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Things you should be cleaning more often than you think

TOI Lifestyle Desk
| etimes.in | Last updated on - Apr 22, 2026, 08:14 IST
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Things you should be cleaning more often than you think



Cleaning the floors and sweeping visible dust seems to be a regular practice; however, some items may become germ collectors over time, which may result in worse hygiene. People seldom think about keeping such objects clean since they tend to use them regularly, making cleaning unnecessary at first glance. Nonetheless, these items need to be maintained and disinfected frequently to avoid hygiene problems and support good health. The following presentation lists 5 commonly ignored items, cleaning, which will ensure higher standards of hygiene.

2/6

Mobile phones and gadgets

One of the most used and ignored items when considering regular cleaning is a mobile phone, which is used by everybody nowadays. Since the phone is constantly used by holding, it is likely to accumulate many bacteria due to contact with various surfaces. This also applies to earphones, keyboards, and remote controllers since they can easily get contaminated when using the devices. Thus, it will be beneficial to wash them with disinfectant wipes occasionally.

3/6

Door handles and light switches

Door handles and light switches are items that everybody comes into contact with each day; nonetheless, people do not usually pay attention to them while cleaning. They can serve as an excellent breeding place for germs and spread them through households. However, it is possible to maintain hygiene by cleaning such areas regularly with disinfectants to prevent bacterial reproduction.

4/6

Kitchen sponges and dishcloths

The mentioned items are regularly in touch with water and food particles; hence, there is a high probability of bacteria accumulation in them. Using sponges again without cleaning leads to the spread of germs rather than their removal from dishes. Therefore, cleaning these items or changing them occasionally will help avoid any problems and promote cleanliness.

5/6

Pillow covers and bedsheets

Most people tend to wash bedsheets, but they forget to pay the same attention to pillow covers, which come into contact with the user's body all the time. Thus, they are likely to be full of sweat, oils, and dust, leading to hygiene problems and negatively affecting health. Cleaning covers more often than bedsheets will be helpful in this case to ensure comfortable sleeping conditions.

6/6

Reusable bags and water bottles

Reusing plastic bags and buying new ones is a good way of reducing pollution; however, reusable items require regular cleaning to keep them free from dirt. For example, reusable water bottles accumulate smells inside, whereas bags can accumulate germs due to carrying various products. In this case, washing these items with soap will help to maintain their hygiene and quality.

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