Most people want a clean home. They want to get rid of germs and bacteria to avoid illnesses and because neat and clean houses look nice. But, is your home really as clean as you think it is?
Vacuuming, dusting, picking up after yourself, putting everything back where it belongs, and general overall daily or weekly cleaning are commonplace activities for most. But there are hidden areas you might not think about where you will find dirt and germs like your vacuum cleaner, your bed sheets, your bathmat, and even the drawers in your refrigerator.
Some people do this deep cleaning themselves, while others prefer periodic cleaning help. Professional cleaning services in Santa Cruz are accustomed to looking in every nook and cranny and ensuring everything is spotless. They also have the right equipment homeowners might not have such as vacuum extensions to reach high areas and the proper chemicals to combat any and all germs, bacteria, and even mold.
Your Bathroom
A bathroom might look clean but how clean it is really? There are some nasty things that might be hiding in places you can’t see or are even not visible to the naked eye. Lingering water like what is left in a bathtub or shower, can over time lead to the growth of bacteria and mold.
It’s best to try to keep these areas in your bathroom as dry as possible to reduce the risks. Be sure to wash your bath towels often and change your toothbrush every few weeks. Don’t forget other areas of your bathroom like:
- Window blinds or curtains
- Light fixtures
- Wastebaskets
- Shower curtains and doors
- Bathmats
- Mirrors and fixtures
- Vanity and sink surfaces
- Toilets need to be cleaned and sanitized especially at the base and behind the toilet
- Shower and tub tiles and grout
Your Kitchen
Families prepare food and eat in their kitchens. People might think their kitchen is clean because it looks clean, but how many people consider items like their cutting boards? Did you know that even if you scrub them with hot water and dry them completely they can still be full of germs? How does this happen? Every time you use a cutting board, your knife is putting little marks and nicks into the board just by virtue of using it. That’s called normal wear and tear, but knowing this fact, will help you understand why you should replace them periodically.
Most people don’t look forward to cleaning their refrigerator but it needs to be done as part of your deep cleaning. Not necessarily every week, but you must make sure you do get around to cleaning it. Don’t forget about the shelves, drawers, and compartments where food often leaks or leaves crumbs. They should be cleaned and disinfected to remove all bacteria and germs. It is not uncommon for people to find food hidden way in the back that they completely forgot about that needs to be thrown out immediately. Often it should have been thrown out several weeks prior. Some areas of your kitchen you might accidentally overlook are:
- Behind and under kitchen appliances
- Tops and insides of kitchen cabinets
- Countertops and sinks
- Sponges
- Stovetops and ovens
- Inside of patio doors and window frames
- Blinds
- Knobs, handles, and light switches
- Kitchen tiles
- Pantry
Your Bedroom and Other Living Areas
Did you know that while you are tucked into your bed at night sleeping like a baby, there are tiny dust mites feeding and crawling around? Yes, that sounds disgusting even though it might not be harmful. You want to be sure to wash your sheets at least once a week in hot water to sleep with only those you invite into your bed.
You also want to keep up with your dusting because it tends to build up and will encourage mites and other small bugs to end up in your bedroom. Other areas to pay close attention to are:
- Your closets
- Window treatments, both blinds, and curtains
- Under your bed
- Mattress pads
- Comforters and duvets
- Bed skirts
- Garbage pails
- Lampshades
- Windowsills and ledges
- Baseboards and vents
It is important to do a deep cleaning of your own home every six months or so, either by yourself or by hiring a professional. There are also other times when you will want a deep cleaning done like when you purchase a new home for you but that was occupied by another family. Many people hire a company to clean the house from top to bottom before they move in with all their belongings.
Now that you’ve had a chance to look over these tips, Does Your Home Need a Deep Cleaning? What are some other methods you put into play when cleaning your home?
Great post about deep cleaning. I’d say that adding an air purifier to your home can really keep on top of the dust problem though. Whilst you still need to wipe a cloth over the surfaces and do the vacuuming, i’ve found it doesn’t need doing anywhere near as often.