The 8 Germiest Places in Your Kitchen
Learn the top hot spots for bacteria in your kitchen and what to do about them
Leslie Reichert
December 19, 2022
Houzz Contributor. Cleaning expert that teaches and encourages people to use greener methods to clean their home. I have books, magazines, and a TV series to show you how to live a cleaner, greener lifestyle. For more cleaning tips go to www.greencleaningcoach.com
Houzz Contributor. Cleaning expert that teaches and encourages people to use greener... More
The kitchen has more places for cooties than anywhere else in your home — even more than your bathroom, on average. We are going to look at those spots where bacteria love to hide and give you some tips and tools to keep them clean and sanitary.
1. Sinks
You might be surprised to learn how many germs there are in your kitchen sink. From raw meat juices, dirty dishes and leftover food particles, the kitchen sink is a hotbed for bacteria. Therefore, any day that you use your sink for preparing food or soaking dishes, pots and pans, it should be washed down with hot soapy water and a cloth or sponge.
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You might be surprised to learn how many germs there are in your kitchen sink. From raw meat juices, dirty dishes and leftover food particles, the kitchen sink is a hotbed for bacteria. Therefore, any day that you use your sink for preparing food or soaking dishes, pots and pans, it should be washed down with hot soapy water and a cloth or sponge.
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2. Sponges
Speaking of sponges, there have been many discussions online about the germs found in sponges and what will work to clean them. The New York Times published an article that quoted a study from Germany claiming that cleaning a sponge only makes the bacteria on them worse. But after further research, the author wrote another article that said cleaning your sponge is still important to do. So the debate seems to remain up in the air.
However, if you still want to clean your sponge, you can either put it in the microwave on high for a minute or try a tool called a SpongeBath that uses citric acid to keep the sponge clean and disinfected.
Speaking of sponges, there have been many discussions online about the germs found in sponges and what will work to clean them. The New York Times published an article that quoted a study from Germany claiming that cleaning a sponge only makes the bacteria on them worse. But after further research, the author wrote another article that said cleaning your sponge is still important to do. So the debate seems to remain up in the air.
However, if you still want to clean your sponge, you can either put it in the microwave on high for a minute or try a tool called a SpongeBath that uses citric acid to keep the sponge clean and disinfected.
3. Hand Towels
Hand towels are magnets for nasty germs. More often than not, we mindlessly wipe our hands on our towels, without thinking what we’re leaving behind. Raw meat juices, raw eggs from batter or even rotting food can often be found on a kitchen towel.
The trick is to change them often and wash dirty ones in hot water. You can also add a teaspoon of bleach to the wash to kill bacteria.
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Hand towels are magnets for nasty germs. More often than not, we mindlessly wipe our hands on our towels, without thinking what we’re leaving behind. Raw meat juices, raw eggs from batter or even rotting food can often be found on a kitchen towel.
The trick is to change them often and wash dirty ones in hot water. You can also add a teaspoon of bleach to the wash to kill bacteria.
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4. Cutting Boards
Wooden cutting boards also can harbor bacteria. If used for cutting raw meat, they can also contain salmonella, which can lead to cross contamination.
To clean a cutting board, submerge it in hot soapy water after each use. You can also disinfect it with a mix of distilled white vinegar, lemon juice and salt. Consider plastic cutting boards that can go in the dishwasher.
Wooden cutting boards also can harbor bacteria. If used for cutting raw meat, they can also contain salmonella, which can lead to cross contamination.
To clean a cutting board, submerge it in hot soapy water after each use. You can also disinfect it with a mix of distilled white vinegar, lemon juice and salt. Consider plastic cutting boards that can go in the dishwasher.
5. Knobs and Handles
Every kitchen has more than a few door knobs and handles. Between everyday germs that are on your hands and the food germs you find in the kitchen, those cabinet knobs and handles can be full of bacteria.
You can use a simple solution of distilled white vinegar and some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and wipe with a microfiber cleaning cloth. The vinegar alone kills 98% of the bacteria, and the alcohol should kill the rest.
Every kitchen has more than a few door knobs and handles. Between everyday germs that are on your hands and the food germs you find in the kitchen, those cabinet knobs and handles can be full of bacteria.
You can use a simple solution of distilled white vinegar and some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and wipe with a microfiber cleaning cloth. The vinegar alone kills 98% of the bacteria, and the alcohol should kill the rest.
6. Salt and Pepper Shakers
Bet you never thought of your salt or pepper shakers as a place where germs are being transferred, but when was the last time you wiped them down with something other than a wet cloth (if that). These items are being handled by everyone in your family, and therefore germs are being spread to everyone.
Bet you never thought of your salt or pepper shakers as a place where germs are being transferred, but when was the last time you wiped them down with something other than a wet cloth (if that). These items are being handled by everyone in your family, and therefore germs are being spread to everyone.
7. Refrigerator Handles
The handles of your refrigerator are touched countless times a day. Add in the fact that you are opening the fridge with hands that are preparing a meal and you can imagine all the germs and bacteria that are on those handles.
Get into the habit of wiping them down daily if possible. Use the same white vinegar and rubbing alcohol solution previously mentioned.
The handles of your refrigerator are touched countless times a day. Add in the fact that you are opening the fridge with hands that are preparing a meal and you can imagine all the germs and bacteria that are on those handles.
Get into the habit of wiping them down daily if possible. Use the same white vinegar and rubbing alcohol solution previously mentioned.
8. Remote Controls
TV remotes in any room of the house are apt to hold a variety of germs. But the remote in the kitchen is the worst of all. Food bacteria from meal prepping might be all over it.
Consider keeping the remote inside a ziplock bag and operating it through the bag. That way the germs are on the bag and not in all the cracks and crevices of the remote. Change the bag often.
Tell us: What tricks do you use to rid your kitchen of germs? Share in the Comments!
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How to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets
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TV remotes in any room of the house are apt to hold a variety of germs. But the remote in the kitchen is the worst of all. Food bacteria from meal prepping might be all over it.
Consider keeping the remote inside a ziplock bag and operating it through the bag. That way the germs are on the bag and not in all the cracks and crevices of the remote. Change the bag often.
Tell us: What tricks do you use to rid your kitchen of germs? Share in the Comments!
More on Houzz
How to Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets
Find a local kitchen designer
Find household cleaning supplies
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I think about the salt and pepper shakers every time I eat out at a restaurant or someone else’s home. They can be very nasty if they are reusable especially.
Also, I use dish cloths instead of sponges. I can throw them in the wash and get a new one every few days. It is more economical and earth friendly.
Lots of good ideas here, which I pretty much already do. I am trying to cut down on plastic use for environmental reasons. Once I'm through with my scrubbies I will be buying cellulose scrubbies. I only use wooden cutting boards, never plastic. They can potentially contaminate your food with microplastics. With the old scrubbies I can save them and use them in the bottom of my plant pots, or throw them in the green waste during the warmer months. I also put the scrubbies in the DW every time I run it, even sometimes twice a day. I keep a spray bottle of both bleach and alcohol under each sink in the house.