You Might Want To Think Twice
You probably don't spend much time wondering what is living on the objects you touch throughout the day, and honestly, that's probably for the best. Still, some of the most frequently handled things in your home, car, workplace, and public spaces can collect germs, oils, dust, food residue, and other unwanted debris surprisingly quickly. That doesn't mean you need to disinfect everything you see or worry about every surface you touch, because ordinary hygiene already goes a long way.
1. Your Smartphone
You carry your phone everywhere, which means that it’s frequently being handled and set down on surfaces throughout the day. Everything from your hand oils to skin flakes, food residue, and dirt can accumulate on your phone’s screen and body. Wiping your phone regularly with a product that's safe for its materials can keep one of your most frequently touched possessions considerably cleaner.
2. Your Computer Keyboard
Keyboards aren’t just coated with crumbs from your desk lunch. Skin oils, hair, dust, and even tiny bits of food can gather between the keys. Turning the keyboard off and cleaning it according to the manufacturer's recommendations can help remove the buildup you don't notice during everyday use.
3. Your TV Remote
The remote may spend most of its life on the couch, but it’s picked up by numerous hands all day long. Buttons and surfaces can attract oils from fingers, crumbs, dust, and anything else that might be on your hands after eating or handling dirty dishes. Spending 30 seconds wiping it down with an appropriate cleaner now and then is an easy chore that’s often neglected.
4. Door Handles
Door handles are used and touched so frequently that they’re probably the last thing on your mind while cleaning. Indoor door handles can attract skin oils and general dirt, while outdoor and commonly used doors see more hands than you’ll ever know. Frequent cleaning makes a lot of sense for door handles that get a lot of use in kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic rooms.
5. Light Switches
Light switches fall into that category of household objects you forget to clean until they actually look dirty. Touched numerous times a day, often by dirty hands, light switches can develop a thick layer of fingerprints. Thankfully, an appropriate cleaner and a lightly damp cloth can take care of most surfaces without too much effort.
6. Kitchen Cabinet Handles
Kitchen cabinet handles get a workout during food prep, from clean hands to flour-dusted fingers. Grease and food splatters can build up slowly over time, especially on handles near your stove or other food-preparation areas. Cleaning them occasionally can keep your kitchen smelling fresher without forcing you to scrub down the whole space.
7. Refrigerator Handle
You touch your refrigerator handle every time you grab something from the fridge, stash leftovers, or peek inside to see what you really want for the fourth time that night. Food prep is typically happening nearby, so your fridge handle can gather moisture, oils, and residue from your hands. Giving it a quick wipe now and then can help keep the handle cleaner.
8. Kitchen Faucet Handle
Faucet handles are easy to ignore since they’re right next to the source of running water. You may touch the handle before washing your hands, transferring whatever was already on your fingers onto the surface. Cleaning the handle regularly is especially helpful in kitchens where it gets used during raw-food preparation.
9. Your Toothbrush Handle
When it comes to bathroom cleaning, most people focus on toothbrush bristles. But the handle gets touched every time you brush, and water, toothpaste buildup, and residue from your hands collect there as well. Rinsing your toothbrush after use and keeping it stored in a way that allows it to dry properly can help keep the whole item cleaner.
10. Your Purse or Backpack
Bags and packs sit on floors, chairs, counters, car seats, and more before making their way back onto your person. The bottom of your bag can gather dust and dirt, while handles and straps are frequently handled by your hands. Cleaning your bag based on its material and refraining from placing it on dirty surfaces can make a big difference.
11. Reusable Water Bottle
Even if you only fill your water bottle with water, the lid, mouthpiece, straw, and seals can attract residue. Water that you forget to empty can pool in tiny spaces, making thorough cleaning even more important. Wash your water bottle and all removable parts often to help keep your drinking water habit healthy.
12. Car Steering Wheel
You constantly touch your steering wheel every time you drive, and probably before washing your hands. Skin oils, dust, food particles, and general dirt can accumulate over time, especially if you eat while driving. Using a steering wheel-friendly cleaner can help keep your wheel cleaner.
13. Elevator Buttons
Elevator buttons get a lot of traffic from strangers throughout the day, especially in high-rise apartment buildings, office towers, hotels, and other public spaces. You have no idea who last touched those buttons, so washing your hands after use is your best option. There's no need to panic about every button, but washing your hands before eating is still a good habit.
14. Shopping Cart Handles
Handles swap through more hands than you’ll ever know as shoppers bustle through supermarkets and other retail stores. They can also come into contact with food packaging, spills, and other substances during a shopping trip. Using a store-provided wipe when available and washing your hands after shopping can help reduce the amount of grime you carry home.
15. Gas Pump Handles
Gas pumps are public surfaces handled by strangers all day long. Handles and buttons pick up oils from skin, dirt, and germs. Since pumping gas isn’t always followed by handwashing, using a disposable glove can be a good precaution or wiping down your hands after fueling up.
16. Your House Keys
Keys usually reside in your pocket, bag, or hand, but they often get set down on various surfaces once you enter your home. Dirt, dust, and grime can also collect in the grooves and edges of your keys without being super noticeable. Giving your keys a good cleaning now and then can prevent dead skin and other residue from building up.
17. Headphones And Earbuds
Earbud and headphone surfaces come into contact with your skin, hair, and ears. Earbud users transfer oils and debris from around their ears as well. This buildup can be gross if you wear them during workouts or other activities that cause you to sweat.
18. Your Desk Drawer Handles
Desk drawer handles aren’t the first surfaces that come to mind when thinking about germs, but they are handled frequently throughout the day. Your hands may have food residue, dust, or grime on them when you reach for stationery, files, or desk supplies. Wiping them down when you’re cleaning your workspace won’t take long.
19. The Buttons On Your Microwave
Microwave buttons are often pressed while food is cooking or immediately after you handle food. Without realizing it, grease, sauce, crumbs, and fingerprints can get tracked all over those buttons. Buttons are electronic, so don’t soak them. Consult your microwave’s user manual and choose a method that’s appropriate for the buttons.
20. Your Computer Mouse
The same two hands likely use your mouse for hours each day. Your mouse can attract skin oils from your palms and hands, dust, and everyday dirt. Sides and scroll wheels can be easily missed when you’re wiping down your desk.
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