Cleaning it is very simple with the right supplies: a bit of rubbing alcohol, distilled water, and a microfiber lint-free cloth. While you’re cleaning your phone, don’t forget to clean your earbuds and other accessories. Cleaning a dirty laptop and other controls is easy if you use a disinfectant wipe made for electronics. This should be done at least daily and more often if someone in the household has a virus or infection. It’s not just the bathroom doorknob that’s dirtier than a toilet, it’s all the doorknobs, handles, light switches, and electronic keypads around your home that are probably teeming with bacteria or virus-laden. A quick wipe down with a disinfectant wipe will take care of the problem. Be sure to use one wipe per room because one wipe won’t disinfect an entire house full of knobs. Cutting boards, especially wooden ones, are some of the worst offenders because bacteria can become embedded in the tiny cuts and nicks on the surface. Cutting boards should be washed in hot, soapy water after every use and there should be separate boards for meats and vegetables. Rinsing the sponge with hot water or zapping it in the microwave for a few minutes just won’t do the trick. The sponges must be sanitized in the dishwasher or by soaking in vinegar to thoroughly clean them, but it’s best to simply replace them every few weeks. Emptied bags are often stashed in the trunk of a hot car until the next shopping trip. The heat encourages the growth of any bacteria that remain in the bags. It is important to wash the bags used for meats, vegetables, and raw foods after every use. Sanitize bags by washing cloth bags in hot water and disinfecting soap and wiping plastic ones with a strong disinfectant. In addition, designate one bag for any chemical cleaning products to prevent accidental cross-contamination. Bowls should be washed after every meal with hot water and soap. The same treatment should frequently be done to pet toys, though all-fabric toys that aren’t shredded can often be tossed in the wash on the hottest cycle. When we toss a handbag or backpack on the kitchen counter or table, all those germs and bacteria come along. If the purse or backpack can be washed, do it often or use a disinfectant wipe to clean the bags often and keep them away from food preparation and eating areas. As far as leather bags go, clean out the inside of any germy contents and condition the outside. Reduce your exposure to these health risks by keeping your automobile’s windows open to circulate air, but remember that open windows will attract outdoor airborne pollutants such as dust. Keep your car’s interior clean with regular vacuuming, clearing garbage, and keeping the air conditioning and heating in good working order to reduce dust accumulation in vents. If you have a child’s car seat, wipe up, disinfect, and vacuum spills daily. Clean your coffee maker monthly but read the user’s guide for specific instructions for your model. However, it’s safe to clean it by adding undiluted white vinegar into the reservoir and letting it stand for up to an hour. Turn on the machine and let the vinegar cycle through the machine. Immediately follow up with several cycles of fresh water to rinse out the vinegar (and the smell). Try to keep your toothbrush and toothbrush holder as far away from your toilet as possible. Clean your toothbrush frequently, using any method, from rinsing it in hot tap water to placing it in a UV sanitizing device. Place a dishwasher-safe toothbrush holder on the top shelf once or twice a week or handwash with hot soapy water. In between washings, wipe down as much of the holder as you can with a disinfecting wipe. Protect your health by vacuuming carpet at least once a week using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which traps particles. Routinely clean your carpets until you can have them professionally cleaned annually to lift embedded dirt.
