But there are other household items harbouring more bacteria than you think, and they might be making you ill.

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Terry Fisher, from leading home buying service We Buy Any Home, said it’s important to think outside of the obvious spots – such as kitchen surfaces and floors – when ridding your home of germs.

There’s a whole host of surfaces in our homes that are often neglected, he adds, with certain bacteria contributing to illnesses such as colds, throat infections and fevers.

“Put simply, if a surface is touched regularly, it needs to be cleaned regularly,” he tells Fabulous.

“These surfaces can provide a nice home for a range of bacteria, from Staphylococcus aureus and salmonella to E.coli and mould,” he explains.

“This winter has seen an explosion of seasonal illnesses, so it’s vital we keep on top of the bacteria and bugs battlegrounds in our homes to give ourselves a fighting chance.”

So what are the dirtiest things in your home? Terry has the answer.

Toothbrush holder

If you have one, chances are you use it every day without thinking twice about its filth.

“We don’t realise they can pick up germs that are released into the air from the toilet when we flush,” says Terry, stressing the importance of cleaning it often.

He recommends disinfecting the item at least once a week if you want to keep it clean.

Computer keyboards

When was the last time you cleaned your computer keyboard? Did you even know you had to?

You aren’t alone if you answered no to the second question but Terry explains why you do.

“Our computers, tablets and laptops are key parts of our lives, whether we use them for leisure or for work, so our hands are constantly in contact with them,” he says.

“Failing to disinfect our keyboards regularly allows the germs and bacteria to continue to build up and for new ones to be transferred from our fingers, too.”

TV remote control

Sitting down in front of teh telly is something most love to do. In fact, few of us go through the day without sitting down in front of it to relax.

But our sofa surfing and channel-hopping ways could be making us ill if we neglect to disinfect the remote control regularly, Terry says.

Light switches and plug sockets

Terry says: “We switch appliances on and off regularly using one of the biggest breeding grounds for bacteria – our hands.

“Just like any other surface in the home that we touch regularly, these should be disinfected once a week.”

Kitchen appliances

The kettle is arguably one of the most-used items in our kitchens, but do you clean it as often as you do other kitchen items?

Don’t forget to disinfect the outside surface at least once a week, but the inside needs cleaning too.

The same goes for the buttons and nobs on your stove, oven and microwave.

“It’s important to remember to regularly clean and disinfect both the inside and the outside, including knobs or touch-screen buttons, at least once a week,” says Terry.

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