Home is where the heart is…and where the hands, mouth, and rest of the body are too. It should be a clean and safe place free from bacteria to keep that heart happy and healthy.
Think of the place in your home that gets the most traffic. Perhaps it could be the kitchen with little fingers trailing along the counters for food.
It could also be the living room where warm bodies congregate on the couch for movies or the bathroom (I hope I don’t need to mention what happens in there). On that note, think about the last time that high traffic area in your home was deep cleaned or which parts of it you cleaned.
Do you vacuum out your couch? Do you sanitize the towel holders or door handles in your bathroom? How often do you wipe down your fridge?
If your answer to any of these questions was rarely or never, you’re not alone. However, as the holidays are approaching and the weather is getting colder, our homes tend to become a breeding ground for germs with people gathering often.
I want to help you make your home a happier and healthier place by providing you with some great tips. When your home is a healthy place so you can enjoy the holidays without enduring the flu and colds that typically tag along with the season.
Dust Control
As people are coming and going in your home, dust is unsettled and floats through the air, which can aggravate allergies. Also, depending on the types of activities and cleaners you have in your home, dust can contain hazardous chemicals like pesticides, fire retardants, and lead too.
Vacuum cleaners when too full tend to just spread the dust around rather than picking it up.
For surfaces like blinds, ceiling fans, fireplace mantels, and shelves, wipe them down with a disinfectant spray. You can also wipe to clean it of dust and the bacteria that start to grow in it.
Use Non-Toxic Cleaners
Sometimes the products we use to “clean” our home only taints the air quality within our home, especially for people with allergies or other sensitivities. Think about the last time you mopped your floor with ammonia (Pine-Sol, anyone?) and the effect it had on your nose.
If you can smell it, it’s affecting the air quality and finding its way into your lungs. However, don’t fret, there are plenty of non-toxic alternatives to the cleaners you are currently loyal to.
Seek out cleaners that don’t contain chlorine or ammonia.
Here are a few natural alternatives you can make with things you probably keep in your pantry:
- Vinegar can be used in place of bleach for just about anything. Use it with baking soda to scrub out your oven, fridge, and other hard surfaces.
- To clean the windows, try diluted lemon juice or Dawn Dish Soap instead of traditional spray window cleaners that spray chemical particles into the air.
- For air fresheners, try this DIY air freshener just using baking soda and essential oils to freshen up your home before guests come over.
Cover Holes and Crevices
Especially if you are living in an older home or apartment, you might find you have unwelcome guests such as mice and insects trailing through crevices in the walls or cabinets in your home. There are exterminators in Rochester, NY that will be able to help you if the problem is more than you can handle.
You can also use home-friendly pest control devices or decide to cover up some of the common places where you’ve noticed these pests creeping in. If there are any small holes or cracks in various parts of your home, try caulking them over or covering them to keep the disease-ridden pests out.
Also, fix any larger holes in your walls before the weather gets too cold as well because rodents and insects like the warmth just as much as you do and will use any opportunity they have to stay warm.
If you live under a property management company, like Rooftop Real Estate Management, call the maintenance team to fix any holes or large crevices to prevent pests. It will help them just as much as it helps you.
Keep your home disease-free and safe this holiday season.
Although cleaning your home may not be the most enjoyable thing, it’s still important to do. While you may have already found all the cleaning hacks on Instagram and used all the Pinterest tips and tricks.
Chances are there are still parts of your home that are being overlooked. Here are seven areas of your home you probably forget to clean, but absolutely shouldn’t.
