Are you cleaning your sink often enough? Probably not

When you think of the dirtiest places in your home, what immediately comes to mind? While the bathroom is often the first thing to spring to mind, have you considered what bacteria might be lurking in your kitchen sink?

One hygiene expert has revealed just how often you should be cleaning your kitchen sink — and it’s probably a lot more often than you think.

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Microbiologist Lisa Yakas says you should be giving your kitchen sink a good wipe down with a disinfectant at least once a week. If you regularly prepare raw meat or peel potatoes near your sink, you should be cleaning daily. Yakas, a senior certification project manager of food equipment at NSF International, says immediately cleaning your sink after preparing meat or potatoes will stop dangerous bacteria from growing in your kitchen.

And while your sink is definitely a germy area in your kitchen, it’s not the dirtiest. In first place? Your kichen sponge.

“There are so many cracks and crevices for germs to hide in, and germs love moisture,” Yakas told Bon Appétit.

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If the sponge looks or smells bad, toss it. If it can be salvaged, soak it in a disinfectant solution for a few hours.

As for cleaning your sink, Yakas reminds readers that it’s impossible to disinfect something that hasn’t been cleaned. Before you get out the disinfectant make sure the surface is clean. Wipe down your sink with hot water and dish soap, once that step is complete, grab a disinfectant wipe and begin wiping, making sure to get in every nook and cranny.

If you want to ensure the entire sink is clean, don’t forget the drain. You can easily disinfect your drain by pouring one teaspoon of bleach along with one quart of water down and let it sit for a few minutes. This step should be done about once a month.

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