Where can I find hidden germs at home?

Here are some places you can find hidden germs:

On the spice rack. We don't think much about cleaning the outside of the spices used during cooking. However, how many times have you touched raw chicken and then grabbed the salt and pepper shaker to season? Without cleaning afterward, this is a recipe for disaster. Remember to wipe down routinely used spices after use.

In your sponges. The moist nooks and crannies of a wet sponge are a hotbed for germs and probably the most contaminated place in your house. We move sponges from surface to surface dragging everything inside to a new location. Replace old sponges monthly and put them in the microwave for a few minutes at the end of each day.

On anything with a handle. This may seem like a no-brainer but how many people clean their light switches? Take a walk from room to room and mark each handle you touch with a piece of tape. Then go back and clean that surface. That includes that handle on the refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove. If you have exercise equipment and stair rails, clean those surfaces as well.

On the arms of furniture. One of the first places you land at the end of a long day is in the comfy old chair in the den. Wipe down the arms and rails of dining room chairs and other frequently used un-upholstered furniture.

On shoes and paws. Swap your outside shoes at the doors for indoor slippers. This way you aren't tracking in dirt and pesticides from the lawn and street. If you have a pet that needs to go out, wipe down his paws before he comes back inside the house.