The Germiest Place In Your Kid's Bedroom You Forget To Clean
Many say the fastest way to a messy house is to have kids. If you have little ones, you know the truth of this statement and are likely picturing your kids' toys scattered across their bedroom and playroom floors, art supplies spilled everywhere, and clothes strewn over every surface. It may seem like a small miracle to get your kids to organize their things at the end of the day, but it's important that you go a step beyond tidying when it comes to cleaning their bedrooms.
Just like any other space in your home, the bedroom houses germs, dirt, mold, insects, and other unpleasant bits of grime and contaminants. Children's bedrooms are no exception, and, depending on how messy your kids are, their bedroom may be even dirtier than you think. If your main focus while cleaning is vacuuming, dusting, and organizing, you may accidentally overlook many of the items that are covered in disease-causing organisms.
In fact, FirstCry Parenting found that out of all the rooms tested in a home, the biggest culprit for hiding the most germs was the bedroom. Some of the surfaces ranking high on the germ list were the changing table (for obvious reasons!), board books, stuffed toys, plastic toys, and doorknobs. However, one more item is infamous for being the germiest place in your kid's bedroom.
The carpet is a breeding ground for all things gross
If you think that the carpet is the germiest place in your kid's bedroom, you are correct! When cleaning, it's typical for many people to pass a vacuum across the floor and carpet, but did you know that this isn't enough to keep it clean? According to Protech Carpet Care, the rug in your kid's bedroom is filled with the grossest microorganisms and particles you can imagine — even more so if shoes aren't taken off at the front door. Just think for a moment about all the dirt, animal feces, bacteria, and fungi that we carry around on the bottom of our shoes. Now think about all that on the carpet of your kid's bedroom. Gross, right?
Let's say you are a family that takes your shoes off before walking around the interior of your home. Does the carpet in your kid's bedroom have less dirt and germs? Perhaps, but not by too much. Due to the soft, woven fibers of a carpet, dirt and microorganisms are buried deep and are resistant to removal via vacuum alone. In fact, a carpet can accumulate around four times its weight in dirt while providing a cozy home for more bacteria than can be found on your toilet seat. If that wasn't enough, you can be sure that your carpet is the perfect breeding ground for mold if you live in more humid regions.
How can I keep the carpets in my kid's bedroom clean?
By now, you're probably thoroughly alarmed out by the state of the carpets in your kid's bedroom. So, what can you do about it? According to Windows Floors & Decor, there is plenty you can do to tackle the germs and grime in your rugs. When cleaning carpets in a child's play space or bedroom, you should avoid using harsh chemical products that can cause health issues, such as respiratory problems and skin irritation. The greener the product, the better. If you're up for it, you can even create a homemade carpet-cleaning solution from materials you likely already have on hand, including baking soda, cornstarch, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide (although not mixed all together.)
Vacuuming twice a week and keeping the carpet in your kid's bedroom dry are two of the main ways you can keep the germs and dirt away. About once every three months, you should consider doing a deeper clean with a carpet cleaning machine or a homemade product (via Real Homes). Carpet stains should be treated as they happen to remove them entirely. To freshen up a carpet in between deep cleans, sprinkle baking soda across the surface of the entire area and then apply a bit of water on top. Let the mixture dry before vacuuming.