Let’s be honest: most of us wipe down our counters with an antibacterial spray and call it a day. Unfortunately, though, some of the germiest and most disgusting spots in the kitchen are the ones we never think about cleaning. While it may not be visible to the naked eye, the bacteria lurking in your kitchen is hiding in plain sight, whether it’s wafting from the refrigerator or peeking out from the closed garbage can. Once you know the grossest things in your kitchen — and more importantly, how to deep clean your kitchen — it’s easy to break the nasty cycle.
1. Kitchen Sponges
We’ve all fallen victim to picking up a sponge only for a sour smell to linger on our hands, because sponges simply pick up and hold onto bacteria like no other. At first, you have a nice clean sponge, but when it sits in its own dirty dishwater, a sponge becomes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and germs like salmonella, E. coli, or mold. The trend is to just replace kitchen sponges when they wear out, but in reality, you should really be replacing your sponges every one to two weeks.
#SpoonTip: Given how often you should be swapping sponges to ensure a clean kitchen, check out these greener options when it comes to sustainably ditching the sponge.
2. Refrigerator Crisper Drawers
It’s essential to clean out the whole fridge, especially for food safety. If you’ve ever opened the fridge to a weird odor you couldn’t quite place, try taking a peek at the bottom of the crisper drawers. Crisper drawers are notorious for collecting little crumbs and spills, and those little nuggets of old food are often ignored, meaning they sit in the drawer’s crevices and collect bacteria. First things first, start by tossing out old or rotten food. For a truly clean fridge, pull out the drawers completely and scrub them down with hot water and soap. Let dry and place back in the fridge.
3. Top Of The Fridge
The inside of the fridge needs attention but what about the outside? I bet the top of your fridge has a nice layer of dust or grease buildup on it, and cleaning the outside of the fridge matters just as much if you want to truly deep clean your kitchen. Grab a cloth and give the fridge a good wipe down, and you might need to hit it with a degreaser depending on how gross it is. For good measure, hit with an antibacterial spray every few weeks.
4. Garbage Disposal
The garbage disposal is especially yummy given that it’s where you dump all your food scraps. While it may be uncertain if the nasty smells are from rotting food stuck in the blades, trapped bacteria, or mold, what we do know is that foul odors mean bacteria is thriving in the depths of your disposal. For a quick fix, toss in ice cubes and vinegar or lemon peels for a fresher scent, and run these through the disposal with cold water. If the smell persists, it might be a good idea to check the p-trap under the sink.
5. Water Bottles
Water bottles need attention, too. Even if you’re only filling these with water, bacteria can still build up inside as moisture and dark interiors create a lovely dwelling place for germs. To keep the water bottles clean, just scrub them out daily. Hot soapy water is very straightforward but, for an even deeper clean, try soaking your bottle with vinegar and water, or run it through the dishwasher (if it’s safe to do so). And, be sure to wipe down the outside with antibacterial wipes every now and again.
6. Trash Cans
The trash can is gross. Food spills over the side of the bag all the time, and there are little bits of crumbs and liquids that always seep out of the trash bin too. Taking out the trash bag isn’t enough — the whole trash can needs a good wipe down from time to time. Use hot, soapy water or antibacterial spray to clean out the grime and bacteria on the inside of the trash can to keep both odors and pests away.
7. The Sides Of Your Oven
In my household, there’s the tiniest gap between the stove and kitchen counter, and it’s one of those sneaky places that collects grime, crumbs, and grease over time. There could be a similar spot in your household near the fridge or other appliances, and one way to keep it clean is by doing a once over with a vacuum nozzle or attachment. An even better (albeit more labor-intensive) approach is to pull out the stove entirely and deep clean behind it.
8. Pet Bowls
Pet bowls aren’t the first thing we think about when cleaning, but maybe they should be. Pet bowls have leftover food and pet saliva just sitting there in yet another bacteria breeding ground. And let’s be real, we don’t like to eat off of dirty dishes, so why should our pets? To keep both you and your pet safe, just wash the bowls with hot, soapy water daily. Your pets (and smell receptors) will thank you.
9. Inside The Dishwasher
The dishwasher may clean your dishes, but it still needs its own maintenance. The dishwasher collects little bits of food and soap scum that can lead to unpleasant odors and, over time, make the system less effective. To take care of it, run a cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack of an empty dishwasher or sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher once a month. Compared to the time and effort your dishwasher saves, a few minutes of monthly maintenance is a drop in the bucket (or, washer.)
10. Coffee Maker
Coffee is life… until the mold and yeast brewing in the warm damp environment of your coffee maker, particularly in the water reservoir, makes you sick. The solution is simple: run a cycle of white vinegar and water. Use a one to one ratio of vinegar and water then run a complete brew cycle. After, flush it out with one or two more cycles of just fresh water. Do this every few weeks to keep your morning cup of coffee safe and delicious.