No matter where you live or what kind of home you have, it is important to give your residence a good clean every once in a while. Similar to personal hygiene, the cleanliness of home can affect your health. Along with the visual benefits of deep cleaning, this habit can also save you a lot of money. When it comes to cleaning, there are a few notable things to look out for.
See below for 4 things to look out for while you scrub.
1. Water Damage
It is common knowledge that water damage can lead to costly repairs. The best way to avoid these is to look for the warning signs. The most notable signs of damage are liquid patterned stains on walls or carpet and the peeling of paint or other variations of surface erosion.
Other physical signs of water damage include gaps between carpet and flooring, discoloration of flooring, and buckling of flooring.
The most notable locations to check for water damage include the kitchen, laundry room, roof, ceiling, and bathroom. All these areas should be thoroughly inspected when cleaning.
2. Mold
The ugly stepsister of water damage is mold. Mold is a bacteria that grows in consistently moist areas with very little airflow. Mold can present a serious health hazard to homes and should be dealt with at all costs.
Mold is a bacterial growth that looks furry in texture and grows in various colors like grey, blue, green, and black. Unfortunately, most homeowners end up smelling mold before they see it. Mold exudes a stagnant and consistent smell that no candle or spray can get rid of completely.
Unlike most bacteria, bleach will only treat the effects of mold and won’t rid you of it until you identify the source. Your best bet to treating mold and getting rid of it for good is to call in mold removal experts.
3. Dust Mites
Unfortunately, there is no way to entirely eliminate dust mites, but you can keep yourself separate from them. The key to dealing with these miniature nuisances is knowing when you need to clean. Whether it’s the collecting of dust on a surface or the discoloring of soft surfaces, it is important to clean often to keep these critters to a minimum.
Soft surfaces like beds, pillows, rugs, and furniture are the target areas to hit hard. For the bedroom, it is important to periodically wash all bedding to keep them away. For furniture and rugs, it is important to wash what you can and vacuum what you cannot regularly. These tasks are especially important for allergy sufferers as these mites and dust can severely worsen symptoms.
4. E. Coli and Salmonella
Most commonly found in the kitchen, these bacteria are harmful to anyone who comes into contact with them. The symptoms of ingestion of these hazardous diseases can range from severe diarrhea to near-death dehydration. On surfaces where you handle raw food, be diligent in disinfecting these areas after clearing away any mess.
When cleaning kitchens and other surfaces that you cook or eat on, it is important to wash your hands with warm water before putting anything in your mouth. Even leaning on a surface and then putting something in your mouth is enough to put you at risk of these germs. This is why it is vital to deep clean your kitchen and anything else you come into contact with.
Final Thoughts
While it can seem daunting to prevent all these harmful invaders, the key to maintaining a clean and healthy home is to deep-clean on occasion and pay attention to anything that seems out of the ordinary.
Remember, a clean home is a healthy home!