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    5 Germiest Spots in Your Home

    By | Healthy Living – Mon, Jan 10, 2011 6:39 PM EST

    I've never really been a spring cleaner; I'm more of a winter cleaner. At the beginning of each year, I make sure to scour my apartment from top to bottom to get rid of "last year's" dirt. During this year's ritual cleaning, I noticed many places and items that I've neglected to clean. Here are five grimy things you may also overlook.

    1: Vacuum Cleaner Brushes and Attachments     You clean out the dust container or replace the bag routinely but when was the last time you cleaned the vacuum upholstery tool or brush roll? Check your manual for the how-to. Using scissors, cut off any carpet fibers or hair entangled around the brush.

    Related: Get the full list of 10 Germy Spots in Your Home

    2: Handbags     Spot clean fabric bags with a gentle detergent solution like Woolite and flip the purse inside out to wipe down the inner lining. On finished leather purses, use a leather conditioning cleaner - I love Guardsman Leather Wipes. And, if you place your purse on the floor in a restaurant or even worse, in the ladies' room, never put it on your kitchen table or countertop.

    Related: Tools to Get Organized

    3: Credit/Debit Cards These everyday essentials get handled by lots of people, and germs can lurk in the crevices around the numbers. Give debit and credit cards a quick cleaning with an alcohol wipe and let them air dry before placing them back in your wallet.

    4: Blinds The material they're made of - metal, wood, or fabric - determines how you dust them. For metal blinds, wipe with a sock lightly dampened with water or multi-purpose cleaner. For wood blinds follow the same procedure using only a little tap water. Do not overwet the wood and be sure to buff dry right away. For fabric blinds, go over the blinds with a dry microfiber cloth.

    5: Yoga Mats After a few sessions, you probably notice that your sweaty hands and feet are leaving dirty marks on your mat, which can lead to yucky bacteria growth. Most mat manufacturers recommend occasionally hand cleaning their products with water and mild soap. All-purpose cleaners can eat away at the material.

    -- By Christina Peterson

    Tell us: What are your tips for banishing germs from your home?

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