Answer:
The kitchen sink.
INCORRECT!
(And don’t forget the sink strainer!)
A whopping 45% of kitchen sinks are teeming with bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, compared to just 27% of toothbrush holders. To keep your sink fresh and clean, wash it daily with soap and water and disinfect it with kitchen cleaner weekly.
CORRECT!
FRONT-DOOR KNOB
UNDER THE STOVE
KITCHEN SINK
TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER
What’s the dirtiest spot in most homes?
10 minutes.
You may think spritzing disinfectant is a quick fix to wipe out germs, but it actually takes up to 10 minutes. Make sure you get the surface visibly wet, then let the solution air-dry.
10 MINUTES
30 MINUTES
They work immediately
30 SECONDS
How long does it take most disinfectants to actually disinfect a surface?
Seven.
FOUR
SEVEN
ONE
TWO
In high-traffic areas, how many passes should you make with your vacuum to get your carpet clean?
Sadly, a single sweep isn’t going to pick up all the dirt, dog hair and debris that can get embedded in carpet fibers. That’s why experts recommend going over high-traffic (and extra-dirty) areas so many times.
All of the above.
In many homes, indoor air can be five times more polluted than the air outside, according to the US EPA. To breathe cleaner, keep your home well-ventilated: Open windows when the weather is nice and turn on bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans whenever you use the shower or stove. You should also regularly change or clean furnace and air conditioner filters, and consider getting an indoor air purifier with a HEPA filter to help remove allergens and pollutants.
Household cleaners
ALL OF THE ABOVE
Scented candles
NEW CARPETING
Which of these products can worsen the air quality inside your home?
Up to 10 million.
Imagine that in addition to sharing a bed with your snoring spouse, you’re also curled up next to millions of dust mites! Gross, right? To keep them under control, throw back your comforter every morning to let bedding air out (mites love moisture) and wash sheets in hot water weekly. You can also encase your mattress in an allergen-proof cover or vacuum the surface.
Up to 10 million
Dust mites don’t typically survive in a mattress
UP TO 10,000
Up to 1 million
How many dust mites can live in the average mattress?
Water-based wood floor cleaner.
Water-based wood floor cleaner. Oil soaps and ammonia can leave a residue, and dumping water on wood can cause it to warp. A nontoxic, water-based cleaner made especially for hardwood floors will keep them in good shape for years to come.
Oil soaps and ammonia can leave a residue, and dumping water on wood can cause it to warp. A nontoxic, water-based cleaner made especially for hardwood floors will keep them in good shape for years to come.
Plain water
Ammonia
Water-based wood floor cleaner
Oil soap
Which cleaning solution should you use on hardwood floors?
200,000 times
They may be made for cleaning, but your sponge is the filthiest item in your house, harboring bacteria, yeast and mold. (Ugh!) Wet it, then microwave it for two minutes every day to kill germs, and switch out your old sponge for a new one every two weeks.
trick question —your toilet seat is actually dirtier
10 times
50,000 times
How much dirtier is your kitchen sponge than your toilet seat?
After every 3 to 4 uses
Bath towels can become a magnet for bacteria, mildew and fungus, so wash them frequently on a hot-water cycle and use your dryer on high heat.
After every 5 to 6 uses
After every 7 to 8 uses
After every use
How often should you wash your bath towels?
You’re a neat freak!
7 to 8 right
We’re impressed. Give your mop, bucket and rubber gloves a day off—you’ve earned it.
You’re not too shabby.
4 to 6 right
You know how to wield a vacuum and you wipe down your counters regularly, but you may be overlooking less obvious dirt magnets in your home, like faucets, fridge door handles and the inside of your toothbrush cup. Time for a deep clean.
You’re kind of a mess.
0 to 3 right
Time to brush up on your cleaning skills. Remember, practice makes perfect!
