The dirtiest places in your home (and how to clean them)

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Even if you stay on top of regular cleaning, dirt and grime can lurk in the most unexpected places in your home. These places tend to be harder to reach and more time-consuming to work on, which is why they're not added to the usual cleaning checklist. The result is a buildup that can become gross or even dangerous when overlooked. Therefore, these areas need proper attention too. 

So click on to find out where the most amount of dirt is hiding in your home, and exactly how to clean each area.

Coffee maker

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

As you brew your daily coffee, mold, yeast, and other bacteria can build up inside the reservoir and pot. Clean the reservoir with a 50-50 solution of white distilled vinegar and water. Run a brewing cycle without any beans, stopping about halfway through to let the vinegar solution soak for at least 30 minutes. Finish the cycle, then repeat with clean water to flush away any lingering vinegar scent. 

Above your kitchen cabinets

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Out-of-sight and out-of-mind, find years' worth of dust above your kitchen cabinets. So make sure you have a stepladder and your vacuum's hose attachment (or a wet/dry vac) for this chore. 

Kitchen sponge

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

This is one of the worst germ culprits because the holes in a sponge let bacteria flourish. According to experts, swapping out your sponges once a week is highly recommended.

Keyboards

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Just like with remotes, keyboards may have more germs than you think. Use a toothbrush or other small brush to clean debris from around the keys. Then wipe the entire device clean with disinfectant.

Bathtub

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Water that lingers after a shower or bath breeds mold, fungi, and staph bacteria. Therefore, disinfect regularly, even up to three times weekly if the tub is used daily by multiple family members.

Inside the refrigerator

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Clean the inside regularly, especially the vegetable drawers because they hold raw produce. Do so by filling your sink with hot water and dishwashing liquid. Remove items from one refrigerator shelf, then remove the shelf itself. Wash it in the sink, dry it with a microfiber cloth, and replace it in the fridge. 

Kitchen sink

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Due to all those food particles mingling in a moist environment, the kitchen sink is one of the dirtiest places in your home. Wash it with soap and water daily, and disinfect it with a kitchen cleaner once or twice a week.

Spice jars

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Think you're just sprinkling spices on your food? You might also be transferring, or picking up, bacteria on your hands as you handle those jars. To avoid cross-contamination, use a hot, soapy cloth or disinfectant wipes on spice jars.  

Dishwasher

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

Similar to the washing machine, many people forget to clean a dishwasher or even unclog it. Therefore, it's essential to clean it once a month to ensure it's free from residue. A great way to do it is by placing a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with one cup of distilled white vinegar on the top rack. Then, run a cycle without detergent or dishes.

Wastebasket

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

These containers can harbor germs from the items you discard. Regularly disinfect them with soap and water, or disinfectant. Also, use plastic liners to reduce germ build-up.  

Range hood interior

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

This might surprise you, but there is grease trapped inside the range hood. To clean it, use a damp (not wet) cloth to remove grease and dirt. If it's extra grimy, spray the cloth with a multipurpose cleaner. 

Window tracks

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

When cleaning windows, it's often about getting the glass to sparkle. But don't forget the window tracks! Start by vacuuming away any loose dust, bugs, and debris from the tracks. Then, dip a cotton swab or a small brush into some multipurpose cleaner and scrub away the dirt. 

Blender gasket

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

The blender gasket, that thin rubber ring that sits between the blender's blade and the container floor, is often home to a legion of bacteria, including E. coli, yeast, and mold. Wash it with warm soapy water immediately after use. Use a brush or sponge to remove any debris or residue that may be stuck in the gasket.

Baseboards

Coffee maker, Above your kitchen cabinets, Kitchen sponge, Keyboards, Inside the refrigerator, Kitchen sink, Spice jars, Dishwasher, Wastebasket, Range hood interior, Window tracks, Blender gasket, Baseboards

The baseboards around your home are a hotspot for dirt and dust. In order to reduce dust in these areas, vacuum your boards weekly. 

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