What are the Four Dirtiest Places in your Home?

Spring has sprung! The word spring evokes the thoughts of flowering trees and lilies, cherry blossoms and to many a fastidious home owner- spring cleaning! Usually we prefer to do our cleaning over the Diwali period, making our homes hospitable for the Goddess Lakshmi. But realistically, I think spring cleaning is equally important, as one has to put away winter things and shake the house out of its dusty winter slumber.

Speaking of dust, have you ever thought about which parts of your home would be major dust magnets? Some places are the usual suspects, but some might surprise you! Here’s a lowdown on the dirtiest places in your home.

1. Your keyboard: We all know keyboards are dirty, but did you know that many carry potentially dangerous bacteria like E-coli and staph? Though research confirms that keyboards, particularly shared ones, are hotbeds of germs and dust particles, there is no need to start calling in sick. The good old method of hand washing still works and of course the keyboard should be cleaned once in a while. How? You can simply pick it up, hold it upside down and give it a good old shake. If you fear there may be something more dangerous lurking back there, invest in a bottle of compressed air with a nozzle, and point it between the keys to dislodge whatever may have accumulated.

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You can also get a USB laptop vacuum cleaner, like the one below. eBay retails them for Rs 99.

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1. Your remote control: It is probably the most neglected part of your home! Oils and food residues from fingertips can accumulate around the buttons and create a sticky, grimy surface. Worse, it is one of the easiest ways to pass a cold around the home. It’s pretty easy to clean then- remove the batteries and clean all around with anti-bacterial wipes. Use cotton ear buds to clean around the keys, replace batteries and enjoy your TV viewing experience!

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1. The tops of doors and windows: Imagine setting forth a cloud of dust every time you open the door or window for some ‘fresh air’. Wipe down not only the front and back of your door but also the top to rid your home of dust at the entryway. Even windows need special attention, especially the channels if you have sliding ones. Use an old brush to loosen dirt and collect to one side of the channel and then vacuum out the offending muck.

1. The insides of your bathroom drain pipes: A friend once told me that her bathroom sink kept clogging up. She had the plumber come up to take a look and was surprised to see a huge ball of hair and goopy soap emerge like a furry live thing from her drain. Disgusting, I know. But this is one place we never think of inspecting for gunk. Use a drain cleaner once in two weeks to keep drains clean and throw hair, food particles, etc, where they belong- in the dust bin!

So now that spring has indeed sprung, get a leg up on your cleaning and banish the dirt from all corners of your home!