ON THE COVER Your Home’s Hidden Health Hazards

Clean up your act in simple steps – and feel better!

Coffee makers can harbour mould and bacteria, so a regular deep clean is a must. Brew equal amounts of white vinegar and water until half the liquid has evaporated. Switch off and allow to cool before brewing for another 30 minutes. Replace the filter and brew two pots of fresh water before making coffee.

Blast away bugs from the kitchen floor, worktops and tiled walls with a steam cleaner. “Using a steam cleaner kills 99.99% of bacteria,” says David Ayers of Kärcher UK. You can also steam clean your microwave by heating a microwave-safe bowl of water containing two wedges of lemon for three minutes.

After scrubbing the kitchen sink with antibacterial cleaner, freshen and degrease waste pipes by pouring half a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar and then boiling water, down plugholes.

Begin by giving the welcome mat at your front door a really good shake outside to banish any deep-buried particles. Next, wipe all door handles with an antibacterial spray. Handles are one of the most frequently touched surfaces in every home and can provide a resting place for E. coli, staphylococcus aurea, which can cause everything from spots to pneumonia, and fungal infections.

It’s also worth introducing a no-shoes policy to help prevent dirt and bacteria from the street being tramped all through your home on the soles of outdoor footwear.

High humidity levels increase the risk of infection from airborne viruses and bacteria. If your bathroom suffers from excess moisture – warnings signs include damp, mould, rotting wood and peeling paint – open the window and consider investing in a dehumidifier.

“Once humidity levels in the home are brought down to below 60%, micro-organisms struggle to survive,” says Sally Fok of WWW C AIR C K.

A steam cleaner’s good for getting into a toilet’s nooks and crannies, but an old toothbrush and a mix of water and white vinegar (or bleach) will also ensure your loo’s lovely!

Keep your own toothbrush well away from the toilet, ideally in a bathroom cabinet or special covered toothbrush holder to keep it away from the germs that waft around the bathroom.

To reduce the risk of bacteria-rich mould, remove excess moisture from areas such as wardrobes, room corners and windowsills with condensation crystals (Fragranced Moisture Trap, £6.79, Lakeland).

Ensure your bed linen is as clean as possible by washing weekly at 60°C. “If possible, dry sheets outside as sunlight disinfects bedding,” advises Angie Tang of Laundrapp. “And ironing sheets ensures any surviving dust mites or germs are killed.”

It’s important to vacuum mattresses at least twice a year. As well as providing a home to dust mites, research by Dreams found a mattress can accumulate 10lb of dead skin in its recommended eight-year life span, to say nothing of the bacteria and even fleas which can be left by pets.

To remove as much grime from your carpets as possible, take it easy when vacuuming. “Vacuum up and down and side to side,” stresses Annabel Waite of Shark® cleaning solutions. “And really slow down when cleaning areas which attract the most mess.”

Cleaning experts Bissell recommend washing carpets twice a year. “Unwashed carpets can increase the risk of asthma, eczema and perennial allergic rhinitis, which causes sneezing, itching and a blocked or runny nose,” explains hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley.

And to purify the air, add a cactus. “Cacti are great for eliminating bacteria and tackling pollution,” said a spokesperson from Haskins Garden Centre.