Let’s

Let’s start in the kitchen…

You know, most people think that bathrooms are the

dirtiest places in their homes. And, yeah, bathrooms can

get pretty gross.

BUT, because people believe they are the dirtiest spots,

they’re more likely to clean them more often.

The kitchen, on the other hand…well, let’s just say there

are lots of little nooks, crannies, and hiding spots for

germs that most of us don’t even notice let alone clean!

The DIRTY Dozen:

The 12 Dirtiest Places in Your Home

You Don’t Even THINK About

(and how to clean them IN NO TIME!)

THE BIG YUCK: Hey, you clean up your dirty dishes in the sink, so doesn’t

that mean that the sink gets clean, too? Well, not so much.

Think about it…we wash our dirty hands in the sink; we drain out dirty

dishwashing water; we may even defrost foods like chicken, fish, and beef,

all without wiping out the sink.

And FORGET about the faucet handles…they’re the worst. We have to touch

them WITH dirty hands in order to get those same hands clean!

THE SIMPLE FIX: Use a vinegar based cleaner or a scrub made from baking

soda and lemon juice. Spray and/or scrub and let it sit for up to a minute to

make sure the cleaner has time to do its thing. You can even use simple

disinfecting wipes for a quick daily fix. Just make sure to clean the faucet,

handles, drain, and any drain stoppers you use. Done!

BONUS: If you have to wipe out your sink every night, it means the dishes

have to get done, too…BUT NOT NECESSARILY BY YOU. Delegate dishes to

another member of the household so YOU can focus on managing the

household rather than getting bogged down in the details.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Find (or make!) an amazing natural cleaning spray in a

pretty bottle with a super cute label (so you can keep it on the countertop as

a reminder) with essential oils that just make you feel goooooood and use it

to spray and wipe your sink every night. Take a moment to enjoy the

aromatherapy (Hint: Lavender is very relaxing before bed).

#1 Kitchen sink

THE BIG YUCK: I invite you to run your hands over the back side of your

refrigerator, oven, and microwave handles. Feel anything sticky or bumpy?

Probably (especially if you have children!).

Most of us clean by sight, not by feel, so we forget about these hidden

hotspots…which is why they get and stay so dirty in most of our homes.

Check out your stove knobs…look all the way around them…see any food

splatters or oil splotches?

Now, scan the light switches and plates and door knobs throughout your

home. Notice dirt and grime and smudges? Of course! We touch these with

our hands all the time…they’re bound to get dirty.

THE SIMPLE FIX: Now, let’s get clean! Spray these areas with a good vinegar-

based cleaner, let it sit for a minute or two and wipe away. If you can, totally

remove your stove knobs and wash them in hot, soapy water AND wipe the

stove behind them.

BONUS: If you clean these hotspots regularly, they’ll not only sparkle, but

you’ll also notice an improvement in your family’s health during the cold and

flu season.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Chances are, if we like the LOOK of our spaces, we’ll

be more likely to keep them neat and tidy. Switch out mismatched, cracked,

or broken light switches and plates as well as outlets and outlet covers

(super inexpensive). You can do this yourself or hire a handyman/woman for

a couple of hours.

Also, place decorative towels on your oven handle, a pretty spoon rest on

top of your stove and clear away any clutter on your refrigerator. Now isn’t

that soooo much better?

#2 Stove knobs (really, any knobs and handles)

THE BIG YUCK: These are ROUGH! We cut all sorts of things on our cutting

boards, from fruits and veggies to meats and fish…which means bacteria

builds up AND it can be transferred from one food item to another.

Would anyone like a side of salmonella with their asparagus? Anyone?

THE SIMPLE FIX: If you can, only use cutting boards made from non-porous

materials or hardwood, like maple.

Use separate cutting boards for meats and fruits and veggies.

Wash them after each use in the dishwasher or by hand with hot, soapy

water.

Vinegar or lemon juice, when combined with salt, makes a great scrub for

wood cutting boards…just rinse with hot, soapy water.

BONUS: Having multiple clean cutting boards at your disposal means you’re

more likely to cook and eat at home, which is not only healthier, but also

keeps a little money in your pocket.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Cutting boards all jumbled up amongst your pots,

pans, and cookie sheets?

Use tension rods placed vertically in your cupboard to corral long, thin items

like cookie sheets, jellyroll pans, and, yes, cutting boards.

This will not only keep your cupboard organized, but it will also free up

space and make it much easier and faster to find just what you need.

Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#3 Cutting boards

THE BIG YUCK: You might clean the carafe from time to time, but did you

ever think about the water reservoir?

This is a total breeding ground for mold and yeast (warm, moist, etc…makes

sense, huh?).

THE SIMPLE FIX: Pretty gross? Yes. Easy fix? Absolutely!

A couple of times each month, let 2-4 cups of white vinegar (depending on

the size of your coffee maker) sit in the reservoir for 30 minutes before

running it through the coffee maker.

Then, run about 3 cycles of water through the machine…just keep it going

until the vinegar smell is gone. Done!

BONUS: Your coffee will taste SO MUCH BETTER!

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Transfer white vinegar from its ugly plastic container

to a much prettier blue, brown, green, or clear glass bottle (whatever works

best with your kitchen) with a cap or other closure (a growler would be

super cool!).

Set the bottle RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR COFFEE MAKER. That way, you’ll be

reminded to clean your coffee maker AND have something pretty to look at.

Image courtesy of John Kasawa/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#4 Coffee maker

THE BIG YUCK: A VERY happy home for all sorts of germs, like the cold virus.

THE SIMPLE FIX: Just wash your hands before and after a meal and wipe

down the salt and pepper shakers as you wipe down your dining table or

kitchen countertops.

BONUS: Come on! That was so simple. Truth is, you don’t really need to put

in much extra effort to have a tremendously cleaner home. It’s usually just

about awareness of what needs to be cleaned!

Think about what else you touch with your hands regularly (banisters,

steering wheel, alarm clock, radio knobs, etc).

Now that you are aware of everything you touch, you can easily incorporate

cleaning these items into your normal cleaning routine and experience a

MUCH cleaner home (and car!) with very little extra effort.

I don’t WANT you to clean for hours.

I want you to clean less and achieve better results.

NEAT is all about getting it done, letting it go, and living your life.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: I’ve found that I’m far more likely to clean the things

that I treasure rather than the things that I throw away. Ditch the disposable

grocery store salt and pepper shakers and find a refillable set that reflects

your personality…Crystal? Elephants? Cute little owls? You’ll be more likely

to keep them in good condition AND cut down on waste!

Image courtesy of Keerati / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#5 Salt and pepper shakers

Moving along…

Now that we’ve covered the kitchen, let’s take care of a

few other germy hotspots in your home.

THE BIG YUCK: Dirty mouth, damp and warm conditions,

sitting right next to a toilet that sprays up all sorts of ickiness

with every flush…yeah, toothbrushes are pretty nasty.

THE SIMPLE FIX: It may sound silly, but making sure you close your toilet lid

before flushing will go a long way towards keeping your toothbrush clean.

Also, leave your brush out to air dry and replace it often.

BONUS: How are you supposed to clean your teeth with a dirty toothbrush?

It just doesn’t make sense! Keep you toothbrush in good shape and your

mouth will thank you!

(Same goes for loofahs and bath puffs. These have a life span, folks, and

need to be switched out regularly before they develop bacteria and mold

and actually harm your skin rather than care for it).

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: As for the cup you store your toothbrush in by the

bathroom sink, some serious sludge starts to build up in there after awhile.

Wash the cup with your other dirty dishes at least once each week. That’s it!

(Oh, and you might want to think about switching out that plastic, fast food

bonus cup for something a little more decorative to store your toothbrush

in…again, if you love it, you’re more likely to care for it.)

Image courtesy of amenic181 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#6 Toothbrush (and its holder)

THE BIG YUCK: Your pet’s food and water dishes

can get crusty and slimy in no time and are a total

breeding ground for germs.

THE SIMPLE FIX: The good news is that you can get in the habit of treating

your pet’s dishes just like your family’s food dishes and either pop them in

the dishwasher or wash by hand every 2 or 3 days (or daily if that’s how your

mind gets in the habit of it).

BONUS: Think about it this way…would you eat off the same plate for

months without washing it?

Probably not. Number one, it would get super nasty and, number two, it

could make you sick!

Cleaning your pet’s dishes will go a long way towards keeping your pet

healthy and happy.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Two DISGUSTING words: PET TOYS!

Pet toys can get even nastier (and smellier!) than your pet’s food dishes.

Hard toys can be washed with hard soapy water and fabric toys can be

tossed in the washing machine once every few weeks.

Special note: if you notice that pieces are breaking off your pet’s hard toys

or the stuffing is coming out of fabric ones, toss them immediately. Your

pets can eat these bits and pieces and not only get sick but even suffer

serious internal damage. Best to be safe!

Image courtesy of James Barker / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#7 Pet stuff

THE BIG YUCK: One time, I forgot that I had tossed a load of clothes in the

washer and so….three days later, when I went to throw in a new load, I lifted

the lid and was hit in the face with the foulest smell EVER! Gross!

Truth is, though, these stinky germs usually start growing within 30 minutes,

so try your best NOT to let your wet laundry sit for too long.

THE SIMPLE FIX: If you do forget about your wet laundry, just run it through

another cycle and all should be well.

I also always keep the lid of my washing machine open so it doesn’t develop

a musty smell. Most doors for front-loading machines also need to be kept

open a crack to keep air circulating.

And from time to time, consider wiping down the inside of your washer with

a rag and vinegar based cleaner or even disinfecting wipes.

BONUS: I don’t know about you, but in my house, laundry is ALWAYS

happening. But keeping on top of your laundry by making sure it goes in the

dryer immediately means it will get done faster. Now, if you can just make

sure to fold it and put it away right away, you’ll be golden!

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: If your laundry area is exposed, consider hanging

curtains to cover the space while maintaining easy access to your machines.

It’s hard to keep the laundry area organized and seeing the mess constantly

is stressful and so NOT inspiring.

Who would want to keep on top of their laundry when it means constantly

engaging with a disaster area?

#8 Washing machine

THE BIG YUCK: The truth is, your keyboard can potentially harbor more

germs than a TOILET SEAT! Think about it, we’re touching it with our dirty

hands all day long, of course it’s filthy!

THE SIMPLE FIX: Shake out the crumbs or vacuum your keyboard and wipe

down the keys with a disinfecting wipe or cloth sprayed lightly with a

vinegar based cleaner (but nothing too wet).

In fact, wipes are perfect for the office because they allow you to easily wipe

down keyboards, desks, staplers, phones, and other stuff that gets germy

fast.

BONUS: Who can think in a messy, dirty space?!

A clean and tidy (and sanitary!) workspace is soooo much more conducive to

creativity, organization, brilliance, and productivity.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Now, I know this might seem difficult, but I promise it

will make a HUGE difference in your working life…

Put all papers, pens, and other small office supplies away at the end of your

work day.

It takes just a few seconds and makes you feel like you’ve accomplished a

ton that day. You’ll also start each new day fresh, with a clean slate rather

than lingering projects nagging at you.

Image courtesy of Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#9 Computer keyboard (and mouse)

THE BIG YUCK: EVERYBODY in the house touches the remote

and very few people think to wash their hands before clicking away.

THE SIMPLE FIX: Just like a keyboard, use a disinfecting wipe or a cloth

sprayed lightly with a vinegar based cleaner (nothing too wet) to wipe down

your remotes. Done!

BONUS: I’ve had a few issues with crumbs messing up the functioning of my

remotes.

Making sure the dust, dirt, and grime are wiped away regularly will keep

them clean AND working properly.

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Find a pretty basket to keep all your remotes in one,

handy spot.

There’s nothing worse than searching frantically for the remote and missing

the first five minutes of your favorite show.

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#10 Remote Control

THE BIG YUCK: (Super personal story…) I was having a horrible

break outs on my face for a period of months. I couldn’t figure

it out.

The break outs were only happening on one side of my face and it wasn’t

the side I sleep on and I’m not really a face toucher. So I changed up my

makeup and face washing routine, and nothing…I still struggled with the

break outs (many of which were quite painful!).

Then, one day, while I was talking on my phone with my sister, complaining

about my skin, I realized that I was breaking out on the side of my face

where I hold my phone!

I started wiping down my entire phone, including the screen, and my skin

started to clear up immediately.

I still cannot believe how dirty my phone must’ve been to do that to my

skin!

THE SIMPLE FIX: I find it’s easiest to just wipe down my cell phone when I

am using my toner after washing my face. I put some toner on a cotton ball,

use it on my face, and then just wipe down my phone. Not much moisture is

left on the cotton ball by that point, but if your cotton ball is soaked DO NOT

use it on your phone.

BONUS: Well, you won’t be embarrassed when people want to see pictures

of your kids on your phone and the screen is just nasty!

NOW MAKE IT NEAT: Save money where you can (so you can spend more

on what you WANT!). Check with your cell phone provider to see if a less

expensive plan would suit your usage needs. Then, either save the

difference or use the extra money to treat yourself every month.

Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#11 Cell phone

THE BIG YUCK: Where do you think all the germy stuff in your kitchens and

bathrooms and on your electronics comes from? YOU!

THE SIMPLE FIX: Experts say we should try to wash our hands multiple times

each day, 20-30 second each time, with hot, soapy water.

I think this is great advice, BUT…

BONUS AND MAKE IT NEAT: I also see an opportunity for some serious self-

love, here.

Find some super luxurious body wash, bubble bath, and bath salts, a couple

of delicious candles and a nice glass of wine and take your sweet time

getting clean.

You want to LIVE (but you need to clean). What better way to do both?!

NEATly Yours,

Nicole

Chief NEATnik

Image courtesy of winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

#12 YOU!!