Dampness

• Kitchens and bathrooms may be the most likely sites for the growth of microorganisms as the floors of these rooms are exposed to more moisture, traffic and spills. For example, if you go through the gym locker room and shower area in bare feet, you may pick up warts or athlete's foot, according to the Fitness Magazine website. Viruses, fungi and bacteria breed in these damp conditions.
  
  

Shoes

• Wearing shoes indoors is considered unhygienic in many societies. Shoe bottoms can introduce material such as dog and bird feces into your home. According to Dr. Chuck Gerba of the University of Arizona, shoes may come into contact with viruses, bacteria and food, "making your shoe a Happy Meal for germs." You can track E.coli and rotaviruses on your shoes from visits to restrooms, bringing them into your home. If you touch the floor, then touch your mouth, you could be transferring these bugs to your body.
  
  

Bodily Fluids

• If your home contains small children or someone with an illness, bodily fluids may come into contact with your floors, particularly in the bathroom. Splashing from the toilet can also leave traces of water on the floor; that water contains potentially infective materials which may be transferred throughout your home.
  
  

Cleaners

• To avoid chemical irritation in sensitive family members, Dr Chiu of the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee suggests using biodegradable cleaners. Such cleaners are friendly for the environment and easily, inexpensively made from simple ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda. However, while dirt and some germs can be removed through the application of water and soap or detergent, disinfecting the floor requires the use of a product labeled as a disinfectant or germicide, or you can simply apply a bleach solution to the floor area.
  
  

Cleaning Tips

• Sweep or dust your floors using a damp cloth before mopping to reduce the amount of potential allergens present and to prevent dust from becoming airborne as you clean. Use hot mop water, and change your mop water frequently if you are mopping the whole house or cleaning up a particularly dirty area. Follow the directions on the label for the cleaning solution you are using to prevent damaging certain types of flooring, to ensure you have the right product for the dirt you hope to clean and to ensure that you are using the product in the way most effective at killing germs. Allow the floor to dry thoroughly before permitting traffic through the area.
  
  

Clean Your Mop

• Consider using one mop or mop head strictly for the bathroom and one for the kitchen, or wash your mop after each use using hot water and detergent. Place the mop head in the dryer on high heat to dry it thoroughly between uses and to help prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.