In a home, some objects give the impression of being spotless. Yet, behind their clean appearance, dust, bacteria, and invisible residues can sometimes lurk. Handled daily, these everyday items can become veritable breeding grounds for germs\u2026 especially when they slip under the radar of cleaning.<\/p>\n
If you had to name the most microbial-laden object in a house, the kitchen sponge would very often come out on top. A study published in 2017 in the scientific journal Scientific Reports<\/a> showed that these small everyday items can contain up to 54 billion bacterial cells per cubic centimeter. Yes, you read that right.<\/p>\n Researchers identified over a hundred different bacterial species in the sponges they studied. The explanation is simple: constant humidity, food scraps, and room temperature create an ideal environment for microbial growth. This doesn't mean your kitchen is a worrying laboratory, but replacing the sponge weekly or disinfecting it regularly (for example, in the microwave or in very hot water) can make all the difference.<\/p>\n Right next to the sponge, kitchen towels also deserve your attention. Used for drying hands, dishes, or sometimes the worktop, they easily accumulate bacteria and food residue. Some studies have shown that they can harbor bacteria such as coliforms or even salmonella if they are not washed often enough. The best practice is to wash them at a high temperature, around 60\u00b0C. This simple step allows you to start fresh with a clean and healthy base.<\/p>\n Another category of objects that appear clean but live a very different reality: remote controls, keyboards, and smartphones. These devices are passed from hand to hand throughout the day. As a result, they accumulate crumbs, fingerprints, dust, sweat, and bacteria.<\/p>\n Studies even show that some phones can harbor up to ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat. This puts the glossy appearance of your screen into perspective. A quick cleaning once a week with a slightly alcohol-soaked cloth or a cotton swab for hard-to-reach areas can be enough to limit buildup.<\/p>\n In the category of frequently touched but rarely cleaned objects, door handles, light switches, and faucets easily take the prize. You handle them dozens of times every day, sometimes with slightly damp hands or after cooking. Yet, they aren't always on the list of surfaces to clean.<\/p>\n Refrigerator and microwave handles are particularly affected, as they are frequently used during meal preparation. A cloth dampened with diluted white vinegar allows for quick cleaning, leaving a shiny surface.<\/p>\n The bathroom is no exception. Toothbrushes and their holders can also accumulate limescale, moisture, and toothpaste residue. After use, a toothbrush can harbor millions of bacteria. Nothing alarming, but a few simple steps can limit their presence: let it air dry completely and replace it regularly. Pillows, meanwhile, accumulate skin cells, dust, and dust mites over time. Changing pillowcases frequently and replacing pillows occasionally helps maintain a healthier environment.<\/p>\n The good news is that you don't need to turn your home into a sterile laboratory. Houses are living spaces, just like the people who live in them. The goal isn't "perfection," but targeted cleaning of the most frequently handled items. A quick weekly cleaning of these areas can significantly reduce the accumulation of invisible dirt.<\/p>\n In short: a few simple steps are all it takes to keep your home pleasant, without guilt or an obsession with cleaning. Because a welcoming home, like the people who live in it, deserves above all kindness and balance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a home, some objects give the impression of being spotless. Yet, behind their clean appearance, dust, bacteria,...","protected":false},"author":8264,"featured_media":436833,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64229],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-436756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-deco-maison"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/objets-maison-air-propres-accumulent-salete-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/objets-maison-air-propres-accumulent-salete-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/objets-maison-air-propres-accumulent-salete.jpg","author":{"name":"Ana\u00eblle Gayon","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Agayon-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":64229,"name":"Decor","slug":"deco-maison","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":64401,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Decor section of The Body Optimist brings together home decor ideas<\/strong>, storage solutions and cleaning tips to help you create a home that feels like you, whatever your budget. Studio apartment, family home or country house: we cover layout, small spaces, color, lighting and comfort, with furniture that works for every body and every way of living.<\/p>\n A small room feels bigger when light flows freely and the floor stays clear. Choose light colors or a tonal palette for the walls and large furniture, and place a mirror near a window to bounce natural light around the room. Go for furniture on legs, which leaves the floor visible, and pieces that do double duty: a storage bench, a bed with drawers, an extendable table. Make the most of vertical space with wall shelves and storage that runs all the way up to the ceiling. And declutter regularly: fewer things on display means more space you can feel.<\/p>\n A comfortable home adapts to the people who live in it, not the other way around. For chairs and sofas, check the manufacturer's maximum weight capacity, choose sturdy frames in solid wood or metal and look for wide, deep seats, avoiding armrests set too close together. A sofa that's neither too low nor too soft makes it easy to get up. For your bed, take the time to choose a mattress that suits your body and the way you sleep. In the bathroom, a curbless walk-in shower and a grab bar add safety and peace of mind every day.<\/p>\n We stand for decor that's accessible and free of rules: there's no single \u201cgood taste,\u201d only homes where you feel good. We favor realistic ideas, upcycling and secondhand over constantly buying new, and comfort designed for every body type. For electrical work, plumbing or major renovations, call in a professional.<\/p>\n Start with what changes the mood most for the least money: a freshly painted accent wall, textiles (throw pillows, a blanket, curtains), extra lamps and plants. Browse flea markets, thrift stores and secondhand marketplaces, and repurpose things you already own.<\/p>\n Layer several light sources at different heights (floor lamp, table lamp, string lights) and choose warm-white bulbs rather than relying on a single ceiling light. Add soft materials such as wood, linen, wool or velvet, a rug and a few personal objects. Warm or earthy colors make the space feel even cozier.<\/p>\n Go room by room, or even drawer by drawer, rather than tackling everything at once. Sort into three piles: keep, donate or sell, and toss or recycle. Give everything you keep a specific spot, close to where you use it. A few minutes of tidying every day saves you from exhausting marathon clear-outs.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Make your home more eco-friendly with the Green<\/a> section, find ideas to bring your kitchen to life in the Food<\/a> section, and share your space happily with your pets thanks to Animal life<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":497,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":64229,"category_count":497,"category_description":" The Decor section of The Body Optimist brings together home decor ideas<\/strong>, storage solutions and cleaning tips to help you create a home that feels like you, whatever your budget. Studio apartment, family home or country house: we cover layout, small spaces, color, lighting and comfort, with furniture that works for every body and every way of living.<\/p>\n A small room feels bigger when light flows freely and the floor stays clear. Choose light colors or a tonal palette for the walls and large furniture, and place a mirror near a window to bounce natural light around the room. Go for furniture on legs, which leaves the floor visible, and pieces that do double duty: a storage bench, a bed with drawers, an extendable table. Make the most of vertical space with wall shelves and storage that runs all the way up to the ceiling. And declutter regularly: fewer things on display means more space you can feel.<\/p>\n A comfortable home adapts to the people who live in it, not the other way around. For chairs and sofas, check the manufacturer's maximum weight capacity, choose sturdy frames in solid wood or metal and look for wide, deep seats, avoiding armrests set too close together. A sofa that's neither too low nor too soft makes it easy to get up. For your bed, take the time to choose a mattress that suits your body and the way you sleep. In the bathroom, a curbless walk-in shower and a grab bar add safety and peace of mind every day.<\/p>\n We stand for decor that's accessible and free of rules: there's no single \u201cgood taste,\u201d only homes where you feel good. We favor realistic ideas, upcycling and secondhand over constantly buying new, and comfort designed for every body type. For electrical work, plumbing or major renovations, call in a professional.<\/p>\n Start with what changes the mood most for the least money: a freshly painted accent wall, textiles (throw pillows, a blanket, curtains), extra lamps and plants. Browse flea markets, thrift stores and secondhand marketplaces, and repurpose things you already own.<\/p>\n Layer several light sources at different heights (floor lamp, table lamp, string lights) and choose warm-white bulbs rather than relying on a single ceiling light. Add soft materials such as wood, linen, wool or velvet, a rug and a few personal objects. Warm or earthy colors make the space feel even cozier.<\/p>\n Go room by room, or even drawer by drawer, rather than tackling everything at once. Sort into three piles: keep, donate or sell, and toss or recycle. Give everything you keep a specific spot, close to where you use it. A few minutes of tidying every day saves you from exhausting marathon clear-outs.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Make your home more eco-friendly with the Green<\/a> section, find ideas to bring your kitchen to life in the Food<\/a> section, and share your space happily with your pets thanks to Animal life<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Decor","category_nicename":"deco-maison","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8264"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=436756"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":436834,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436756\/revisions\/436834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/436833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=436756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=436756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=436756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} Dishcloths, those forgotten household items<\/h2>\n
Remote controls and keyboards: the kings of germs<\/h2>\n
Handles and switches: the often-overlooked<\/h2>\n
Even in the bathroom, surprises exist.<\/h2>\n
A clean house\u2026 without excessive pressure<\/h2>\n
What you'll find in the Decor section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you make a small space feel bigger?<\/h2>\n
How do you make your home comfortable for every body?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How can you decorate your home on a budget?<\/h3>\n
How do you create a cozy living room?<\/h3>\n
Where do you start when decluttering a cluttered home?<\/h3>\n
What you'll find in the Decor section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you make a small space feel bigger?<\/h2>\n
How do you make your home comfortable for every body?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How can you decorate your home on a budget?<\/h3>\n
How do you create a cozy living room?<\/h3>\n
Where do you start when decluttering a cluttered home?<\/h3>\n