As the country enters a third week of lockdown, people are making sure their homes are cleaner than ever as they spent more time inside in the fight against coronavirus.
While many will be scrubbing their sinks, sweeping the floors, and wiping anti-bacterial wipes across surfaces around their house, experts have revealed how germs could be hiding in areas that most people forget about.
Speaking to FEMAIL, cleaning expert and Laundryheap CEO Deyan Dimitrov shared his advice on the areas that are often missed during the daily cleaning routine.
Here he shares his top tips on keeping germs at bay, from replacing tea towels everyday to soaking oven gloves in water and vinegar to ward of bacteria.
ONLY USE TEA TOWELS FOR ONE DAY
Cleaning expert and Laundryheap CEO Deyan Dimitrov revealed to FEMAIL the areas that are generally forgotten about in the home, meaning germs can fester (including tea towels)
Deyan explained: ‘Whilst they appear pretty innocuous, tea towels are in fact a breeding ground for a number of harmful bacteria and viruses, including salmonella and E-coli.
‘The added concern of coronavirus brings means that we should now be replacing tea towels every day, so make sure you have plenty of spares to hand!
‘Likewise, the way tea towels are stored can make a huge difference in keeping your home safe.’
He advised: ‘Hang it up to dry after every use and never leave sitting on the counter, or stacked damply over one another. Doing so will only create the perfect conditions for bacteria to multiply.
‘And if you have a particularly dirty load, amp up your laundry routine by soaking the towels in warm water, a cup of white vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda. Then wash as normal.
SOAK OVEN GLOVES IN WATER AND VINEGAR
‘Similar to tea towels, oven gloves can be left to fester for far too long and should be washed and replaced regularly,’ Deyan explained.
‘Stains can be particularly stubborn on these, so try soaking them in warm water, a cup of white vinegar and dish soap (to loosen any grease!)
Deyan explained you should clean oven gloves by soaking them in warm water, a cup of white vinegar and dish soap
WASH YOUR PILLOWS AND THEIR CASES MORE OFTEN
Deyan explained that pillows are the most important thing to wash during coronavirus as they come into contact with your face.
‘Anyone else struggling to not touch their face throughout the day? Your efforts may be in vain if you’re sleeping on an unwashed pillowcase,’ he explained.
‘Now, more than ever, people should be washing their pillowcases more often than the rest of their bedding.
‘Luckily, they can be washed as normal, but if you’re looking for some added freshness, add half a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle. Lavender essential oils optional.
‘We also recommend regularly washing the actual pillows and duvets, as these tend to go under-washed.
‘The easiest option here is often dry cleaning or having them washed in an industrial machine, as most duvets won’t fit into standard machines.
PUT BAKING SODA ON YOUR RUGS
The cleaning expert explained: ‘I don’t blame you for neglecting this one for so long, but rugs can harbour a huge amount of dirt and bacteria.’
He added: ‘If it’s not washing machine safe (or practical), get your rugs picked up by a cleaning service or on-demand option which can handle bigger items.
‘These services also have the benefit of pick up and drop off capabilities, making it contactless.
‘If you’re more of a DIY person, freshen up your rugs by sprinkling some baking soda over the entire rug, wait for 30 minutes and vacuum as normal.
Deyan said you can freshen up your rugs by sprinkling some baking soda over the entire rug, wait for 30 minutes and vacuum as normal
SPRAY COATS AND JACKETS WITH VINEGAR
Deyan said: ‘Washing our hands repeatedly won’t be as effective if our clothing and surroundings remain dirty.
‘We often forget where our clothes have been as soon as we arrive home, so take care to change out of these as soon as possible – no matter how tired you are!’
He advised: ‘Coats and jackets should be hung up straight away, especially if they’re damp. Wash or dry clean them according to the garment label, and freshen up between washes with a special solution of equal parts water and white vinegar.
‘Simply pour into a spray bottle with a few optional drops of your favourite essential oils, and spritz away! Vinegar is naturally antibacterial, affordable and still widely available.
The cleaning expert advised removing clothing which had been worn outside the home as soon as possible, and hanging coats and jackets up