From the TV remote to the washing machine: nine filthy household things you never clean – but really should
WHEN you do the cleaning, how often do you find yourself scrubbing down the TV remote?
It turns out that the remote is just one of the many essential things we've been leaving to gather filth while we clean all around it.
You may think you're thorough when it comes to doing the housework, but loads of us have actually been making a mess of the cleaning routine.
Missing out fridge draws, the washing machine and keyboards from your housework schedule could be a disgusting mistake, letting germs multiply right under your nose.
In fact, has revealed that these are among nine things in your home which you never clean but really should.
It's time to get out the sponges and add these pesky places to your "to-clean" list.
Sports bags
If you don't wash your sports bag, you're letting freshly-washed clothes become contaminated with sweaty nastiness as soon as you put them in there.
Bung yours in the washing machine, if you can, or wipe down the inside and outside with a damp cloth if your sports bag can't be machine washed.
Reusable shopping bags
If you use a cloth bag to carry your shopping around, then you need to remember to treat it like any other fabric.
Turn them inside out and blitz them in the washing machine regularly to banish any lingering bacteria which risks getting onto your shop.
On top of things
Just because you can't see somewhere, doesn't mean dirt won't be gathering there.
Make sure you clean those easy-to-miss places on top of cupboards, light fixtures, doors and the fridge next time you're wielding the anti-bac wipes and duster.
Brooms and brushes
Using a brush or broom to clean up filth means they obviously get filthy themselves.
It's wise to wash the heads in warm, soapy water to kill the germs on them before you end up sweeping the nastiness all over your floors.
The TV remote
Think about it: grubby hands are all over the TV remote all the time - and it spends half of its life on the floor or rammed down the back of the sofa.
Add in the fact that people often use the remote while they're eating and it becomes clear why you can't afford to leave the remote to gather germs.
All you need to do is wipe yours down weekly with an anti-bacterial wipe and you're set.
Fridge drawers
You probably give the shelves a good wipe whenever you clean the fridge, but don't forget about the drawers as well.
They can quickly fill up with nasty bacteria from old bits of food - but washing them in hot, soapy water in the sink will clean them up in a jiffy.
The washing machine
Germs can thrive in washing machines, especially if you're partial to a low-temperature or economy wash.
Keep yours clean by airing it frequently (by leaving the door open when not in use), using a washing machine cleaner every now and then and checking your drain filter regularly.
In between appliances
Don't just clean your appliances - make sure you clean the gaps between them where grime just loves to gather.
Get hold of a thin vacuum attachment or a long duster to clear the nastiness out of your kitchen crevasses.
Keyboards
We've all heard the disgusting stats before - your average keyboard is far filthier than the average public toilet.
So to save you from the bacteria, make sure you regularly wipe your keys down with a face wipe and use a folded-in-half piece of paper to scour the dirt from between the gaps.
Previously, we revealed the nine cleaning mistakes we're all making - and how to avoid them.
We also told how you've been cleaning your toilet wrong all along.
