I’m a cleaning expert – the grossest parts of your house that you’re forgetting about & need to clean now

FOR the house-proud among us, we like to think we keep a clean and tidy home, however there are always some spots that get missed.

Which means areas within our home can harbour dirt and germs without us even realising.

Getty

Even though we clean every week, there are some areas that are often forgotten[/caption]

So while cleaning our home is a weekly ritual with close attention paid to our carpets, furniture and kitchen counters, it’s the bits that are out of sight, therefore out of mind, that may be harbouring harmful germs.

Here First Mats cleaning expert Richard O’Connor shares the five areas that a significant number of us overlook while cleaning, and what you can do to rectify this now…

Door mats

Our door mat is the one thing that stops dirt from outside on our shoes being traipsed through the house, and yet it’s something many of us don’t factor into our regular cleaning schedule.

Richard says: “Despite the fact that we use these every day, many people often forget to clean their door mat.

Getty

The door mat needs to be cleaned regularly, but is often overlooked[/caption]

“This means they can be hiding dirt and germs including faeces and viruses.

“Cloth mats can often be cleaned in the washing machine, however, for others, a combination of cornstarch and bicarbonate of soda sprinkled onto the mat and then hoovered up should do the trick.”

Behind the fridge

Fridges are bulky, and while we clean the inside, it can feel like a huge chore to clean behind it.

Richard says: “Experts say that we should clean behind our fridge every three months but, most of us neglect this as moving the fridge is a hassle.

“The areas behind and underneath your fridge can harbour some pretty nasty germs so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of moving the fridge and washing these areas down with hot water and washing up liquid as regularly as you can manage.”

Door handles 

This was something we thought about more during the pandemic, but door handles are often also overlooked.

Richard says: “If you stop to think about how many times a day your door handles touched, it may make you feel a little queasy if you’re not in the habit of cleaning them.

“Use a mixture of hot water and vinegar to wipe these down with a damp cloth once or twice a week.”

Getty

We learned very quickly in the pandemic that door handles can really increase the spread of germs[/caption]

Light switches

Again, light switches are something we only touch for a second and barely think about it, but so regularly.

Richard says: “Just like your door handles, your light switches see a lot of action and can quickly become a hotbed of germs.

“Using a small amount of furniture polish and a damp cloth, give your switches a wipe two or three times a week.”

Getty

We use our light switches every single day – but how often do you clean them?[/caption]

Reusable carrier bags

We all, rightly so, have tried to get into the routine of using reusable carrier bags, and try to remember to take them to the shop to avoid needlessly using plastic.

However make sure you wash any material tote bags you may use regularly, and clean reusable plastic ones too.

However, Richard says: “According to some experts, regular use of our bags for life can mean a build-up of germs and bacteria.

“Every week or so, turn your reusable bags inside out and clean them with hot, soapy water to remove any nasties ahead of your next shop.

Getty

Make sure you regularly wash or clean your reusable bags as they can harbour germs[/caption]

‘Keep your home fresh’

Of course, we can’t always keep on top of everything, but by being aware of areas we often miss, we can incorporate into our cleaning routine the tasks we regularly miss.

Richard adds: “In a busy world, most of us don’t have the time to go through our homes with a fine-toothed comb every day.

“However, paying attention to areas that might be hiding germs can help to keep your home fresh – and your family healthy; particularly during the long winter months.”

Getty

Incorporating those jobs we forget about into our regular cleaning routine will leave no room for error[/caption]