Cleaning for a Healthier Home: Where Germs and Allergens Hide

Woman cleaning and disinfecting surfaces for a healthier home

Home may be where the heart is. Unfortunately, it's also where germs, dust mites, mold and mildew like to set up shop.

These tiny freeloaders move in even in the cleanest houses. They ride home from school on your kids' hands, hitch a ride on your purse, sneak in on the groceries and throw a party under the sink.

You'll never get rid of them all (and you don't need to). But you can keep them in check by focusing your cleaning where it counts. Cleaning for a healthier home isn't about scrubbing more; it's about scrubbing smarter.

The short version:

Clean and disinfect high-touch spots like doorknobs, switches and phones.
Wash bedding weekly in hot water to fight dust mites.
Keep damp areas dry to stop mold and mildew.
Vacuum weekly with a HEPA-filter vacuum.
Wash your hands. Often. (Yes, everyone.)

Where Germs Lurk: High-Touch Hot Spots

The germs that cause colds and stomach bugs love the things everybody touches. When you clean, give extra attention to:

Doorknobs and cabinet handles

Light switches

Phones, tablets and computer keyboards

TV and game remotes

Faucet handles and toilet flush levers

Refrigerator and microwave handles

Kids' toys

Many germs can survive on hard surfaces like plastic and metal for hours, and some for days. That's why a regular wipe-down matters, even when everyone's healthy.

How to Disinfect the Right Way

Here's a little secret most people miss: cleaning and disinfecting are two different steps.

Clean first. Wipe away dirt and grime with soap and water or an all-purpose cleaner. Disinfectants don't work well on dirty surfaces.
Then disinfect. Use a product labeled "disinfectant," and follow the label.
Let it sit. Here's the step almost everybody skips: the surface has to stay wet for the "contact time" listed on the label, often several minutes, for the disinfectant to actually kill germs. A quick spray-and-wipe mostly just moves them around.
Wipe dry with a paper towel or clean cloth.

As a habit, disinfect high-touch spots weekly. When someone in the house is sick, step it up to once a day until everyone's better. For stomach bugs, look for a disinfectant labeled effective against norovirus.

And never mix cleaning products, especially bleach with ammonia or vinegar. The fumes can be dangerous.

Cleaning for Sniffle-Free Sleep

Freshly made bed with clean sheets and pillows

Your cozy bed is also a cozy home for dust mites, microscopic critters that feed on dead skin flakes and are a common allergy and asthma trigger. (Sweet dreams!) They thrive in sheets, pillows, blankets, mattresses, carpets and curtains.

To keep them in check:

Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in the hottest water your sheets can handle, ideally at least 130°F, and dry them on high heat.

Wash blankets, comforters and pillows regularly, following their care labels.

Use allergen-proof covers. Zippered, dust mite-proof encasements for your mattress, box spring and pillows are one of the most effective steps you can take if someone in the house has allergies.

Vacuum weekly with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, so dust doesn't blow right back out the exhaust.

Damp-wipe or vacuum blinds and dust surfaces with a damp cloth. Dry dusting just sends allergens back into the air.

Keep clutter down in the bedroom. Fewer knickknacks means fewer places for dust to collect.

Mold and Mildew Patrol

Mold and mildew love damp, dark places: bathrooms, under sinks, around the washing machine, in humidifiers and near air conditioners.

Fix the moisture first. Repair leaks, and dry any wet areas within a day or two. Mold can't grow without moisture.

Ventilate. Run the bathroom fan during showers and for a while after, or crack a window.

Watch the humidity. Indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent helps keep mold and dust mites down. A dehumidifier can help in damp climates or basements.

Clean small patches promptly. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, then dry completely. For large areas, mold that keeps coming back or mold you suspect is inside walls, call a professional.

Clean your humidifier as often as the manufacturer recommends. A dirty humidifier can spray mold and bacteria right into the air.

Bathroom Germ-Busting Tips

Woman in rubber gloves cleaning a bathroom sink

Your bathroom is a germ playground: toilet, sink, faucets, floors and damp towels all welcome microscopic visitors. Make these part of your routine:

Disinfect the toilet, sink and faucet handles weekly (clean first, then disinfect, and respect that contact time).

Close the lid before you flush to keep spray from settling on nearby surfaces. Including your toothbrush.

Let toothbrushes air-dry upright, not touching each other. Skip the closed toothbrush covers; trapping a wet brush in a closed container can actually encourage bacteria to grow.

Swap out bath towels and washcloths every few days, and hang them spread out so they dry quickly. Here's how to wash towels so they stay fresh.

Clean the soap dish in the shower and by the sink regularly. (Or switch to liquid soap.)

Kitchen Germs and Food Safety

The kitchen is where germs from raw meat, poultry and eggs can spread to countertops, cutting boards, sponges and hands. The most important habit: wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.

For everything else, from safe cooking temperatures to sanitizing cutting boards and sponges, see my guide to kitchen safety tips for cooking.

Small Habits, Healthier Home

Shoes off at the door. They track in dirt, pesticides and allergens.

Wash hands when you come home, before eating and after using the bathroom.

Change your heating and cooling filter regularly.

Open the windows when the weather allows, to air things out.

Choose fragrance-free products if anyone in the house has allergies or asthma.

If someone in your family has asthma or serious allergies, talk with your doctor about which triggers matter most in your home.

Healthy Home FAQs

How often should I disinfect my home? Wipe down high-touch surfaces weekly, and daily when someone is sick.

What's the difference between cleaning and disinfecting? Cleaning removes dirt and some germs; disinfecting kills germs. Clean first, then disinfect, and leave the disinfectant on for the time listed on the label.

How do I get rid of dust mites? Wash bedding weekly in hot water, use allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers, vacuum with a HEPA filter and keep humidity down.

How do I prevent mold in my house? Fix leaks, dry wet areas quickly, ventilate bathrooms and keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent.

A Healthier Home in 15 Minutes a Day

Keeping germs and dust in check is a lot easier when you do a little every day instead of a lot once a month. My book The Daily Home Reset gives you a simple room-by-room routine that keeps your home clean and under control in just 15 minutes a day.