Whether you fancy an industrial minimalist approach or are planning your own personal HDB boho chic paradise, every home faces the same problem: dirt.
While many of our readers pride themselves in keeping the household pristine, we can’t help but wonder what happens if we let our guard down. That’s why we’ve written down a short list of what happens when you stop cleaning your house. Get your gloves ready, because this might get messy!
1. After 1 Day
You’d be surprised at how productive (or rather, reproductive) bacteria and germs are in ONE day. The two main areas of concern in this case would be the kitchen and the toilet.
It is advised to disinfect the kitchen sink and countertop everyday as it is a hotbed for bacterial growth. The main culprits here are E.Coli and Salmonella. In fact, the kitchen is found to harbour more bacteria and germs than anywhere else in the household (that includes the toilet)!
This means that used dishes should not be left to soak for too long (never soak them overnight). Likewise the sponge should also be properly disinfected and dried every few weeks depending on use. It also goes without saying that stovetops must be cleaned after cooking; imagine all the grease going rancid and sticky all over your kitchen!
2. After 1 Week
Your home can quickly turn into a health hazard by the end of one week of no cleaning. Households with pets and members who suffer from allergies are the most vulnerable group here.
The biggest contributor of dust is from people and pets; 70-80% of dust is comprised of dead skin. We shed 0.03 to 0.09g of skin every hour and unless your house is properly ventilated or equipped with good air purifiers, you are more likely to suffer from allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions are problematic as it weakens your immune system and makes you vulnerable to other diseases.
What’s more, by the end of one week, mold and mildew will start to develop in damp areas and unwashed towels. Your bed sheets become a hotbed for more dead skin and sweat. Most commonly touched surfaces (TV remotes, doorknobs, keyboards, and etc.) will be festering with bacteria and germs.
For a lot of these areas, a quick wipedown with a microfibre cloth would do wonders. For everything else, here are some easy tasks you can do that can save your health and time in the long run.
3. After 1 Month
First thing’s first, we hope you never go a month without cleaning your home. A month old unkempt house would look more like a menagerie of mildew, mold, grime, dust, and horrible odours than anything else.
Even if you do your due diligence in chores and household upkeep, there are a few things that you may be overlooking that need to be done on a monthly basis. For the sake of brevity, here’s a quick breakdown:
- Dishwashers
- Upholstery and Carpets
- Shower Curtains
- Air Filters
- Washing Machine
- Refrigerator
Just because a lot of these are machines that involve cleaning, that does not mean they should not be clean. In fact, dirty and unmaintained cleaning tools may do more harm than good to your house as mentioned in this article.
At the end of the day, it is quite evident that a little cleaning goes a long way! If you are not a health nut, think of it this way: small but frequent cleaning every other day would mean less intense sessions of cleaning in the long run.
Share the article with your friends and family if the tips sounds useful!
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