Tips to keep the house clean

There is an old saying: “Cleanliness is next to godliness”, and while most of us make the effort to keep our house clean, wash and do our laundry, there are certain items we tend to neglect – not out of laziness, but rather out of ignorance or simple forgetfulness. A list of items we all use or have in our homes that we tend to overlook when we clean are given below, along with recommendations on how to keep them fresh and bacteria-free! The Bathroom

Bath Mat No one s to step out of the shower / bath and onto a cold, slippery floor. This is why bath mats are so fantastic! The only problem is, they soak up all that water while lying on the floor – this slows down the evaporation process considerably, creating a perfect environment for bacteria and mold. What you need to do: Replace the bath mat at-least once a week, and launder it in hot water with bleach (unless the tag says otherwise). It’s also recommended to install a separate drying pole for the mat, to help it dry faster after you’ve finished your shower. Finally, consider disinfecting the floor each time you replace the mat.

Laundry Basket You throw all your dirty clothes into it, so it shouldn’t surprise you that some of that filth stays in the hamper. What you need to do: Use a laundry bag as lining for the hamper. One for dirty clothes, and another for clean ones (and wash the dirty bag with the clothes) If you’re using a plastic hamper, any disinfectant will do, just remember to avoid ones with potential to discolor, bleach. Toothbrushes Several studies show that when you flush the toilet, it can spray fecal bacteria into the air. If that’s not enough, if your toothbrush is kept in close proximity to the toilet, there’s a good chance some of that nasty bacteria will contaminate it. What you need to do: Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after use and let it dry completely. Replace your brush every three to four months. If you want to really wash the brush, you can put it in your dishwasher – it’s very effective. Towels The whole point of a shower is to be clean, but if you’re reusing damp towels – you’re probably getting yourself dirty again. When you towel yourself down, it doesn’t just remove the water from your skin, it also removes dead skin and bacteria, and if your towel isn’t dry – it becomes a bacteria nursery! What you need to do: Change your towels once a week and let them dry completely after every use. If your towel even has a hint of mildew smell, change it immediately.

Makeup and Makeup Brushes Wearing makeup shouldn’t make you sick, but current research indicates that it might. In a recent study, researchers discovered that after only 3 months of use, around 40% of mascara tubes were infested with bacteria and fungus. What you need to do: Replace old eye makeup every 3 months, lotions and liquid foundation should be thrown away every six months, and finally, lipstick and nail polish should be replaced every two years. Contact Lenses A recent study showed that as much as 80% of contact lens cases are contaminated with bacteria, even when the owners used non-wipe cleaners on the case. What you need to do: Wipe the case after every use and replace it every month. If you are using a hydrogen peroxide cleansing case, make sure you use fresh solution in the case for 24 hours before using it again. You might also want to consider using daily lenses instead of weekly / monthly ones. The Kitchen

Kitchen Buttons, Knobs, and Handles When you cook, you often touch things raw chicken and dirty bits of fruits and veggies when you prep them. Since most of us are not responsible enough to wash our hands each and every time, we tend to touch other things in the kitchen, transferring nasty bacteria onto knobs, handles, etc. What you need to do: Use a disinfectant on any frequently used kitchen surfaces, especially before and after preparing food. (Pro tip: make it easy by keeping disinfecting wet-wipes on the kitchen counter)

Sponges Sponges are a perfect habitat for bacteria – It’s porous, damp and dark, with the occasional food deliveries. What you need to do: Use antibacterial dish soap and sponges in your everyday use. Disinfect your sponge at least once a week by microwaving it on high for two minutes. (This method has been shown to kill 99 percent of bacteria!) Cutting Boards Most of your meal’s ingredients stop at the cutting board at one point, making it a hotbed for cross-contamination. Researchers still debate whether wooden or plastic boards are better: Plastic ones are easier to clean, but when they’ve been used for a while, it’s very hard to clean between the microscopic grooves. Wood sucks bacteria into its core, but it’s not sure if the bacteria ever resurfaces. What you need to do: Regularly wash plastic boards in the dishwasher or pour boiling water on them. You can microwave the wooden boards, but be careful as in some cases they can catch on fire. Allow your board to air-dry completely before storing it. Finally, make sure you replace heavily scored boards regularly. Coffee Makers While the antibacterial properties of coffee are known, coffee makers don’t share them. The water reservoir and the internal piping are dark and wet, providing an excellent environment for bacteria and fungi. What you need to do: Use equal amounts of water and white vinegar through the machine at least once a month. Let half the mixture run through the machine, then switch it off for an hour before letting it finish. Oh, and don’t forget to deep-clean the carafe! When You're On The Go

Headphones Whether they’re ear-buds or big ear-covering ones, using them for an hour causes the number of bacteria in the ears to triple (!) and many of those nasty bugs also migrate to the earphones. What you need to do: If you have detachable rubber nubbins (that’s the technical term) – you can soak them in a vinegar and water solution for 15 minutes then leave them in water for 10 more minutes before drying. If your earphones don’t have detachable nubbins, you can use a gentle mixture of soap and water on the plastic parts, then use a clean toothbrush to remove any lint from the grill. Phones Phones are downright filthy! Researchers state that as much as 1 in 6 phones is home for fecal bacteria! What you need to do: Switch off your phone and clean it with a disinfectant wipe about once a week. Keys House keys, office keys, car keys, mailbox keys… Keys, keys, keys! We all carry them around, but other than putting them in our pocket, do we even bother to clean them? What you need to do: Most keys are made from brass, which provides a degree of antibacterial protection. Still, give them a rinse with some dish soap from time to time – if anything, it will make them look better! Handbags Many women can’t go anywhere without their handbag, but a recent study shows that while essential – the handbag is also the third dirtiest thing a woman can touch all day! In 25 percent of bags tested, researchers found E. Coli bacteria! What you need to do: Regularly clean your bag and don’t put it on dirty surfaces ( the floor of a bathroom). Leather purses should be wiped with a disinfectant wipe every few days, washable ones should be put in the laundry once a week.

Shoes Shoes smell because of bacteria and fungus, while the soles have been shown to transport very nasty germs into clean homes. What you need to do: Use disinfectant spray for the inside parts, and consider not allowing shoes in the house, otherwise, there isn’t much else you can do. Gym Bag Gym equipment comes into contact with many people every day, and when you use that equipment, all manners of bacteria transfers to your hands and clothes. After a good shower, you throw your dirty clothes into the bag and that’s where the real party begins – humidity from the sweat saturates the dark insides, making the bag an ideal greenhouse for the germs you "collected"! What you need to do: Store your dirty clothes in a sealable plastic bag. Air out the bag between uses and use a disinfecting wipe on the interior. Wash it on the hottest setting once a week. Water Bottle It’s important to stay hydrated, that’s for sure – but bacteria E. Coli can stick to the inside of plastic bottles if they’re not cleaned regularly. A study recently showed that the water in bottles that aren’t cleaned properly are so dirty – are not fit for consumption! What you need to do: Bottles with a bigger mouth are easier to clean and dry and a bottle made of hard material won’t get scratched while being cleaned. Additionally, soak the bottle in a water and bleach solution once a week. Yoga Mats Often gym equipments, communal yoga mats become filthy. Wrestlers have been known to catch diseases staph infections, ringworms and even herpes. Doctors are warning that there is a rise in the spread of warts and athlete’s foot in yoga practitioners. What you need to do: Bring your own mat! Keep it clean by picking a side that will always face up. Invest in a towel to keep sweat off the mat itself. After every use, the mat should be wiped with disinfectant and hung so both sides can dry completely. Living Room

TV Remote One research into hygiene in hospitals found that the remote controls were three times dirtier than anything else in the room! Another research found that about half of the remotes were homes for antibiotic-resistant staph. What you need to do: Wipe down remote controls with disinfectant or antibacterial wipe regularly! In the Bedroom

Pillows Did you know that those soft, fluffy pillows hide a terrible secret? Many of them are homes for allergy-inflaming fungi! Let’s not forget all the drool, sweat and dead skin you pour onto those things in your sleep… What you need to do: Invest in anti-allergen covers and clean your pillows according to the instructions on the tag at least once every other week. Sheets If you thought that the pillows are pretty nasty, consider the fact that only your head lies on them. The rest of your body lies on the sheets, so the amounts of skin and sweat are much larger! What you need to do: Wash and dry your sheets on the hottest setting and if they’re white – bleach them! A wash with hot water and bleach also helps to clean and disinfect your washing machine! Source:Internet

Mistakes That Can Damage Your Computer

In the last 20 years, computers have become a necessity. People can spend hours in front of one at work, only to come back home and use their personal one, for which they paid a handsome sum. Sadly, many people unknowingly engage in actions that are harmful to their computer. A list of the 16 most common things we do incorrectly, and how to do them without possibly needing to get your computer fixed are furnished below:

1. Blocking the Computer’s Vents Trying to save space can often lead you to place your computer closely against the wall, desk, sofa, curtains, etc. The vents are vital in keeping the computer cool, and anything that blocks them may cause it to overheat. High temperatures damage the internal circuitry, so keeping the computer nice and cool by not blocking the vents should be a priority. 2. Deleting System Files When we use our computer, we sometimes clog the hard drive with pictures, movies, music, and other junk. When the hard drive is full, it works harder, making your computer sluggish. The problem arises when inexperienced users try to clear up space by deleting files they don’t know, and more often than not – they delete important system files. Deleting these files can render the computer inoperable, or prevent certain features from functioning (example: deleting system files related to the sound drive can disable your ability to listen to music, etc.) Don’t delete any files ending with.SYS,.DLL, or.EXE, in particular from these directories: Program Files, System32, Windows, Users. 3. Cleaning the Screen with Liquids When you want to clean your computer screen, you probably use a wet wipe or some basic cleaning detergent, but this may actually damage it. Any type of liquid can cause corrosion if it gets into the screen and detergents (even natural ones) may damage the special coating on the screen. The best way to clean a computer screen is by using a dry microfiber cloth, or the same kind of cloth you use to clean your eyeglasses. 4. Pushing the CD/DVD Tray to Close it Even I do this from time to time, instead of pushing the open/close button on the drive. You may think that these actions are the same, but when you apply force to the drive you can break the opening and closing mechanism. So next time you’re closing the drive – use the button.

5. Using the Same Password It may be easy to remember your password this way, but it also makes it easy for hackers and criminals to log into your private information, or worse. You wouldn’t want to use the same key for your home, car, and bank account. If you hate remembering passwords, simply get a password management program LastPass or LogMeOnce. 6. Not Restarting After Installing New Software When you install a new piece of software to the computer, some may ask you to restart it. You may feel that it’s a waste of time, but these requests are not mere whims by developers. Some applications need to start up with the computer to function properly, so using them without the initial restart can result in t hem not working properly (or at all). Even if you don’t have the patience for it, make it a habit to restart the computer when prompted to. 7. Browsing the Web without an Up-to-Date Antivirus This is a HUGE NO-NO! One of the most vital things you should have installed on your computer is an antivirus software. Browsing the internet exposes you to many malicious attacks from websites. Some try to collect data on you, some want to trick you into paying them, and some want to steal your identity. So make sure your computer has an antivirus software installed, and that it is updated. 8. Letting Pets Get Too Close to the Computer If you’re a pet-owner, you probably noticed that your pets to use your computer as a pillow. Who can blame them? It’s nice and warm. You may find it adorable, but it’s actually very bad for your computer. Shed fur finds its way into the computer and can block the vents, or jam internal fans, causing the computer to overheat. So keep your furry friends away from your computer, and have it cleaned at least once a year.

9. Installing Programs Automatically You may not to read the information in the various windows during a program installation, and many programs will offer to “save you the effort” and automatically install themselves. The problem arises when these programs install add-ons unwanted toolbars on your computer, which will, at best slow it down, and at worst steal your information. Next time you install anything, take a moment to read what’s going on instead of just clicking “OK”. 10. Opening the Computer Case When it’s Still Plugged In It is recommended that you clean your computer every few months, clearing dust, fur, etc. from the case. Some of us to do it themselves, but sometimes forget to unplug the computer from the power socket. While you may think that when the computer is off, it’s safe to touch the insides, but it is not. There still is a current running inside, and touching any electrified part may short-circuit the computer and damage it, or worse – electrocute you. 11. Putting Magnets on or near the Computer Regular hard drives use a magnetic system to store data. Unshielded cables can experience magnetic interference, resulting in loss or corruption of data. Older CRT computer screens (not the LCD or LED kind) are also very susceptible to magnetic interference. What all that means is that magnets are bad for computers, so keep them away from each other. 12. Exposing the Computer to Heat Exposing your computer to direct heat s such as sunlight or heaters can cause severe damage. Electronic devices such as computers produce heat, so adding more heat can cause plastic parts to melt, as well as soldering. So make sure that you keep your computer nice and cool.

13. Hitting the Case If you hear strange noises coming from inside the computer case, when the computer behaves sluggishly or when it stops reacting, many people feel that a good thump will fix the problem. Computers are full of delicate parts, and hitting them can cause these parts to become loose, disconnect cables, and even break important parts. Next time you feel hitting your computer, take a breath, switch it off, and let it rest for a minute before starting it up. If you hear strange noises, it can mean that something has gotten loose inside, so don’t wait and take it to a technician for a checkup. 14. Not Logging out of Your E-mail When You’re Done Once you’re done with your e-mails, you should log out from the service, even in a safe place your office or home. If you don’t log off, you risk having a stranger accessing your account, exposing all of your personal information. If you need another reason, remember that you can reset your passwords via your e-mail account, so someone with access to it can access your other accounts. 15. Using Force when Connecting a USB Device USB connections are great, they made connecting devices to your computer easy, using one type of connection. We use them for flash drives, charge smartphones, connect our keyboard and mouse, etc. The shape of the USB can sometimes be a of frustration when trying to connect it the wrong way. Even if you tried 2-3 times unsuccessfully, don’t jam it in by force – doing so can break the connector in your computer, and replacing it can cost a pretty penny.

16. Opening too Many Websites at Once When I go online, I sometimes end up with multiple internet browser windows or tabs open ( my e-mail, Facebook, YouTube, etc.) but this requires that the computer allocate more res to your various windows and tabs. The computer has a finite amount of res, and when it is encumbered, it will become slow and unresponsive. Make a habit of not opening more than a total of 9 windows or tabs at any given time. Your computer will thank you.