Hot Spots in the Home

Take special care in cleaning or avoiding the following areas in your home where germs are known to hide out, waiting for contact with you or your family so they can reproduce and spread.

The bathroom is the obvious space that seems loaded with germs. But you might be surprised to learn that the most popular hiding places are in your kitchen; the highest concentration of germs are on kitchen sponges and dish cloths. You also need to worry about keeping your kitchen sinks and cutting boards extra clean.

The following are particularly troublesome “hot spots” within every home. Keep these clean, and you’ll be protecting the health of you and your loved ones.

Kitchen:

• Cleaning sponges (replace biweekly and place damp in microwave for two minutes before and after using)

• Dish cloths (launder often using hot water)

• Sink drains (and drain covers/lids) and faucet handles (disinfect weekly)

• Garbage disposal rubber stopper (and dispose food particles immediately)

• Refrigerator (not only surfaces/handles, but keep between 34 and 40 degrees)

• Cutting boards (disinfect before and after every food preparation)

• Counters and tabletops

• Microwave controls

Bathroom:

• Sink drains and faucet handles

• Toothbrushes (change frequently)

• Shower (curtains, shower head, tub, handrails)

• Toilet (especially flush handle and lid)

Other:

• Door knobs and railings

• Light switches

• Telephones and mouthpieces

• TV remote controls and electronic device switches/controls

• Welcome mat (soil from shoes can carry germs inside)

• Vacuum cleaner (use HEPA filters; take vacuum outside when emptying)