Clean freaks and germ dodgers should look away now because this article makes grim reading for anyone who takes pride in the cleanliness of their home.
Whether it’s a daily whizz round with the vacuum cleaner or a weekly deep clean, most of us like to think of our homes as clean and safe from harm.
However, recent research from Churchill Home Insurance shows that things are not quite as they seem.
The research
To uncover the truth about how clean our homes are, Churchill Home Insurance commissioned a laboratory to analyse swabs from toilet seats, kitchen surfaces, bed sheets, kitchen light switches, the TV remote and computer keyboards. The results aren’t pretty.
The top three filthiest offenders
Kitchen surfaces
While nearly half (46%) of us believe kitchen surfaces are the cleanest part of the home, the research has proved us wrong.
According to the survey, kitchen surfaces, on average, host more bacteria than anywhere else in the home, even the toilet seat.
If that’s enough to put you off your dinner, the next shock statistic might make you think twice before you relax and unwind in your living room.
TV remotes
According to the survey, the average TV remote hosts 15 times more Enterobacter (found in faeces) than the average toilet, making the humble remote the household hotspot for this type of bacteria.
With a quarter (25%) of us admitting that we never bother to clean our TV remote, it could be time to get those anti-bacterial wipes out.
Bed sheets
At least we can take solace in the comfort of our beds, right? Wrong. The survey also revealed that our bedsheets are the second most bacteria-filled area of our homes.
That’s even though 61% of respondents said they washed their bedsheets every two weeks, with a further 29% washing them once a week. It seems that these bacteria are tougher than many of us may have thought.
Where are the bacteria hotspots in the home?
| Surface tested | Streptococcus | Enterobacter | Yeast / Mould |
| Kitchen surfaces | Very high | Very high | Very high |
| Bed sheets | Very high | Moderate | Moderate |
| TV remote | Low | Very high | Moderate |
| Toilet seat | Moderate | Low | High |
| Kitchen light switch | Low | Moderate | Very high |
| Laptop/computer keyboard | Moderate | High | High |
Table showing bacteria, yeast and mould counts in the home. Source: Churchill Insuance 2024
How can we keep our homes clean?
One in 10 of us claim we’re ‘fanatical’ about keeping our homes clean, but the research shows there’s clearly more to be done.
Sarah Khan, Churchill’s Head of Home Insurance, explains, “Our research shows that people can’t be complacent when it comes to cleaning the home. Even the areas people wipe down most often, such as kitchen countertops, can harbour huge amounts of bacteria. Making sure you’re using the right products, along with clean cloths, and being thorough is vital to reducing health risks.”
So how can you stay on top of things? Start by following these simple habits of people with clean homes:
- Make the bed every morning – it sets you up for success.
- Give everything a home – this helps prevent clutter and makes it easy to find things.
- Keep on top of laundry – little and often will prevent things from getting out of hand.
- Don’t procrastinate over pots and pans - soak them in hot, soapy water instead.
- Tidy as you go – a little effort now, means there’ll be less left to do later!
What else can you do to protect your property?
Speaking of looking after our homes, cleaning isn’t the only thing you can do to protect your property. Home insurance is another essential tool that can provide support and guidance if things go wrong. Check out Churchill Home Insurance to find out more.
