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    5 Germiest Spots in Your Home

    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?

    More from Good Housekeeping:

     

    296 comments

    • Sheerilee  •  1 year 4 months ago
      I stopped using sponges a long time ago, especially kitchen ones. I use dishcloths everyday and use a clean one everyday. I wash them in hot water and bleach.
    • Sheila M  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Lot of assholes on here being so stupid and condescending as usual...if ya don't wanna clean anything, then DON"T, but for people who don't mind getting a few ideas about cleaning, then at least someone is learning a few tricks about what to clean and where to look for filth. So stop being rude to everyone that DOES care about this stuff.
    • jojo  •  1 year 4 months ago
      everything has germs! boohaaaa!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  1 year 4 months ago
      I better get straight home to clean my Yoga Mat!!
    • Razzy101  •  1 year 4 months ago
      The exhaust vent on the microwave.
    • LOL  •  1 year 4 months ago
      why people worry so much about what part of the house is the dirtiest? how will you imagine the people that live on the street who's trying to survive day by day? they even get their food in the trash barrel just to put something in their stomach. i have seen them do that, so please let us be thankful that we have a place to live and have food to eat all the time.
    • LOL  •  1 year 4 months ago
      why people worry so much about what part of the house is the dirtiest? how will you imagine the people that live on the street who's trying to survive day by day? they even get their food in the trash barrel just to put something in their stomach. i have seen them do that, so please let us be thankful that we have a place to live and have food to eat all the time.
    • nettiehood  •  1 year 4 months ago
      The remote control; especially in the family room! Think about it! Yuck!
    • Deb  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Remote controls,....all I could think of when the debit/credit cards were menttioned, is the machines they fit into. The buttons on those machines....can't even imagine. I have a leather purse with cloth compartments (3 of them). You can be pull them out towards the top of the purse, I spray those with resolve, and then hang the purse upside down, to keep the resolve from getting on the leather. (even pen marks and makeup come out). Then while it is upside down I rinse the linings and hand the purse upside down to dry. When dry, you just push the cloth compartments back in where they were. Works really well. My purse is beige and the inside compartments still look like new :)
    • -  •  1 year 4 months ago
      I am always wiping everything down with Clorox wipes, during the winter months especially. I make sure to wipe doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remotes, phones. Cabinet doors, the microwave, any place where hands are touching a lot. I live with my boyfriend and yes, he makes fun of me.
    • Judy  •  1 year 4 months ago
      I regularly spray all handles , lids knobs etc. with Lysol Disinfecting Spray. Also the air.
    • Rob  •  1 year 4 months ago
      No mention of Vinyl blinds in that section...I think it is fair to say that the majority of working class Americans have those!
      Yoga Mats...yeah, we ALL have those! lol
      Credit Cards? Cash is by far more dirty!
      You should be concerned with: 1. Door Knobs 2. Toilet 3. Refrigerator Handles 4. Car Handles and Interior Knobs 5. Laundry Baskets 6. New Toothbrushes 7. Bathtub 8. Bathroom Sink 9. Kitchen Sponge 10. Computer Keyboards and Devices 11. Pets and all their stuff
    • sabidoo  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Here's a tip, GE A LIFE! If all it takes is a couple germs to kill you, then you're already dead anyway. If it makes you feel better then do this: Pick up the keyboard in front of you. Flip it upside down and shake. Take everything that falls out and make a sandwich.
    • Vincent  •  1 year 4 months ago
      I haven't read all the posts but I didn't see anyone mention the dirtest inch in the house. The cutting blade on your can opener. If you haven't thought to clean it, take a look. If that doesn't gross you out, I don't know what will. This is blade is dipped into every can you open. Yumm.
    • NikkiBay8  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Cell phones, computer keyboards, remote controls, under the fridge, under the stove, light switches, etc.
    • E  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Yes- ANYTHING that the public has access to will be covered in really disgusting stuff- that includes your credit card!!! Most people DO NOT wash their hands properly. Even if they do- people touch their face, nose, put their fingers in their bacteria laden mouths etc...
      IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CLEAN EVERYTHING ONCE IN A WHILE. You don;t have to let it run your life.

      PS You're soooo right about the washing machine & just think about the laundromat ones- GROSS!!!!!!
    • James K  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Well there's another 3 minutes of my life wasted on nothing
    • A Yahoo! User  •  1 year 4 months ago
      um...Flip flops too!
    • DeeDee  •  1 year 4 months ago
      The cutting edge of a can opener collects gunk quite rapidly. Attack it with a retired toothbrush.
    • Brett  •  1 year 4 months ago
      Really? You think you need to wash the interior of the washing machine because you wash your underwear in it? Hmm, not sure about you, but I use detergent, which will clean everything.

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