If you’ve been putting off a thorough house cleaning, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many homeowners dread the thought of having to clean the refrigerator or wash the carpet. This is mainly because home cleaning is a chore we leave either for after work or for the weekend. Needless to say, neither is perfect — we’re too tired after work and just want to relax on the weekend.

To give you a little push and help you realize how important cleaning is, we’ve asked the experts to share some science-based cleaning facts with us and we were shocked by the answer.

Apparently, your home has more bacteria than a trash can in the street. The bacteria are lurking everywhere, from the toilet seat to your keyboard or stove. Feeling more motivated yet?

Read on to find out how often you need to clean parts of your home based on the experience from a reputable local home cleaning service.

House Cleaning Tip 1: Clean the Microwave Once a Week

People used to believe that microwaving your food is guaranteed to kill bacteria. However, new studies have shown that this is a myth. With that in mind, you need to make sure to keep the splashes out of your microwave.

You should wipe the microwave once every week, followed by a thorough cleaning at least twice a month. You can use a vinegar solution (half water, half vinegar) and leave it in the microwave until it steams up, then wipe it with a sponge.

House Cleaning Tip 2: Wash Bed Sheets Once Every Week or Two

Recent findings claim that your bedsheets are not as dirty as we used to believe. The dust mites that are usually the homeowners’ main concern are not as present in our bedsheets as we were lead to believe. Dust mites are everywhere, so there is no need to be concerned about their presence in your sheets.

However, we do tend to sweat while we sleep, and as a result, our bed sheets are filled with natural oils and dead skin cells. Gross! They might not harm you, but sleeping in a fresh sheet is much nicer, no?

That said, make sure to add washing them with hot water at least once every week or two on your house cleaning schedule.

House Cleaning Tip 3: Clean Bathtubs Once a Week

Everyone knows that the bathroom is the most notoriously dirty area in our homes — a breeding ground for bacteria. However, it is the bathtub and not the toilet that is most likely to contain the most of them. Confused?

According to a study by the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community found serious bacteria that cause skin infections in 26% of the bathtubs tested. When you compare this to the 6% of public trash cans tested, you can’t help but feel disgusted.

That said, make sure you clean your bathtub as frequently as your clean your toilet, which is at least once a week.

House Cleaning Tip 4: Clean the Refrigerator Once a Month

According to Daily Mail, the salad drawers in your fridge contain 750 times more bacteria than the determined safe levels. This makes your refrigerator one of the most notorious homes for bacteria in your home.

To fight them, make sure you clean the fridge every month, not just once a year with the spring cleaning.

House Cleaning Tip 5: Clean Your Computer Once a Week

A staggering percentage of all Americans prefer eating at the computer and most of them never clean their keyboard. Yuck! That makes the keyboard the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

That is why it’s important to clean your keyboard at least once a week using a disinfectant. Make sure to scrub the mouse and the monitor while you’re at it as well!