While you may diligently clean your kitchen, there are often overlooked areas that can harbor dirt, grime, and bacteria. Neglecting these spots not only affects the cleanliness of your kitchen but can also leave a negative impression on your guests.
Paying attention to these commonly neglected cleaning tasks is essential to ensure your kitchen is spotless and welcoming.
Dish Rack
The dish rack is often forgotten when cleaning the kitchen, but it can accumulate water, soap scum, and food particles over time. Regularly clean and disinfect your dish rack to prevent mold and bacteria growth, ensuring your dishes dry on a clean surface.
Garbage Can
While you may empty your garbage regularly, the garbage can itself can become dirty and smelly. Clean the interior and exterior of your garbage can with hot, soapy water and disinfectant to eliminate odors and bacteria, keeping your kitchen fresh and sanitary.
Refrigerator Coils
The coils behind your refrigerator can collect dust and debris, affecting the appliance’s efficiency and cleanliness. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to gently remove dirt and debris from the coils, improving airflow and prolonging the life of your refrigerator.
Kitchen Sink Drain
The kitchen sink drain can become clogged with food particles, grease, and bacteria, leading to unpleasant odors and potential plumbing issues. Use a drain cleaner or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to regularly clean and deodorize your sink drain, ensuring it flows smoothly and smells fresh.
Oven Knobs
Oven knobs are frequently touched but often overlooked when cleaning the kitchen. Wipe down oven knobs with a disinfectant cleaner or soapy water to remove grease, grime, and germs, keeping your oven clean and hygienic for cooking.
Microwave Interior
The microwave interior can become splattered with food and grease, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Clean the inside of your microwave with a microwave-safe cleaner or a mixture of water and lemon juice to remove stains and odors. This will ensure your food heats evenly and stays sanitary.
Cabinet Handles
Cabinet handles and knobs are touched multiple times a day but may not receive regular cleaning attention. Wipe down cabinet handles with a disinfectant cleaner or soapy water to remove fingerprints, grease, and germs, keeping your kitchen surfaces clean and hygienic.
Range Hood Filter
The range hood filter can become clogged with grease and debris, reducing its effectiveness in removing cooking odors and airborne particles. Remove and clean the range hood filter regularly with hot, soapy water or a degreasing solution to ensure proper ventilation and air quality in your kitchen.
Cutting Boards
Cutting boards can harbor bacteria from raw meat, poultry, and vegetables, posing a food safety risk if not cleaned properly. To prevent cross-contamination, wash cutting boards with hot, soapy water after each use and disinfect them with bleach and water or a food-safe disinfectant.
Coffee Maker Reservoir
The reservoir of your coffee maker can accumulate mineral deposits and bacteria from water and coffee residue, affecting the taste and quality of your coffee. Clean the coffee maker reservoir regularly with vinegar and water or a commercial coffee maker cleaner to remove buildup and ensure delicious, freshly brewed coffee.
Spice Jars
Spice jars can become contaminated with bacteria and lose their potency if not cleaned and stored correctly. Wipe down spice jars and lids with a damp cloth or disinfectant wipe before refilling them to remove dust, debris, and germs, keeping your spices fresh and flavorful.
Sink Faucet Aerator
The sink faucet aerator can become clogged with mineral deposits and debris, affecting water flow and pressure. Remove the aerator from your sink faucet and soak it in vinegar or a descaling solution to dissolve buildup and restore proper function.
Blender Gasket
If the blender’s gasket or seal is not cleaned thoroughly after each use, it can trap food particles and bacteria. Remove the blender gasket and wash it with hot, soapy water to remove debris and prevent mold and bacteria growth. This will ensure that your blender stays clean and odor-free.
Kitchen Floor Mats
Kitchen floor mats can trap dirt, crumbs, and spills, creating an unsightly and unsanitary environment in your kitchen. Vacuum or shake out kitchen floor mats regularly to remove debris, and spot-clean them with a carpet cleaner or soapy water as needed to keep them looking fresh and clean.
Refrigerator Door Seals
The door seals on your refrigerator can become dirty and sticky from food spills and residue, compromising their ability to seal properly and maintain temperature control. Clean the refrigerator door seals with hot, soapy water or a solution of vinegar and water to remove debris and ensure a tight seal, keeping your food fresh and safe from spoilage.
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Victoria Cornell helps women adopt a positive mindset even when the struggles of motherhood feel overwhelming. Victoria writes for multiple media outlets where she writes about, saving money, retirement, ways to reduce stress with mindset, manifesting, goal planning, productivity, and more.