Must-do Clean-ups: Where the Germs Are's featured image

Germs are everywhere, but research has shown that they like to hide – and multiply – in specific areas in your home. The professional residential cleaners from MOLLY MAID outline where germs can be found and how to get rid of them.

The Coffee Maker: The coffee maker is dark and damp and is a perfect spot for bacteria and mould to grow. Fill the coffee maker with vinegar and let it stand for 30 minutes. Run the cycle. Follow this with two or three cycles of water.

The Kitchen Stove: You are constantly touching parts of the stove with food-covered fingers and utensils during food preparation. It’s really important to keep things clean during the cooking process and after the cooking has been completed. Also, regularly remove all the buttons on the stove and soak them in hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Wipe surfaces whenever you are finished preparing food.

The Bathtub and Shower: Clean these areas with hot water, and disinfect regularly.

The Kitchen Sink: Clean a few times a week with hot water and soap without leaving any food behind. Disinfect regularly too with water and a bleach-based solution.

The Kitchen Sponge: The cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID recommend getting rid of sponges in the kitchen because they are a popular home for bacteria. Replace sponges with a microfibre cloth that you can wash in the washing machines.

The Kitchen Counter: This is a high traffic zone for food and cross contamination. Wash with hot soapy water after each use. Rinse with water containing a little bit of beach to disinfect.

Animal Food Dish: dogs and cats carry their share of germs. Wash their food bowls every day in the dishwasher or by hand with hot soapy water.

The Toothbrush Holder: Experts say that the toothbrush holder has the most germs of all. Put your toothbrush holder in the dishwasher or wash by hand in hot soapy water. Rinse and disinfect once or twice a week.