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The 4 Dirtiest Things in Your Home That You Use Every Day and Don’t Know It

"If left unattended, they pose a serious health hazard."

31 August, 2024

1. Shower Head

A showerhead is an essential fixture in any bathroom, used daily for bathing. Over time, the small holes in the showerhead can become clogged with built-up dirt and impurities, especially as the water flow can be a breeding ground for bacteria in a damp environment.

This not only affects water pressure but also contaminates the water supply. Bathing in water sprayed from such a showerhead can easily irritate the skin and even cause itching or allergic reactions.

Here’s a tip to clean your showerhead:

Prepare a bottle of citric acid descaler to clean the showerhead. It can quickly break down and remove dirt and also has disinfectant properties.

First, prepare some warm water and add the citric acid cleaner. Then, soak the detached showerhead in the solution for a few hours.

Next, remove the showerhead from the solution, and you’ll find that the dirt and impurities have disappeared. Moreover, the disinfectant properties of citric acid can eliminate bacteria, making your shower experience safer.

2. Washing Machine

A washing machine is a staple appliance in many households, freeing us from the chore of hand-washing clothes. However, as it cleans dirty laundry, some residue and grime can be left behind, creating an environment where bacteria and viruses thrive, especially with the added moisture.

Research shows that if the inside of a washing machine is not cleaned for six months, the number of bacteria can reach alarming levels. When washing clothes, the bacteria and grime will re-contaminate the laundry, resulting in dirtier clothes after each wash.

Tip for cleaning the inside of your washing machine:

Prepare some white vinegar and baking soda. White vinegar can help soften stains, disinfect, and improve cleaning efficiency. Baking soda is a natural cleaner with disinfectant, deodorizing, antibacterial, whitening, and stain-softening properties.

First, soak a cloth in white vinegar and place it in the washing machine. The acidic nature of vinegar can reach into nooks and crannies, softening stains and killing bacteria.

Then, add an appropriate amount of baking soda and select a wash cycle. Finally, drain the water, and your washing machine’s interior will be clean.

3. Refrigerator

A refrigerator is an essential appliance in every home, used to store food and keep it fresh. While many people focus on keeping the storage space clean, they often overlook the rubber gasket that seals the door.

Over time, in a damp environment, the gasket becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The black spots that appear on the gasket are not just dirt but mold. If left unattended, this mold will contaminate the food inside your fridge.

It’s important to know that mold produces aflatoxin, one of the most potent carcinogens, which poses a significant health risk.

Tip for cleaning the refrigerator gasket:

Prepare a mixture of alcohol and Coca-Cola. Alcohol has disinfectant properties, and the acidic nature of Coca-Cola can effectively dissolve mold.

Mix the alcohol and Coca-Cola in a 1:1 ratio and shake well. Use a gauze pad, cloth, or wet wipe dipped in this solution to carefully clean each corner of the gasket. You can also wrap a card in gauze to reach into the crevices more easily.

After wiping, the mold on the gasket will be gone. Finally, rinse with clean water to avoid any residue from the cleaning solution.

4. Moldy Cutting Board

Cutting boards are prone to mold and should be replaced annually. With constant exposure to moisture and food residue, cutting boards can develop aflatoxin, a carcinogenic chemical.

Despite the health risks, many people overlook this and continue using moldy cutting boards for years.

Tip for cleaning your cutting board:

First, sprinkle salt on the cutting board and rub vigorously to achieve basic disinfection. Then, apply baking soda to remove stains, followed by white vinegar to soften and completely disinfect the board.

Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water and air-dry.

In our daily lives, it’s important to maintain and clean the household items we frequently use. Only then can we truly enjoy the convenience they offer. It is recommended to regularly inspect and thoroughly clean these items to ensure your peace of mind.