Most people don’t find cleaning remotely interesting, but that’s because they hate it. But it might surprise you to know that is quite a lot of trivia related to domestic cleanliness out there.
If you can get excited about your household chores, your regular cleaning jobs might become a little easier to bear. OK, that might be pushing things a little, but there are some fun facts that might change the way you think about cleaning — and here are 10 of the most interesting.
1. Most people neglect the dirtiest place in the home
It will probably horrify you to discover that the dirtiest place in the home isn’t the toilet — it’s usually the kitchen sink. Sanitise yours once a day, otherwise you run the risk of causing a serious bout of food poisoning.
2. You’re never alone in bed
It doesn’t matter whether or not you share your bed with someone, you’re never alone. There are between 100,000 and 10 million dust mites living on the average mattress. This is why regularly steam cleaning it is vital.
3. Flushing a toilet can be bad for your health
Did you know that every time you flush your toilet, millions of bacteria are sent flying into the air? Many of these potentially harmful germs land on surfaces around the toilet, posing a health hazard. But there’s a simple solution — close the lid before you flush.
4. Silver doesn’t need expensive cleaning chemicals
If you have silverware in your home, don’t waste time and money on store-bought cleaning agents. Instead, smother it with some tomato ketchup, and polish clean with microfibre cloths and paper towels.
And if you don’t have ketchup, the inside of banana peel works just as well.
5. Walt Disney World creates a lot of laundry
Walt Disney World creates 285,000 pounds of laundry across its theme parks, water parks, hotels and resorts. To put this into some perspective, it would take you 44 years to get through that using your own washing machine once a day.
6. Cleaning chemicals pollute the air
Wherever you can, switch to natural cleaning agents such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. The air in some homes is 500 percent more toxic than the air outside — thanks to the overuse of toxic chemicals.
7. People didn’t like vacuum cleaners at first
When salespeople first started knocking on doors in an attempt to sell early vacuum cleaners, they were often insulted and abused. Householders of the early 20th century were often enraged at the suggestion their home was so dirty it required the help of modern technology. How times change!
8. Antibacterial sprays need time
Did you know that the average antibacterial spray needs between 30 seconds and a minute to kill bacteria? Every time you spray a surface, wait at least a minute before you wipe. Alternatively, steam clean the surface to kill around 99.9 percent of potentially harmful pathogens.
9. Most diseases are preventable with good hygiene
It might shock you to discover that three quarters of illnesses in the UK are caused by poor food hygiene practices. So, cook your food properly, wash your hands, check fridge temperatures regularly, sanitise kitchen surfaces after every use and avoid cross contamination.
10. Finland is the world’s cleanest country
According to the Environmental Performance Index, Finland is the cleanest country in the world. The Nordic nation has a reputation for low emissions, using a high proportion of renewable energy sources and exceptionally clean public spaces. Just behind in second place is Iceland, while Sweden and Denmark complete the top four. This part of the world has mastered the art of cleaning.
