6 Items You Should Clean More Often Than You Do

Yes, the little sponge you use to clean your dishes and countertops harbors all sorts of critters—362 different species of bacteria.

According to a 2017 ​study in Scientific Report, researchers analyzed the microbial makeup of 28 used kitchen sponges and found species of disease-causing bacteria like Acinetobacter, Moraxella, and Chryseobacterium, among other pathogens.

Do you need to stop using sponges altogether? Not necessarily. Michigan State University offers the following tips to sanitize your sponge: Avoid using your sponge to clean up meat products. Instead, consider using paper towels and immediately tossing them in the trash.

Also, you can clean your sponge by soaking it in a combination of water and bleach for one minute, running it through the dishwasher on the hottest and longest setting, and microwaving it on high for one minute. Finally, swap out your used sponge for a clean one every one to two weeks to cut down on the bacterial load you might be wiping around your kitchen.

Like most people, you probably take your phone with you everywhere you go (including the bathroom) and don’t think twice about it. This creates a dynamic situation in which your phone can become a carrier of a variety of germs like E. coli, MRSA, and Streptococcus. Additionally, British researchers discovered one in six phones were contaminated with fecal matter. Doesn't sound too pleasant, does it?

While traditional sanitizing wipes can be harsh on your phone, the best disinfectant involves combining a little isopropyl alcohol (70 percent is preferred) with distilled water in a spray bottle. Shake the mixture up and spray it on a microfiber cloth. Next, wipe down your phone.

Additionally, you can purchase premade phone wipes at most electronic stores.

When you think about cleaning, it’s easy to overlook the tiny details in your home like door handles, knobs, and deadbolts. In any given day, your hands frequently touch these spots, and that presents another opportunity to spread viruses and bacteria around your environment.

Cleaning these areas is a simple fix—grab a disinfectant wipe and run it over the small areas you and your family come in contact with the most.

Unfortunately, your beloved, four-legged friend isn’t exempt from passing around germs that could potentially make you sick. In 2011, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) ranked pet bowls as number four and pet toys as number seven on the list of the most germ-filled places in your home. Pet products can harbor bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and more.

To clean your pet’s food and water bowls, wash them with warm soap and water each day and disinfect the bowls on a weekly basis by putting them in the dishwasher.

Additionally, since your pet is licking, chewing, and dragging toys around the house, it’s a good idea to throw those items in the wash every couple of weeks and use a non-toxic disinfectant to wipe down any toys that aren’t washable.

Researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder found the soap scum that accumulates on your shower curtain may be more than just an unattractive sight. In fact, vinyl shower curtains are a haven for disease-causing microbes like Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium, which can be dangerous for immunocompromised individuals.

To properly clean your shower curtain, try washing it in your washing machine on a gentle setting. If that doesn’t remove the unwanted soapy buildup, it might be time to buy a new shower curtain.

One British study showed more than 10 million bacteria reside on your toothbrush—that’s a higher number of microbes than what’s on a toilet seat!

Experts say your toothbrush is exposed to a tainted, aerosolized mist of water every time you flush the toilet, and droplets have been known to land as far away from the toilet as 10 feet. Inadvertently, you’re likely brushing your pearly whites with fecal matter and other pathogens.

But before you stop permanently brushing your teeth, know that most of these germs aren’t harmful to you, and the benefits of brushing your teeth outweigh the risks.

To decrease the prospect of developing bacteria on your toothbrush, close the lid on your toilet when you flush it. Also, rinse your toothbrush and let it air dry; placing it in a container while wet creates a welcoming environment for pathogens.

Finally, the American Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles on the brush become frayed.