The 8 Dirtiest Items in Your Kitchen (and How to Actually Clean Them)
Your kitchen might look spotless—but under the surface, it could be crawling with bacteria. In fact, some of the dirtiest items in your home aren’t in the bathroom... they’re in your kitchen. Luckily, cleaning them doesn’t have to be complicated—especially when you have the right tools (like a HomeSoap 😏).
Here are 8 of the dirtiest things in your kitchen—and how to truly clean and sanitize them:
1. Sponges & Dishcloths
These are bacteria magnets. According to NSF International, kitchen sponges often have more germs than toilet seats.
How to clean them: Microwave them damp for 1-2 minutes, or better yet—swap them out regularly. Don’t forget dishcloths too—wash in hot water and dry thoroughly.
2. Cutting Boards
Whether plastic or wood, cutting boards can hold on to food particles and breed bacteria.
How to clean them: Scrub with hot soapy water after each use. For deeper cleaning, use vinegar or a diluted bleach solution. Plastic boards? Toss them in your HomeSoap for a UV-C sanitizing session.
3. Refrigerator Handles
How often do you touch the fridge without washing your hands first? Exactly.
How to clean them: Wipe daily with disinfectant. And don’t forget the inside handles too.
4. Knife Blocks
Dark, damp, and full of tiny crevices = the perfect home for bacteria and mold.
How to clean them: Remove all knives and turn the block upside down to shake out debris. Clean the slots with pipe cleaners or Q-tips dipped in vinegar. You can even sanitize the knives themselves in the HomeSoap.
5. Reusable Water Bottles & Lids
That narrow opening makes it easy to miss bacteria build-up inside caps and straws.
How to clean them: Use bottle brushes and hot, soapy water. To take it to the next level, sanitize lids, caps, and straws in the HomeSoap—it fits most bottle accessories.
6. Salt & Pepper Shakers
Everyone touches them. Almost no one cleans them.
How to clean them: Wipe with disinfecting wipes or wash the exteriors regularly. Sanitizing the tops in the HomeSoap is a great idea too.
7. Blender Gaskets & Food Processor Parts
These spots trap leftover food and moisture—ripe for bacteria.
How to clean them: Fully disassemble and wash all parts with hot, soapy water. Let dry completely before reassembling.
8. Your Phone (yes, in the kitchen)
From checking recipes to replying to texts, your phone is right there among the food and germs.
How to clean it: Wipe it down daily, but to actually sanitize it, use a PhoneSoap UV sanitizer—designed to kill 99.99% of bacteria.
Final Tip:
The kitchen might be the heart of your home—but it’s also a hotspot for hidden germs. Make it safer with regular deep cleaning—and let UV-C sanitizing with HomeSoap do the heavy lifting on the items that need a little extra help.
