By now, you’ve washed your hands while singing “I Will Survive”, you’ve washed your hands while singing “Happy Birthday”, and you’ve even washed your hands while singing a catchy Broadway song. But as you learn to make peace with your dry, chapped hands, have you stopped to think about the state of your home?
No, we’re not referring to the pile of dishes in the sink or the laundry that (still) needs folding – we’re talking about the 13 frequently touched surfaces, below, that could do with a little disinfecting right about now. After all, upping our hygiene game and erring on the side of caution is highly recommended until we, as a community, flatten the curve. Prefer to clean with an all-natural disinfectant? Mix one part water and one part vinegar with about 10 drops of essential oil, and you’re set.
Bathroom Sinks
You’ve stood there many times pondering over the unruly state of both your eyebrows and the world, so we added these to the list.
Bidet Showers
No explanation needed, right?
Dining Table
Whether you’re using yours as the desk of your home office or stress-snacking by it around the clock, wipe it down well. And while you’re at it, clean any hard-backed chairs, too.
Doorknobs
Yes, all doorknobs, but give the one on the front door a second round of cleaning, please.
Drawer Pulls
Whatever you do, don’t skip the ones on your bedside table, especially if your idea of working from home is essentially working from bed.
Faucet Handles
This includes the faucet handles in lesser-used spaces, such as your laundry room, too.
Fridge Door
You probably haven’t taken the time to disinfect your refrigerator door even once since you’ve bought it – and it has been touched how many times now?
Kitchen Countertop
With most of us now cooking more often these days, your kitchen countertops are seeing a lot more action, which unfortunately translates to a lot more food spills and other unwanted germs.
Light Switches
Walk around your home, and you’ll realize just how many petri dishes of bacteria are alive and well in the form of light switches. True story.
Microwave Door
Scroll back up to reread what we said about your refrigerator door – now apply that to the door of your microwave.
Personal Workspace
If you’ve been organized enough to create a dedicated workspace for yourself at home, well done. Just be sure to clean and disinfect it often as you’re unlikely to return back to the office anytime soon.
Remote Controls
Whether it’s because of nightly Netflix sessions with the family or coronavirus updates constantly trickling in, you’re probably glued to the TV, remote control – which happens to have 70 bacteria per square inch, according to a study – in hand. Need we say more?
Toilet Handles
Just do it.
