Identify the dirtiest objects and places in your home
No matter how organized or clean you are, there are always spots and items in your home that remain dirty. These are the places you might forget to clean during regular cleaning sessions.
Our intention is not to create concern or suggest you’re unclean; we simply want to help you identify forgotten objects and areas, so you can prioritize their cleaning during your household chores.
Unknown Dirty Areas in Your Home
Cutting Board
This item, as a potential breeding ground for bacteria, especially in restaurants, because raw meat can contain germs like Salmonella, which can transfer directly when cutting on the board. Therefore, it must be thoroughly cleaned after use.
If your cutting board is plastic, you can put it in the dishwasher or disinfect it with boiling water. If it is wooden, clean it with disinfectant products.
Bathroom Faucet
If you look carefully, you’ll notice that the faucet can also accumulate significant dirt. Sometimes people forget to wash the faucet after washing their hands. Remember to clean the faucet after washing your hands.
When we say clean it, we mean paying attention to the underneath parts and the layers between the faucet components. It’s better to disassemble the faucet occasionally, soak the parts, including the faucet head, in vinegar for 15 minutes, then clean with a brush and cleaning solutions, and rinse with warm water.VinegarUse vinegar to disinfect the parts, then clean the underneath with a brush and cleaning solutions.
Light switches, toilet flush handle, and refrigerator door handles
These are some of the most commonly touched areas that are likely to get dirty and accumulate grime due to frequent usage. Don’t forget to include their cleaning in your daily or weekly house cleaning routines. Spray all-purpose cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe these surfaces for peace of mind.
Salt Shaker
Although small, the salt shaker is one of the dirtiest items in any household, as it can harbor germs. To keep it clean, wash your hands before use and clean the salt shaker after every use.
Above Cabinets
If you look above your cabinets, you’ll see a large amount of dust, grime, and lint. Make sure to clean this area every two to three months.
Use a ladder to reach the top of the cabinets, vacuum the dust, then wipe the surface with a damp cloth. To make future cleaning easier, cover the surface with newspaper – removing it later makes cleaning faster.
Refrigerator Shelves and Drawers
Often overlooked during cleaning
SelMagzIt’s recommended to clean the refrigerator and all its parts every month, as shelves, drawers, and door compartments are frequently used and tend to collect grime and dirt.Disinfect the interior parts of the fridge using non-chemical cleaning agents. Remove removable parts and wash them with warm water and a little dish soap. After 10-15 minutes, rinse and dry thoroughly with a cloth.
Warm waterand dish soapAfter soaking, remove parts, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a cloth.
Scouring pads and scrub brushes
Sponges and scrub brushes are ideal for bacteria growth. Never leave wet sponges or brushes in the sink after washing dishes. Weekly, disinfect them by soaking in a disinfectant solution for 5 minutes or microwaving for 2 minutes to kill germs effectively.
Kitchen sink
Since the sink is used for washing fruits, vegetables, and meats, it’s a prime spot for contamination to increase. Clean the sink daily with dish soap; neglecting this turns the sink into a bacterial habitat. As it’s used multiple times daily, it must stay very clean.
Trash Can
Regardless of how tidy you are, the trash can is a collection place for bacteria from leftover food, blood, and dirty materials, which causes bad odors and promotes mold and bacteria growth.
If you touch the trash can and then touch other surfaces, you spread bacteria. To prevent this, empty and wash the trash can weekly with water and high pressure, or disinfect it regularly.
Spray disinfectant inside and outside the trash can for a few minutes and let it air dry. If the trash can is inside a cabinet, remember to disinfect door handles and interior surfaces during your cleaning routine.
Toilet Walls
No matter how careful someone is about personal hygiene, toilet walls should be disinfected at least once or twice weekly with strong disinfectants.
Pour and spray cleaning solutions on the walls, let them sit for a few minutes, then scrub all areas with a brush, including corners, edges, and crevices. Rinse with warm water afterward.
Toilet Bowl
Unfortunately, some bacteria and germs can grow again after each use. To prevent the growth of coliform bacteria, regularly clean and disinfect toilet handles and fixtures using disinfectant wipes. Daily cleaning with disposable disinfectant cloths is recommended.
Bathtub
Today, many bathrooms have only a shower stall instead of a bathtub. Even if you don’t have a bathtub, you should still keep the shower area and floor clean and disinfected weekly.
Bathrooms are prone to moisture, which creates an ideal environment for bacteria and mold to grow. Regularly, at least once or twice a week, disinfect and clean the entire bathroom with disinfectant products.
Remote controls
Your home’s dirtiest objects include car remotes, TV remotes, DVD players, and door control panels. Cleaning these takes a bit of patience.
Using a damp cloth alone may not clean between buttons effectively. The best method is to dip a cotton swab in alcohol and carefully clean around the buttons.
It’s also a good idea to open remote controls with a screwdriver from time to time and clean the inside, as dust and crumbs can enter through the openings and interfere with proper button function. Don’t forget to disinfect the interior up to the buttons.
Makeup brushes
All women should know that makeup brushes are among the dirtiest items in your beauty kit. They collect dust and grease, creating a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.
Dirty brushes transfer bacteria and makeup residue onto your skin, causing irritation and acne. Hairbrushes also harbor skin oils, dirt, and dust, which can clog pores and irritate the scalp.
To clean makeup brushes, you can use baking soda and shampoo by soaking brushes in a mixture of baking soda and hot water for a few minutes to disinfect them.Baking sodaMix baking soda with boiling water in a container, then soak your brushes for several minutes to disinfect them.
Around the stove
The stove is one of the most frequently contaminated areas, used multiple times daily. The stove’s surface, surrounding cabinets, flooring around it, and gaps between cabinets often get splattered with food grease.
If these grease stains are not cleaned promptly, they turn sticky and become habitats for bacteria and germs. Don’t neglect these hidden spots.
Carefully move the stove without damaging the pipes underneath to clean all its surfaces. Inside, clean the oven with a cloth soaked in dish soap every three months as part of your routine.
Mattress
No matter what covers or pillows you use, cleaning them is essential because bedding collects dirt, dead skin cells, sweat, and dust. Sleeping on the same pillow and mattress all night exposes you to bacteria and moisture, which fosters bacterial growth.
To disinfect your bedding, remove the sheets, sprinkle 200 grams or one cup of baking soda over the mattress, let it sit for 3 hours, then vacuum thoroughly. Baking soda will absorb dust and odors effectively.
Kitchen countertop
Even if you wipe the kitchen counter daily, it doesn’t mean it’s bacteria-free. Items like shopping bags, lunch containers, and unwashed produce placed on the counter can spread germs and dirt. Tests show about one-third of kitchen counters contain coliform bacteria.
Disinfect the counter before preparing raw or cooked foods. Don’t allow pets’ food bowls on the counter, and keep pets away from it, as they can carry bacteria like Staph. Also, avoid placing your shopping bags on the counter.
Door handles – one of the dirtiest household objects
Door handles are touched by many people throughout the day, making them one of the most contaminated objects in your home.
Be sure to clean and disinfect door handles for bedrooms, closets, and entryways regularly after reading this article.
Microwave
This appliance depends on your daily usage; it can be used dozens of times a day, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and germs due to leftover food and moisture.
Since bacteria thrive in moist, warm environments with food residue, it’s vital to disinfect this appliance regularly; neglecting this increases health risks.
Toothbrush
Though stored in the bathroom, research shows toilet flushing can spread droplets up to 6 meters away. Keep your toothbrush away from toilet spray areas.
Never cover your toothbrush; let it dry in the open. Rinse thoroughly before and after use, shake off excess water, and replace it regularly.
Toothbrush holder
Toothbrush and toothpaste holders are often neglected or not cleaned thoroughly.
Disinfect your holder by removing it and soaking in a basin of warm water with a little bleach for 30 minutes. Rinse well afterward and scrub all corners with an old toothbrush.
After 30 minutes, wash the holder clean, remove any residues, and dry thoroughly with a cloth.
