20 of the Grossest Things in Your House Right Now

It’s no surprise that there are a lot of germs in the bathroom. But, according to WebMD, the taps on your bathroom sink are dirtier than even the toilet handle. You should clean them daily with a good disinfectant.

The toilet can get pretty gross too, especially in big families. Closing the lid when flushing can help stop the spread of germs and fecal matter. Make sure you give the toilet base a good scrubbing at least once a week.

Your toothbrush holder is often ignored when cleaning, but it shouldn’t be. WebMD says that it’s one of the dirtiest places in your home in terms of bacteria. They suggest washing it weekly in the dishwasher or giving it a good cleaning with hot water and a disinfectant.

Dirty towels can help spread germs from person to person. WebMD suggests weekly washings for towels used by one person. If someone in the household is ill, their towels should be laundered after each use.

Kitchen towels should be washed separately. Swap out hand towels every time you have a guest. And never throw wet towels on the floor. Hang them to dry.

Your fridge should get a good scrubbing every few months. After cleaning, let it air out for a couple of hours. If you spill something, WebMD says you should clean it up right away.

According to WebMD, the water reservoir in your coffee maker makes a great home for germs. Why? Because they love a dark, damp and warm environment. The solution? Fill it up with vinegar and let it sit. Then run the vinegar through the coffee machine. After that, run a pot of clean water through to get rid of any remaining vinegar.

They may look clean, but they’re not. WebMD says that food preparation areas are where you’ll find nasty bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. To keep those critters at bay, wash daily with hot soapy water and then sanitize.

You may clean your stove, but how often do you give the knobs more than a quick wipe? Because you touch them so much while preparing food, they can become contaminated with all kinds of gross things. Give them a bath in hot, soapy water once a week – more often if you cook a lot.

It should come as no surprise that your sink is full of bacteria. WebMD recommends disinfecting it twice a week and pouring a bleach and water solution down the drain monthly.

If your sink is home to lots of bacteria, just think about your kitchen sponge. In fact, according to WebMD, it’s likely the dirtiest item in your home. It could be carrying things like mould, E. Coli, salmonella, and allergens.

Replace sponges twice a month and microwave a wet sponge for a couple of minutes to help kill bacteria.

Your pets don’t care about germs on their bowls, but you should. Your pet’s eating area is in the top five grossest places in the house. Pet dishes should be washed daily and bleached weekly.

Our hands pick up all sorts of germs and then transfer them to things like door knobs, light switches, and railings. WebMD says you should sanitize these areas weekly, more often if you have visitors or if someone in the family is under the weather.

It washes clothes, but it doesn’t wash itself. Dirt and germs can go from one load to another. To keep a lid of bacteria and viruses, WebMD recommends running your washing machine empty with a cup of bleach every week. Use the hottest water and dryer setting that your clothes can handle to kill the most germs.

Remember what we said about hands touching things? Phones, keyboards, and mice get gross fast, especially in a shared environment. You should shake the crumbs out of your keyboard and disinfect it often. WebMD says you should wipe down your computer screen too.

You wash your gym clothes, but what about your gym bag? Toss it in the wash once a week or so. And that stinky gym towel? It should be washed after every workout. Buy a stack of towels so you always have a fresh one on hand.

Reusable shopping bags are great for the environment, but they’re also a breeding ground for bacteria. Dirt and germs collect fast and carrying meat may leave behind E. Coli and salmonella. Toss them in the washer on the hottest setting once a week.

Your microwave oven can get pretty gross, too. The website Style at Home suggests wiping down the inside with hot, soapy water on a regular basis. If you’re tired of all the food spatters, remember to cover any food you’re cooking.

Like the washing machine, your cleaning equipment can collect dirt and germs. Style at Home recommends running sponges through the dishwasher (or microwaving them as we mentioned earlier).

Scouring pads and brushes can go in the dishwasher. You should wash mop heads and rinse out and disinfect buckets after each use.

The area around cat litter boxes can become a breeding ground for germs. Style at Home recommends vacuuming first and then wiping down the area with hot water and vinegar.

And finally, the floor. They may look clean, but like countertops, you can’t see germs and bacteria. Wash and sweep weekly. Style at Home says you should always remove your shoes at the door.

And that five-second rule about dropped food? Yeah, no.