7 filthy things you forget to clean in the kitchen
Your kitchen is a hotspot for mess. One minute it looks clean and the next, there are crumbs everywhere and grease splattered up the walls. This room takes more effort than most to keep on top of, so no one could blame you for missing a spot here and there as you wipe it down.
In fact, there are several spots in the kitchen we often forget to clean, which can end up harbouring germs and bacteria. We’ve rounded up 7 filthy things that need your attention, so you know where to focus your efforts.
1. Sponges
We use our sponges, scrubbers and microfibre cloths daily, but many forget about the cleanliness of these items. With all the moisture, food residue and washing up liquid they absorb, it’s all too easy for bacteria to develop. Before you know it, there’s discolouration and a horrible smell coming from your sink. No one wants that when washing their dishes!
We recommend rinsing your cleaning tools thoroughly after every use. You should also wash and disinfect them at least once a week to keep on top of bacteria. Sponges and scrubbers can be cleaned with detergent and warm water, rinsed and then soaked in a diluted disinfectant for 15 minutes, such as Milton Sterilising Fluid. Wring out and leave to dry afterwards.
Some sponges and scrubbers can go in the dishwasher for cleaning; check with the care instructions to confirm. You may need to put them on the upper rack to avoid them warping. For instance, Scrub Daddy Scrubbers, Joseph Joseph’s Edge Green Washing-Up Brush and Lakeland’s 3 Double-Sided Silicone Cleaning Sponges are all dishwasher safe.
Microfibre cloths should be washed in the washing machine with biological detergent on as high a temperature as the care label allows.
Try to keep your cleaning tools rinsed and organised with a product such as Joseph Joseph Caddy Kitchen Sink Area Organiser. Do not leave your sponge in the sink and wring out as much water as you can after each use.
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2. Extractor fan
Have you ever stopped to look up at your extractor fan? It gets covered in greasy residue from whatever you cook on the hob, and after a while this can hinder its efficiency. Not to mention, it doesn’t look great. Grease is tricky to remove because it doesn’t mix with water, so a damp cloth alone won’t work. Here’s what we recommend:
Switch off the fan, unplug it and leave it to cool. Next, remove the outer cover and wash it in warm, soapy water. Your washing up liquid should cut through any grease. Rinse and dry with a microfibre cloth. If the cover can’t be removed, you will need to wash it carefully by hand instead.
Fan blades should be removed and wiped with a wrung-out damp cloth using the same soapy solution. Don’t saturate them and ensure they’ve dried before you replace them. Any filters will need cleaning in washing-up liquid, too. Some metal filters can even go in the dishwasher; check the care instructions first and don’t wash them alongside anything else. For extra cleaning power, you can soak the filters in a warm solution of soda crystals first, then rinse before loading in the dishwasher.
Some filters, including sponge, carbon and paper, will need replacing occasionally and may not be washable: check your manual for guidance. Try to check your cooker hood each time you clean your hob to pick up any fresh splatters. We recommend deep cleaning it once a month to prevent build-up.
3. Scorched hob
While glass hobs are flat and generally easy to clean compared with gas, they rarely look like new. Once food has burned on to this surface, no matter how hard you scrub, it won’t shift easily. You can’t use anything abrasive, like steel wool, as it will scratch the surface, so you’re left looking at ugly, seemingly permanent, splatters. But there are ways to deal with them.
Start by cleaning the surface as best you can with a suitable cream cleaner, such as Astonish Hob Cleaner, using a microfibre cloth. Then use a hob scraper, such as Lakeland’s Hob Heaven Ceramic Hob Cleaning Scraper to gradually etch away the burnt residue. This takes time and patience, and you need to take care to keep the scraper at the correct angle (30 degrees to the surface) to prevent damage. Clean the hob again once finished.
If hidden crumbs collect under the edges of your hob, there are ways to collect these, too. You could try the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner, running it around the edges. Or you could find a brush thin enough to slide underneath, such as the Canvint Crevice Cleaning Brush. I personally use the flat side of a table knife, fold some damp paper towels over the edge and carefully work my way around. This ultimately depends on how big the gap is.
4. Coffee machine drip tray
We like our coffee machines to look shiny on the outside, but we often forget about what’s within – particularly in the drip tray. With every use, residual drips wind up down there, and unless it’s emptied and cleaned regularly, they soon turn into a sticky brown stain that proves a nightmare to remove. As this is a moist environment, bacteria is given ideal conditions to grow, so you’ll want to give this a thorough clean.
Some coffee machines come with their own cleaning cycles and solutions to use, which you might have to stick to, otherwise you risk voiding the warranty. But, even in such cases, warm, soapy water can make a difference. Leave it to soak in the drip tray prior to cleaning the tray by hand in the sink. A toothbrush can be handy for scrubbing away the residue. If your coffee machine allows distilled white vinegar as part of the descaling process, you can use that to clean the drip tray. Wipe down the dispenser regularly in the future, to keep it clean and prevent further dripping.
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5. Toaster crumb tray
Your toaster’s crumb tray collects crumbs every time you toast bread. We forget it’s there because we don’t see it, but it’s quickly filled from everyday use. Get into the habit of checking and emptying it as necessary, preferably every few days with regular use. If you forget to do this, crumbs can pile up and spill everywhere next time you slide out the crumb tray. Not to mention it creates a horrible burning smell and even a fire hazard for your toaster.
Start by bringing the kitchen bin next to your toaster (this can save a lot of mess). Then, once your toaster is cooled and unplugged, carefully slide out the crumb tray to empty it. To give the tray a deep clean, wash it in warm, soapy water once emptied and leave to dry before replacing. For any final crumbs, you can simply invert your toaster over the bin – be careful not to drop it!
6. Food cupboards
My partner recently emptied out our food cupboards to give them a refresh and we were disgusted to find some black goo in the back of one of them. We’ve no idea what it was, but it made us realise we should check these cupboards more regularly!
Take stock of what you have in your cupboards and keep a list of use-by dates, so nothing gets forgotten about. Rotate items each time you restock, so older ones get used up first. If you struggle to reach items at the back, a Lazy Susan Turntable can make things more accessible. If you need to clean away any spills, remove food and clean the surfaces with a microfibre cloth and a product such as Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser.
7. Dishwasher filter
Another hidden hotspot for bacteria is in your dishwasher; specifically the filter. This catches all the food residue that gets flushed from your dishes with each cycle. If you ignore it, it will eventually get clogged and cause malfunctions. But, even if water still manages to flush through, your dishwasher will become a haven for germs and bacteria. It can lead to a foul smell, too.
Ideally, you should rinse your dishwasher’s filter after each use. This sounds like a lot, but you don’t want the food residue flushing around the next cycle.
As you remove it, if it’s been a while, be prepared to find a stalactite of residue hanging from the underside. Scrape any food residue into the bin, then rinse the filter with warm, soapy water and scrub it clean with an old toothbrush. You can give the metal mesh it sits in the same treatment if it’s seen better days. Replace once clean. Try to scrape all residue from your dishes before loading them in the dishwasher to prevent build-up; but don’t worry about rinsing, your dishwasher can handle that.
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