Like millions of Americans, you’ve likely spent countless hours decorating your home, situating furniture and decor just so, and cleaning. It’s the place where you feel the most comfortable, where you can go after a long day at work and unwind while you spend time with your family.

No matter how clean and organized your home looks at a glance, there could be things beneath the surface that are making you or your family member sick. Many of them are common household items or places that you might not even think about on cleaning day, so it’s important to know the risks and how to keep them from causing illness. Here are some of the best tips on keeping your home safe and clean, and what to look for when you move into a new home.

Check that fridge

You might wipe down the shelves in your refrigerator regularly, but if you aren’t cleaning all the nooks and crannies you might be missing serious amounts of bacteria or mold. Take a bit of time every week or two to clean out the drawers, wipe down the shelves and cubbies, and remove the water trays from your freezer for a dip in hot soapy water. Those, especially, can become pretty nasty after collecting water and small crumbs or food particles. In addition, keep a box of baking soda in the fridge, or better yet, spring for a fridge deodorizer. 

Clean that carpet

No matter how often you vacuum, there are bound to be dust mites, pet dander, and other debris inside the fibers. Have your carpet steam-cleaned a few times a year, or consider pulling it up altogether and replacing it with laminate, which is much more healthy in households where asthma or other lung issues are present. You can also use a mix of baking soda and essential oils to create a natural carpet deodorizer and air freshener. 

Get that bathroom in shape

The bathroom is one of the easiest rooms to attract grime and bacteria — especially if you have kids — so it’s important to make sure each area is taken care of. The toilet and sink are the most common issues where cleaning is concerned, but don’t forget about the faucet, which attracts germs, and the bath mat, which can grow mold and bacteria on the underside. Stand in the shower and dry off as much as you can before stepping out onto it, and hang it over the shower rod to air dry after each use. You can also turn on the fan while showering so steam won’t build up and create moist, mold-making conditions. Take the shower curtain liner out once every few months and throw it in the washing machine to help remove soap scum and mold. 

Consider using more environmentally-friendly cleaners you can make at home with essential oils, vinegar, and baking soda. Homemade cleaners with essential oils, such as oregano, have been found to work great for long-term disinfecting without harsh chemical additives. 

Change those filters

Taking good care of the filters for your furnace or A/C system will ensure that they keep all the bad stuff in without spewing it back into your home. Once a filter gets too full, not only is there a risk that pet dander, dust, and debris will be funneled back into the clean air, it also means your system will be working overtime to keep up with the demand. Your family will be breathing in all sorts of yuck and your utility bills will skyrocket.

Wash your sheets

Washing your sheets regularly will keep dust mites from crawling into bed with you and leaving behind germs that can cause flu-like symptoms or a cold. It will also help if your bedroom isn’t closed up, because those mites love a warm, moist environment. On nice days, open up the windows and air things out. Mattress covers are a great way to limit dust mite allergens, but be sure to wash these regularly, too. Mist your linens and mattress with cedarwood essential oil to limit dust mites and ward off bed bugs. 

While essential oils are a great weapon to have in your cleaning arsenal, when used with a diffuser throughout the home, they can also help limit germs and a variety of allergens. Not to mention that they can make your house smell wonderful. 

Incorporating these small changes and more natural cleaners into your routine can make a world of difference in the health of your home and family. 

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