The Dirtiest Places in Your Home
By Sara Butler
You probably don’t relish using a public restroom or eating out at restaurants that look dirty and unappealing. You know how to spot undesirable places that pose a threat to your health -- but what about your own home? There are some places in your home that can be breeding grounds of dangerous things that can make you and your family sick. And they’re hiding in plain sight! Here are the germiest places in your home and how to make them less germy for your health!
The Kitchen Sponge
If you haven’t heard the news, your kitchen sponge is a cesspool. In fact, they top the list of one of the dirtiest things in a home since they can be a moist haven for harmful microorganisms. Then, to make things worse, you slather these dangerous microorganisms all over things you’re trying to get clean. It’s just a bad situation that can make you really sick.
To get the situation under control, throw the sponge out. Instead, use a washcloth that you wash every two to three days. If you’re dealing with spilled juices from meat or something along those lines, use a paper towel to wipe it up and then throw it away. Keep a few washcloths in rotation so you always have a clean one on hand.
Your Kitchen Sink
The kitchen is on quite a roll! Unfortunately, your kitchen sink isn’t doing your health any favors. It makes sense too, since it’s yet another damp environment a lot of germs find their way to in the process of cooking, cleaning, and preparing food.
To keep your kitchen sink clean, make sure to clean it thoroughly at least two times per week. Use a brush to scrub it and then spray it with a disinfectant. Let the disinfectant sit for at least 10 minutes, then rinse it.
The Coffee Maker
This is bad news for all you coffee lovers out there! Your coffee maker’s reservoir is a place teeming with bacteria. It’s dark and wet, an ideal place for germs to call home and grow. In fact, up to 50 percent of coffee makers have been found to have yeast and mold growing in them. Ten percent of all coffeemakers also have coliform bacteria growing in them -- a bacteria that normally live in the human intestinal tract, if you know what we mean.
To make sure your coffee maker is only delivering you the delicious caffeine you want, then clean it using the manufacturers instructions about once a month. You should be able to use equal parts water and white vinegar in the reservoir, let it sit for about 30 minutes, then brew.
Your home can literally be making you sick, so make sure to give the areas that tend to be germy a little extra TLC!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Memphis, Tenn.