5 Things You Probably Aren’t Cleaning Enough—and They Could Be Making You Sick
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/clean-places-that-make-you-sick-GettyImages-2185100070-446c8f4b498f4f169cfa827c58417fcb.jpg?w=780&resize=780,470&ssl=1 "5 Things You Probably Aren’t Cleaning Enough—and They Could Be Making You Sick")
With spring cleaning on just about everyone’s mind, this time of year is the perfect occasion to audit your cleaning habits to make sure you’re truly eliminating any dirt and grime lingering around your home. While you may have perfected scrubbing your subway tile or sanitizing your sink, chances are good that there are a few under-the-radar areas in your home that you aren’t cleaning properly—and your health could be suffering because of it.
Germs, allergens, and other environmental triggers can be hiding in plain sight around your home, even if you think you’re on top of your weekly cleaning routine. To help you identify the forgotten spaces in your home, we tapped a team of experts to divulge some of the dirtiest spots in the house—and what you need to do to truly get them clean.
- Jonathan D. Sexton, Ph.D, a research scientist at The University of Arizona Environment, Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center
- Caroline Blazovsky, CEO of My Healthy Home
- Ina Mundy, Director of Category Management, Small Domestic Appliances at Miele
Sink
Ready to get grossed out? A study from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) found that 45% of household kitchen sinks tested positive for coliform bacteria, a family of bacteria that includes dangerous culprits like Salmonella and E. coli. “Kitchen sinks and cleaning tools are known for being the most contaminated sites in all households,” says Jonathan D. Sexton, Ph.D, a research scientist at The University of Arizona Environment, Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center. “We like to think that our sink is clean since we wash dishes in it and then eat off the dishes, but how often do you actually clean the sink?”
If your typical strategy for cleaning your sink is to wipe it down with a sponge and a bit of soap, you should also know that a 2017 study found 362 different species of bacteria living in used kitchen sponges. Instead, the NSF recommends cleaning your sink once or twice a week with a disinfecting cleaner or diluted bleach.
HVAC
Considering that your HVAC unit is responsible for the quality of air you’re breathing in your household, it’s pretty important to make sure it’s at its best at all times. “Most modern homes have some form of ductwork throughout the house, whether that’s for heating, air conditioning, or even ventilation,” says Caroline Blazovsky, CEO of My Healthy Home. “Dust, dander, mold, and chemicals can all infiltrate your ductwork, which means you are breathing this recycled, contaminated air into your lungs continually as it runs through these dirty spaces.”
If you or someone in your home suffers from asthma, allergies, headaches, or joint pain, that can be a sign that you may be dealing with overly dirty ducks. Blazovsky recommends replacing any removable filters regularly and undergoing routine maintenance. “When you’re having your ducts cleaned, ask your inspector to look inside your system with a camera; they can tell you how dirty your system is and if you have anything that needs replacing,” she adds. “Make sure to have your ducts cleaned every three years or sooner if you have a lot of traffic or pets in the home.”
Blinds and Curtains
Fabric can also be a sneaky source of dust, germs, and allergens. While most people remember to clean things like carpets with regularity, more decorative spots, like blinds and curtains, may fall to the wayside. “Dust and pet hair or dander are common irritants that can be detrimental to your health,” says Ina Mundy, Director of Category Management, Small Domestic Appliances at Miele. “Vacuuming often can make a significant difference in removing these irritants.”
Mundy recommends cleaning your drapery and blinds weekly or bi-weekly using a vacuum that boasts a HEPA filter, which will help to capture airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and even some viruses. “Select the lowest possible setting on your vacuum so it is as gentle as possible on the fabrics and use an appropriate brush attachment, like an upholstery or mattress nozzle on delicate curtains, or a dusting brush on blinds,” she adds. “Start at the top and work your way towards the bottom, as dust will settle on the floor as you clean.”
Mattress
Sorry, but swapping out your sheets weekly simply isn’t enough. The truth is, your mattress can be surprisingly dirty, harboring large amounts of skin cells, dust mites, allergens, and bacteria. “We shed 500,000,000 skin cells a day, and when you sleep, your skin cells drop into your mattress,” says Blazovsky. “At the same time, we perspire and sweat, which adds moisture to our mattresses and creates the perfect environment for dust mites to form, turning the surface into a petri dish for allergens.”
Blazovsky recommends vacuuming your mattress every week when removing your sheets to eliminate the risk of allergy symptoms. “Many companies make a specific mattress vacuum with HEPA and UV light that helps kill dust mites and reduce dander,” she adds. “Make sure you’re also washing your sheets or mattress cover in water over 140 degrees Fahrenheit and use the hot setting on your dryer to kill the dust mites. You’ll find you wake up with fewer headaches, a less stuffy nose, and breathe better throughout the night.”
Garage
This last one may surprise you; it’s a garage, so of course it’s meant to be dirty, right? Well, sort of. As it turns out, the state of your garage can have serious consequences when it comes to how healthy the interior of your home is. “I’ve tested homes for over 25 years, and air samples always reveal what is being stored in a garage,” says Blazovsky, who notes that air and pressure changes can often pull the air from the garage into the main parts of the home, bringing any contaminants along with it.
Her advice? Make sure you are vacuuming the garage regularly to remove dander, dust mites, and bugs. You should also avoid storing gas, pesticides, paint cans, and other chemicals in attached garages, particularly if you live in an area that experiences frequent temperature swings. “You end up breathing in these chemicals, which contain carcinogens; once opened, the fumes can continue to outgas into your environment and contain high volatile organic compounds,” she adds. “A good spring cleaning looks like wiping down the walls and floor of the garage to reduce chemical buildup and airing out the space frequently.”
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