I have pretty bad allergies, so when I moved from a house that had hardwood floors and allergen reducing carpeting to an older apartment that had wall-to-wall carpeting, I was concerned. Prior to moving in, I made sure that the carpets were thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed. However, simply vacuuming and cleaning a carpet is not the end-all-be-all when it comes to preventing germs from intruding your living space. One of the biggest areas for germs to collect is the bathroom and the kitchen. If you are prone to getting allergies, it is of the utmost importance that you make sure your house, apartment or room is as clean as it can be. However, you don't want to use too many harsh chemicals (because that's not good either). There are plenty of things you can do to reduce the amount of germs that's spread around.

As you know, most common illnesses are caused by germs that are around us. While you can not eliminate 100 % of the germs that you will come into contact with, there are way that you can make your home healthier. So here are some quick and easy tips for making your home a less friendly environment for these illness breading house guests.

You might expect that one of the first places that you need to tackle in the fight for a germ "free" home is in the kitchen. But did you know that your cleaning may be making it worse? Things like cloth mops and sponges may actually be spreading more germs around your kitchen. And cloth mops are also a breeding ground for mold. To help cut down on the spread of these germs use paper towels and a mop with disposable heads or replaceable heads and be sure to change them frequently. When you do have to use a cloth mop or sponge, be sure to thoroughly clean it after each and every use by using antibacterial soap and soaking them in water hot enough to kill the germs, just be careful not to burn yourself in the process. Also, be sure to wash your hands, counter tops, and all utensils after preparing food, particularly raw meat, and use germ killing cleansers.

Your bathroom is another hot spot for germs; however they may not be coming from where you would think. One of the biggest breading grounds for germs in the bathroom is actually your tooth brush. Be sure that you replace it every 3 months, rinse it in hot water after use, and never share a toothbrush. Another danger for mold is your shower curtain. Be sure to keep this cleaned with cleanser specifically designed to kill mold and replace liners on a regular basis.

Other tips for around the house, be sure to take the trash out daily and to clean and disinfect around the trash can. Wash your hands on a regular basis, dust daily, and be sure to stay on top of dirty laundry to help keep your home a little less inviting for unwanted pests.