Many times, the kitchen is the hot spot in our homes. We cook in the kitchen, we eat in the kitchen, and sometimes we just choose to spend time in the kitchen. But, while you were cleaning, have you ever wondered what the dirtiest things in your kitchen are?
Since we use the kitchen daily, it is easy to understand why it is one of the messiest rooms in our home. Besides the obvious things, such as a sticky floor or a crusty oven, there are some things that we often overlook and forget to clean.
This is why we are here today! We want to give you some tips and tell you everything you need to know about these things we often ignore when we are cleaning our kitchen.
Read on and find out how to clean the dirtiest thing in your kitchen. Don’t let germs win this battle!
1. Countertops
Maybe you think that your countertops are clean, but they are some of the dirtiest things in your kitchen. Where do you place your shopping bags or your purse after you come home? Probably on the countertop.
And this is just the worst case. You put numerous things on the counters of your kitchen every day, from your phone to your plates. Even if you believe that these items are not dirty, remember that everything is dirtier than you think.
All you need to do is take a disinfectant and a clean cloth, and always clean your countertops before you cook. The most important thing is to clean them at least once per day, and everything will be okay.
Make time to reach into corners, below tiny appliances, and around the edges where the stove or refrigerator meets the countertop at least once a week. What lurks in those damp, dark places is not something you want to think about.
2. Dirtiest things in your kitchen? Handles, knobs, and touchpads
If you take a quick look at any appliance you have in your kitchen, you can notice that all of them have some sort of control panel and some buttons or handles. Because you always put your hands on them, these are some of the dirtiest things in your kitchen.
The bad news is that most people clean the inside of the microwave or of the coffee machine, but they always forget about all the buttons and handles. These things should be cleansed weekly, and it is not even that hard. All you need is a clean cloth and a cleaning solution.
Remember every time you touched the fridge without washing your hands or after you had handled raw meat? By doing this, you spread bacteria, and if you don’t clean them regularly, the control panels and handles will become the perfect place for them to grow.
Don’t forget about the cabinet pull! They are part of the same category.
3. Refrigerator
Your fridge is definitely one of the dirtiest things in your kitchen, and we say this because it can be the perfect home for some quite dangerous bacteria. Maybe you believe that they will not grow there because it is cold, but sadly, the reality is not this one.
We know that most fruits and vegetables will last much longer if you don’t wash them. But this is not the best thing if you want to keep the fridge clean. Because of this, you should take care and clean the drawers where you keep the fruits and vegetables more often. In this way, you will avoid future contamination and destroy any bacteria that is left behind.
The same thing applies to the meat you keep in the refrigerator. Packaging can leak, leading to buildup around shelf edges and in drawers.
In order to get rid of all the bacteria, yeast, and mold that can grow, remove the shelves and drawers from your freezer and clean them once per month with detergent and water. After this, always dry them with a paper towel.
And please, always take your time and clean on top of the fridge and also underneath it. People forget to do this, and you’d be surprised at how much dust it can collect. The coils that you can find in the back of the fridge should be vacuumed as well, because if they are full of dust, the fridge will require more energy to work properly.
4. The brushes, cloths, and sponges
Since you use them to clean the dishes and the rest of the kitchen, it is easy to see why they are some of the dirtiest things in your kitchen. It is really good if you are using cloths and sponges to reduce the consumption of paper towels, but you should also know how to clean and disinfect them.
After you use them, the cloths, sponges, and brushes should be washed in hot water, and it is also important to use a good disinfectant. The good news is that with the brush and the dishcloths, you will have it easier. The brushes can be placed in the dishwasher, and the dishcloths in the washing machine.
In the case of the sponges, you should know that they need to be replaced once every two weeks.
5. Coffee maker and other small appliances
Since they usually use water, this means they have a moist and warm environment. This makes them the best place for bacteria to thrive. The coffee machine is the number one place where mold grows inside our kitchens.
So, don’t be surprised when we tell you that these small appliances, such as blenders and coffee makers, are some of the dirtiest things in your kitchen.
To be sure that everything is fine, clean your coffee maker once every two weeks. Also, clean your blender after every use. Some parts may be put in the dishwasher, while others need to be cleaned in hot, soapy water, rinsed, and then fully dried.
Other small items, such as measuring spoons, cups, and can openers, should follow the same routine if you want to keep them as clean as possible.
6. Sink
Even if water runs through it daily, your kitchen skin is still one of the dirtiest things in your kitchen. Be sure that if you don’t clean the property after every use, there are still some germs and bacteria lurking around.
Every time you clean the kitchen sink, you should do it thoroughly, and never forget to clean the joints where the counter meets the skin and also around the drain. The garbage dispenser is also a big one when we talk about germs and bacteria.
Another one of the things people miss when cleaning the skin is the faucet and handles. Also, the counter around the sink should be clean. Just imagine that every time you wash your food, the faucet and the counter will always catch all the splatters.
Next time you are cleaning the kitchen, use a skink cleaner that has a disinfectant agent. After wiping it with this cleaner, use a clean towel to dry it. After doing all of this, you will have a germ-free kitchen sink.
These were just some of the dirtiest things in your kitchen. If you think that some other things should have been included, you can tell us in the comments section!
If you need some new cloths in your home, you can get these: MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Pack of 12
You should also read: 8 Household Items NOT to Clean With Baking Soda