not being cleaned every day as efficiently as you would like? Perhaps you’ve seen the depiction of homes in the 1950s on television, with everything being neat, clean, and orderly like someone used a maid cleaning service. Or maybe you know of someone who has one and wish your home could be as clean. It just makes the environment more comforting. And nowadays, a clean environment is more necessary than ever before.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by eliminating bacteria, germs, and viruses from your home, you’re protecting the health of your family, including your pets. And with so many products available, you also want to make sure those products are safe. For quick results, here are a few tips you can put in place for the most dominantly used areas of the home.
Kitchen
For most households, the kitchen is typically the gathering place for friends and family when visiting. That means there is potentially more traffic in that area. And with more traffic, that means more germs and messes.
Below are the key areas that you should focus on daily.
- Sink and Faucet
- Appliance Exterior Surfaces
- Microwave Interior and Door Handle
- Range-top and Knobs
- Cabinet Surfaces and Handles
- Counter-tops
- Floors
- Backsplash
In addition to maintaining those key areas, you should never leave dishes in the sink overnight. And if you clean meat or poultry products, be sure that you always disinfect the area thoroughly afterward. Even if you’re extremely careful while cleaning these types of products, you can unknowingly transfer bacteria to other surfaces. Additionally, be mindful that every snack or drink taken from the kitchen eventually ends up in other areas. Always have disposable organic wipes available to disinfect items.
Bathroom
Without a doubt, the bathroom, in most homes, has the potential to be one of the messiest. After all, you don’t typically spend a lot of time, so it often becomes neglected. And without a maid cleaning service, you’re at the mercy of everyone picking up after themselves. And unless you’re watching an episode of “Leave It to Beaver,” the likelihood of seeing that happen is slim-to-none. The good news is that you have the advantage of cleaning as you go and leaving the heavy-duty cleaning for later.
For quick cleaning of the toilet, tub, sink, and shower, always have products readily available that can be easily accessed. Consider using a “cleaning caddy” that includes cleaning supplies, sponges, a cleaning brush, and disinfectants. These items should be exclusively designated to the bathroom to eliminate cross-contamination to other areas. Don’t forget to change the guest towels. Even if they’re unused, you may be surprised about the cleanliness. And to prevent being sick from bacteria and germs floating around in the bathroom, never leave your toothbrush out.
Common Areas
The common areas include the den, family room, basement, and hallways. How often do you clean these areas? For most people, these areas are cleaned monthly or before visitors arrive. While these areas typically require more discipline to manage, you can still maintain them regularly. Get in the habit of performing a quick pickup and straighten up, as needed, for 30-minutes, rather than a deep-dive cleaning.
Specific areas to focus on for a 30-minute cleaning include:
- Removing Cobwebs
- Dusting Window Sills, Ledges, and Wall Hangings
- Vacuuming, Floors, Rugs, and Carpet
- Emptying the Trash (even if half-full)
- Replacing Room Air Fresheners
- Disinfecting Items (Remote Control, TV/Stereo Knobs, Door Knobs…etc.)
Although maid cleaning service is ideal if you don’t have much time, getting into a habit of 30-minute cleaning sessions prevents you from becoming overwhelmed. You also reduce the chances of harmful germs lingering in the area for longer than you probably prefer.
You don’t have to live in the 50s to maintain a clean and healthy home. All it takes is a commitment to staying consistent and using good time-management skills for a healthy and comfortable home environment!
The author, Dr. David K Simson is a trained radiation oncologist specializing in advanced radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) / Rapid Arc, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). He is also experienced in interstitial, intracavitary, and intraluminal brachytherapy.