Now let’s explore three more surprisingly dirty spaces that could use a thorough spring cleaning!

What You’ll Need:

• Plain 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• All Purpose Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner
• Fragrance Free Liquid Castille Soap
• Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes
• White Vinegar (optional)

Now, let’s get this party started!

#4  Coffee Reservoir

Coffee reservoirs were found to have the second highest concentration of yeast and mold (dish rags had the highest).  I must say, that this one surprised me.  It makes sense that a coffee reservoir would harbor germs because it’s constantly dark and moist, but I didn’t realize just how nasty it really is.  When I think back on just how much coffee I drank from my former office’s free, but never-cleaned pot and brewer, I shudder.

While researching in preparation for writing this article, I did a bit of digging to see just what information is out there on the internet as it relates to cleaning a coffee pot.  Every single article I found only mentioned running vinegar through the brewer, which is woefully inadequate for disinfecting purposes.  Since vinegar is not very good at killing germs by itself, you’re going to need something with a little more oomph to get the job done (click here to read an article about an experiment that tested vinegar’s bactericidal properties).  However, when you use vinegar in combination with hydrogen peroxide, it creates a very powerful disinfectant.  But keep in mind that you cannot combine the two in the same bottle – you have to use one, and then the other.  The order of use doesn’t matter; you just can’t use them together at the exact same time.

Here’s how to use vinegar and peroxide to clean your coffee maker.  If you’re able, wash the reservoir out with hot soapy water (if not, then skip this step).  Next, fill the reservoir with half 3% peroxide, and half water.  Let it sit for about 30 minutes.  Run that peroxide solution through your coffee maker and discard.  You’ll probably notice that the water you’ve run through the machine fizzes and looks like seltzer water as the peroxide continues to kill germs.

Next, fill the coffee reservoir with half white distilled vinegar and half water, and run it through your coffee maker.  It is important to use distilled vinegar for this step because it will remove any mineral deposits in your maker in addition to working with the peroxide to disinfect.

Finally, run clean water through your coffee maker.  I did this about two times to make sure I got all of the vinegar and peroxide out of my machine.  But definitely make sure you don’t leave any peroxide behind.  Peroxide is a very strong oxidizer and can rust the internal metal parts of your coffee maker if it is left to sit for too long.  This is why I like to do the peroxide first, so that it’s sure to be cleared out with the vinegar and clean water passes.

#5  Kitchen Sink

Fortunately, the germ counts for kitchen sinks dropped by nearly half from the coffee reservoirs in the study.  But make no mistake, this area still needs a thorough cleaning!

To clean, wash the sink thoroughly to remove any food residue and generously spray it with 3% hydrogen peroxide.  Let it sit for about 30 seconds before rinsing. Pyoure’s hydrogen peroxide cleaners remove food and contain peroxide, so they are a great one-step alternative.

For under-mounted sinks, pay extra attention to the area where the sink meets the countertop (circled in the picture below):

This gap is an ideal place for bacteria to accumulate because its propensity to catch old food and moisture.  For this area I highly recommend gently scrubbing out the crud and old food with a dish brush, and then spraying 3%  peroxide in the crevice.  Let the peroxide sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing.  If I see the peroxide foaming excessively while sitting, that lets me know that there is a large amount of bacteria present and I usually repeat the application a couple of times.

#6  Pet Toys

Here’s another pet item that made it to the top 10 list: pet toys.  Since pets primarily play with their toys via their mouths and paws, you can totally see just how icky they can become after a while.

Interestingly, pet toys were found to have the highest overall concentrations of staph in the study.  Staph is a family of bacteria that cause all sorts of nasty diseases.  Although it does generally coexist peacefully on the skin of our pets and ourselves, if left unchecked, staph multiplies quickly and can wreak havoc on our bodies.  The bacteria themselves, in addition to the toxins they produce, can cause boils, food poisoning, abscesses, and toxic shock syndrome, just to name a few.

To safely disinfect your pet toy, wash the toy thoroughly in warm soapy water and rinse.  Next, let the toy soak in a solution of half 3% hydrogen peroxide and half water for 30 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Remove as much excess water as you can, and let the toy air dry. (Added bonus: this cleaning reduces dust mites on soft toys too!)

And we’ve made it through the top 6 dirtiest places in our home!  Stay tuned for the final four items to Spring Clean! How’s your cleaning coming along so far?  Let us know in the comments below!

In case you missed the link at the top, click HERE to learn how to clean the top 3 dirtiest places in your house.

Raven

Pyoure

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And with the entrance of spring comes the yearly ritual of spring cleaning, but if I’m being honest, I really don’t enjoy cleaning. Although the feeling of accomplishment I get after things are clean is absolutely wonderful and highly addicting, the process of cleaning is something that just doesn’t come easily to me. Add in there the fact that I can’t function in a dirty environment, and you’ll get a glimpse of the complicated and tormented relationship I have with cleaning. Because of this constant internal tension, I am always on the lookout for quick, efficient, and easy ways clean my house, especially for the heavy-duty type of cleaning required in the spring.

One of the things that helps me when I have a long cleaning to-do list is to start with and spend the most of my energy on the items that will make the biggest impact. Sometimes the things are easy, and sometimes they’re hard, but they’re always things that I will see the biggest difference when completed.

So I have applied this logic and created a 3-part series for Spring Cleaning the Top 10 filthiest places in the home. This list is based on the NSF’s 2011 study on the dirtiest places in the home. Keep in mind that this list is in descending order, so it begins with the places research has shown to be the most disgusting and germ-laden. Focusing on these areas will definitely give you the biggest impact to the overall cleanliness of your home.

How To Spring Clean The 10 Dirtiest Places In Your Home – Part 1

What You’ll Need:

• Plain 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• All Purpose Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner
• Fragrance Free Liquid Castille Soap
• Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes

Other Helpful Tips

If you see excessive bubbling and foaming when you soak items in hydrogen peroxide, it might be wise to continue soaking or washing that item in a fresh solution of peroxide. The bubbling means that the peroxide is working, but it also means that it is getting “used up”. Refreshing the solution ensures that there is plenty of peroxide to finish the job.

Now let’s hit these germs hard, shall we?

#1 Dish Sponges and Rags

In the NSF study, dish sponges and rags were found to have the overall highest household concentration of yeast, mold, staph, and coliforms.  Coliforms are particularly nasty because they’re part of a family of bacteria that include E. Coli and Salmonella.

Cleaning dish rags and sponges is ridiculously simple and easy.  First, make sure that all the food particles are gone.  It might be easiest to wash them in the washing machine, but hand washing will suffice.  Next, soak those bad boys overnight in straight 3% hydrogen peroxide, and rinse thoroughly in the morning.  You’ll probably notice your sponges and rags foam like crazy when immersed in the peroxide, especially if you don’t routinely clean your kitchen using the sponge or rag with a disinfectant.  But not to worry, the excessive foaming means that the peroxide is killing lots of germs!!!

#2 Toothbrush Holder

It’s no surprise that the toothbrush holder is second on the list of the germiest places in the home since the toothbrush is used to clean what is arguably the germiest place on our body – the mouth.  The mouth has been found to have around 615 different types of bacteria, some of which have been linked to ailments such as heart disease, kidney disease, and even arthritis.

Because oral health has been linked to our overall health, it’s extremely important to keep these germs in check by routinely cleaning not only the holder, but toothbrushes too.

To thoroughly clean the toothbrush holder, wash it first in hot soapy water to remove all of the gunk and debris that may be sitting in the bottom or collecting around the sides.  Next, fill it to the brim with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and let it sit for an hour.  Rinse it well and let it air dry.  I highly recommend doing this at least once a week.

To deep clean your toothbrush, hold it under running hot tap water for at least 30 seconds.  It’s important for the water to be as hot as you can get it, so be careful not to scald yourself during this step.  Next, fill a cup with enough 3% hydrogen peroxide that will completely immerse the toothbrush bristles.  Soak the toothbrush head down in the peroxide for at least an hour.  Since toothbrushes are notoriously filthy, you may want to consider increasing the peroxide strength if you have a stronger version available.

Next, rinse the toothbrush in your hottest tap water for about 20 seconds.  (If you increased the peroxide strength in the previous step, be sure to rinse thoroughly or you risk frying your gums next time you brush!)  Rinsing your toothbrush in super hot tap water not only washes away the dead bacteria, but it also helps the toothbrush to dry more quickly.  The faster your toothbrush dries, the fewer the opportunities bacteria will have to grow on and between the bristles.

For everyday maintenance, I highly recommend a holder that is less prone to collecting germs and aids in killing the multitude of pathogens that collect on toothbrushes.  UV toothbrush sanitizes are great at killing germs, and they do it in a way that doesn’t use dangerous chemicals.  Toothbrush sanitizes like this one are great because they automatically expose toothbrushes to the UV rays for the optimal amount of germ-killing time.  Plus, they keep toothbrushes protected from other bathroom sprays and germs.

#3 Pet Bowl

Next on the list of germiest places is the pet bowl.  In the NSF study, pet bowls were found to have the highest percentage of E. Coli present, than any other household surface.  No surprise here since pets routinely clean their bodies, including their paws and genitals, with their tongues, and then use those same tongues to eat and drink out of their bowls.  And if your pet bowls are anything like mine, no matter how often I change the water, there always seems to be a curious layer of slime resting at the bottom (yuck!).

To thoroughly clean your pet’s bowl, wash the bowl in hot soapy water, being careful to remove all traces of food and residue.  For this step I actually had to use a scouring pad to get all the crusted filth off the sides of my cats’ bowls.  So depending on how often you deep clean your pet’s bowl, this step may require a bit of elbow grease.  Next, fill the bowl to the brim with straight 3% hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for an hour.  Rinse it thoroughly and fill it with fresh water or food.

That wasn’t so bad, now was it?  Or maybe I’m the only one that needs a little self-encouragement!  LOL! Stay tuned for Part 2 of the series – you won’t believe what else is and is not on the list!

Raven

Pyoure

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When choosing the flooring for the bathroom I knew I wanted marble hexagon tiles but I didn’t think about how much grout would come with an entire bathroom full of 2″ hexagons (oops!). Luckily I found this great No Knees Floor Scrubber that helps me scrub the grout, without having to get on my hands and knees (hence the name).

It even has a narrow head at one end of the scrub brush, to make it easy to clean corners!

Once I scrub the grout, and make sure it’s clean, then I can steam clean the tiles to sanitize them and make them sparkle!

The other new thing I was worried about cleaning are the marble counters. We have marble countertops in our kitchen but they are honed, so I don’t have to worry as much about them scratching. The very first time I cleaned our new bathroom counters I put a scratch in them – yikes!!!

I knew right away I needed to find a more gentle sponge to clean them with, which is when I found the China & Glass Sponge. This sponge helps me clean the counters, and get all the grime off, without scratching them, which is a HUGE relief! Now I just have to train my eye to look everywhere except the scratched spot, which is hard to do!

In our old bathroom we had a tile shower but our new shower is over twice as big, which means it has over twice the tile and grout to clean. As I mentioned earlier I’m not a huge fan of scrubbing grout so I found this handy dandy scrub brush to help me clean it quickly and easily.

I chose white grout for the shower, because I thought it would look nice with the white tile, and I definitely want to keep it white, so I’m glad I have my handy scrubber to help me out!

The other thing we haven’t had, since our first house years ago, is a glass shower door! I love the way glass shower doors look, but I also know they can be hard to clean, if they aren’t taken care of. I’m all about saving time and doing less work, which is why I got a window squeegee to clean the glass after we shower.

Using a squeegee to get the water off after showers, will prevent us from having a problem with water spots later on. (If you already have water spots on your doors, click HERE to learn the best way to clean them).

All of these little tricks and new tools will help me keep my bathroom sparkly clean for years to come, which makes me happy because I never want this room to look dirty or dingy! And guess what, I’ve got a surprise for you! To celebrate me finding fun new cleaning tools (something I get giddy about) I’m giving away 3 full sets, of all these Libman cleaning products, to 3 of you!!! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win and good luck!!! I know you will love these products because they will make your life SO much easier!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is sponsored by Libman but all opinions are my own and all the cleaning results shown are real. I have included affiliate links in this post but if you purchase through them you will not pay a cent more than you would otherwise. Thank you for supporting Ask Anna!

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Well I have a very simple solution for how to get rid of it in between bathroom cleanings, or just in general if it doesn’t want to come off when you clean the sink.

Here’s what you need –

• Denture cleaner tablets
• Hot water
• Sponge or microfiber cloth (these are the ones I use)

Step 1

Run the water in the sink until it gets hot. Once the water turns hot, close the drain.

Step 2

Fill the sink with about 1 inch of hot water.

Step 3

Open the denture cleaning tablet and drop it in the sink. It will start to fizzle and turn blue or green, depending on the brand. Walk away and let it do it’s thing.

Step 4

After about 15 minutes check back to see if the fizzing has stopped and the water is more of a clear color. If it’s still bright blue or green that means it’s still working so check back in about 10 more minutes.

Once the fizzing stops and the water color fades, drain the sink. Rinse it with cool water and wipe the sink clean with either a sponge or a microfiber cloth.

That’s all you do! Who knew that cleaning the gunk around the drain could be as easy as just dropping a tablet in some hot water? This is also a great trick to use when you have guests coming over and you want to quickly clean your bathroom sinks! Do you have any fun cleaning hacks to share? I’d love to hear them!

To see what else I clean with denture cleaning tablets, click HERE.

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Everybody has their own ways of cleaning. I have noticed that people have different ideas of clean. And I have really noticed this as I have looked around the internet (Hello, Pinterest!) to find solutions to household cleaning questions. I often run into “solutions” that just don’t work for my housekeeping problem.

My latest problem was our spotty soap scum, streaky, hard water stained glass shower. You might not have noticed it immediately upon stepping into my bathroom, but I hated how spotty my glass shower was, and how the buildup made it look so gross.

Mind you, it was really upon close inspection, that you would have noticed my clear problem. And so I went to the internet to solve all my household problems. What I wanted was “like-new” shower glass, what I got, was not! And I tried a LOT of cleaners and solutions, like white vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, bleach, etc., but none of them touched my grime!

And then my nerd cleaning buddy, Gil (a car glass repairman) and I were talking cleaning one day, and he gave me a discourse (seriously!) on the best products for cleaning glass. I was overwhelmed by his expertise! And the next time I was at his house, he showed me just one of the products and I was SOLD that this was the actual solution to my hard water spots and spotty shower glass doors, and of course, I have to share with you!

The EASY way to clean glass shower doors

Materials needed:

• Spot-X Hard Water Stain Remover (This is no longer available on Amazon, so if you can’t find it, I would recommend using Bar Keepers Friend instead)
• White Scotch-Brite scouring pads (you will not find these in the cleaning section of a typical store, they are unique, this will also be a lifetime supply for you!)
• A quality microfiber cloth

Tutorial:

Here’s the real-deal, almost no work involved, way to clean glass shower doors and leave them spotless and sparkling.

Step 1: Create a Paste

Dampen (not too wet!) the white Scotch-Brite pad and sprinkle a little bit of the powdered stain remover onto the surface of the pad. Rub this together to create a paste mixture.

Step 2: Scrub

Use the white Scotch-Brite to scrub the surface of the glass. You can wipe up and down, across, circular, whatever! This is not an abrasive product, so it will not scratch your glass. (Yay!) You may need to use a little bit of elbow grease on really set in hard water stains, but the product and the scrubber do most of the work for you.

Step 3: Rinse with water

After I have completed a section of glass (working from top to bottom), I rinse out the scrubber and rinse the surface of the glass with water.  You can do this with the scrubber or using the handheld sprayer on your shower.

Step 4: Dry

Go over the surface of the glass with a clean, dry microfiber cloth (or other non-linting cloth) to dry it.  I like to use a simple up/down, side to side method to keep streaks at bay.

THAT’S IT!

This process is really, really easy and it WORKS!  Here are a couple of things to consider as you do this: make sure to clean both sides of the glass and ALWAYS, always use a squeegee as part of your daily maintenance. It’s also a good idea, after each shower use, to spray your shower down to rinse off the residue of the things that eventually lead to all that build up, like body wash, cleanser, bar soap residue, etc.

If you are interested in an even nerdier product and process to keep the problem of water spots at bay for a longer time (or FOREVER!), check out my post about how we are keeping our new shower glass spotless from day one.

This is such a great way to clean glass shower doors without using harsh chemicals or a daily shower spray! To see how to clean your shower door tracks, CLICK HERE to see how I clean window tracks with white vinegar.

Leah

Simple.Home.Blessing

UPDATE:

A friend of mine used this post to clean her shower doors and the results were so great that I had to show you so you know this trick really works. Here’s what she said in her Facebook post –

“I’ve never posted about a cleaning product before, but this stuff was so awesome I’m sold! Thank you Anna Moseley for the amazing blog about cleaning glass shower doors! We have very hard water, and even though it’s treated, it made my shower doors look awful- despite frequent cleaning and scrubbing. I had tried 4 different products this past year and NOTHING worked. Below are some before and after photos. If you have glass shower doors, read this blog.

When you try this out and are also shocked by the transformation, post about it and tag me, I’d love to see your results too!

If you’d like to see another tutorial for cleaning glass shower doors, CLICK HERE. This tutorial uses nothing but some pantyhose and a Magic Eraser!

Did you know this is one of my most popular posts!? To see more of the posts people love click on the titles below:

• How to Clean Between the Oven Glass
• How to Get rid of HE Washing Machine Smell
• How to Wash Pillows in a Front Loading Washing Machine
• How to Clean Baked on Grease off Pots and Pans
• How to Clean Oven Glass so it looks Brand New
• How to get Nail Polish off Wood Floors
• How to Clean your Dyson
• How to Clean Cloudy Glass
• How to Wash a Baseball Cap
• DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent and WHY it works so well

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