Most Common Things We Aren’t Cleaning but Should

Over the past few years, you’ve become an expert on sanitizing and cleaning high traffic areas and highly touched surfaces. Unfortunately, there are still some areas we seem to forget to clean. 

Laptop bag/handbag

We take these bags everywhere with us and rarely clean them. Handbags often sit on the floor or are hung in a bathroom stall and pick up bacteria easily. To clean, empty the bag out completely, vacuum out the inside of the bag, then using hot soapy water, wipe down the interior and exterior of the bag. Make sure to completely dry out the bag before using it again. Don’t forget to wipe down all the contents with a damp microfibre cloth or sanitizing wipe before refilling the bag.

Keyboard/Remotes

Keyboards collect crumbs, dust, and hairs along with germs and sweat. Remote controls also collect germs and can be hard to clean. First, unplug, power-down, and remove any batteries before cleaning. Vacuum keyboards with a brush attachment, then wipe them down with a lint free cloth and rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol will clean and evaporate faster than water, making it safer to use. Do the same thing for remote controls.

Smartphone/tablet

Smartphones and tablets are used all the time and easily collect germs, dirt, and grime. To clean, first remove it from the case and then wipe the surface with a damp microfiber cloth. Safely wipe the screen with an alcohol free hand sanitizer, or for waterproof phones, gently wipe the screen with a soapy cloth. Silicone cases can be scrubbed clean with hot soapy water; however, you should check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for other types of cases.

Reusable grocery bags

It’s easy to forget our grocery bags need to be cleaned regularly. For cloth bags, hand wash in warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and hang to dry. Some reusable bags can be washed in the washing machine; however, putting them in the dry might cause shrinkage. For any bags with a plastic-like feel, wipe down with a soapy cloth, rinse the cloth, then wipe again. Alternatively, use a disinfectant wipe. Let all bags dry completely before using or putting away.