The 12 Dirtiest Places in Your House (and How to Clean Them)

Coffee Maker

Your coffee maker is likely one of the germiest places in your home. As you brew your daily coffee, mold, yeast, and other bacteria, as well as oily residue and hard water deposits, can build up inside the reservoir and pot. To deep-clean your coffee maker, fill 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.

02 of 12

Your Work Station

home office in black and white with colorful rug — Laurey Glenn

If you work from home or frequently spend time on the computer, your work station is probably a breeding ground for germs. The desk surface, keyboard, and mouse are all high-touch surfaces that are rarely cleaned. Luckily, disinfectant wipes provide an easy way to clean each of these surfaces. For electronic items, consider wringing out excess liquid from the wipe before cleaning to avoid dripping moisture into the openings. Wipe down each surface every couple of days to keep germs at bay.

03 of 12

Faucets

double sink blue vanity bathroom mirrors above — Jim Franco

You might wipe down the handles frequently, but what about the part where the water comes out? "Chances are, if you haven't cleaned this, you will find black, mildewy grunge," says cleaning expert Donna Smallin Kuper. "And you're brushing your teeth with that water. Ewww!" Every couple of months, remove the faucet aerator by twisting it counter-clockwise, then soak it in vinegar for at least 15 minutes, Smallin says. (The aerator is actually an assembly made up of a few pieces, including a screen, so take note of how they go back together.) Gently brush all parts with an old toothbrush to remove any remaining residue, then screw it back on.

04 of 12

Handles and Switches

kitchen organization pull-out refrigerator drawers — Emily Followill

Think refrigerator door handles, light switches, and, of course, the toilet flush handle. "They're easily overlooked in cleaning because they're small, and most people focus on the big things, like floors and countertops," says Debra Johnson, a training specialist at Merry Maids. "Yet everyone touches them, so they have the most opportunity for germs." To clean, use a microfiber cloth dampened with your favorite cleaning product to wipe down handles and switches during your normal cleaning routine.

05 of 12

Above Your Kitchen Cabinets

white kitchen island simple — Joyelle West

The space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling is often a case of out of sight, out of mind. "We find years' worth of dust, rodent nests and droppings, long-forgotten food, and dead plants," says household cleaning expert Derek Christian. "Very few people ever clean this area." For this chore, break out the stepladder and your vacuum's hose attachment (or a wet/dry vac). A small hand broom and dustpan will do the trick, too. The space will likely not accumulate enough dust to warrant a cleaning every week, but once a month or so will do the trick. Do this task first, so any stray dust lands on surfaces you have yet to clean.

06 of 12

Your Bathtub

fresh modern master bath freestanding tub black fixtures — Edmund Barr

Any standing water that lingers after a shower or bath breeds mold, fungi, and staph bacteria, says green cleaning expert Jackie Harmon. Your tub or shower surface should be dried off after each use to reduce bacteria growth. Disinfect regularly, too: up to three times weekly for tubs used daily by multiple family members. To do so, Harmon recommends filling a spray bottle with a product that contains at least three percent hydrogen peroxide and keeping that near the tub. Lightly mist a dry tub, and you're done. "No need to wipe it up because hydrogen peroxide evaporates quickly," Harmon says. For whirlpool tubs, cycle disinfectant through the pipes monthly according to the manufacturer's directions.

07 of 12

The Walls Around Your Toilet

bathroom with toucan pattern wallpaper — Kim Cornelison

"You think you know it's bad, but you have no idea," Christian says. "I have one of those super powerful black lights that you see on the CSI shows. See what it reveals, and it'll make you want to tear out your drywall and start over." The best cleaners for the walls around the toilets contain enzymes to break down the organic material, Christian says. Spray the walls and let sit for at least a few minutes, so the enzymes can do their work. Then wipe down with a damp towel.

08 of 12

Under, Alongside, and Behind Your Stove

"Think of all the times you've spilled something between the stove and the counter and not cleaned it up," Christian says. "Add the ambient heat from the stove to the mix, and you have the perfect place for germs to thrive." To clean this area, you'll have to pull the stove away from the wall. Make this easier and protect your flooring with furniture sliders under the feet of the stove. (A bath mat with the carpet side down works, too.) If you have a gas stove with a flexible hose, pull until the hose is almost—but not fully—extended. (If your gas stove does not have a flexible hose, you'll need a pro's help.) Once the stove is pulled out, scrape off buildup with a plastic putty knife, Christian says, then spray the sides of the oven with oven cleaner. Use a good all-purpose cleaner on the adjacent cabinets and floor.

09 of 12

Inside Your Toothbrush Cup

Not only are they hard to clean, but also they're usually positioned next to the toilet, which sprays small amounts of fecal debris when flushed. This offender is a simple fix: Keep toothbrushes in a moveable, easy-to-clean cup. Soak the cup in warm water mixed with a little bleach for a half hour. Rinse, then soak in clean water for another 30 minutes to remove the bleach residue. Better yet, use a cup you can toss in the dishwasher instead.

10 of 12

Inside the Refrigerator

Refrigerator with variety of foods — Cameron Sadeghpour

Sticky takeout containers and long-forgotten leftovers mingle in a space accessed by multiple hands daily. Refrigerators are destined to be dirty, but this space often lands last on the must-clean list. For best results, avoid using chemical cleaners here, Johnson says. Instead, fill your sink with hot water and dishwashing liquid. Remove items from one refrigerator shelf, then remove the shelf itself. Wash it in the sink, wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth, then replace it in the fridge. Repeat for the remaining shelves.

11 of 12

Your Kitchen Sink

undermount kitchen sink subway tile backsplash — Robert Brinson

Thanks to all those food particles mingling in a moist environment, the kitchen sink is actually dirtier than your toilet post-flush, according to Charles P. Gerba, a University of Arizona professor and microbiologist known as Dr. Germ. Wash the sink with soap and water daily, and disinfect it with a kitchen cleaner once or twice a week.

12 of 12

Remote Controls

wicker basket containing remotes — Mark Lund

Hands in all states of cleanliness handle the TV remote often, yet it's rarely wiped clean, even after a sick day spent channel-flipping. "The TV remote is one of the germiest surfaces in your home," Harmon says. Use a disinfectant wipe to clean remotes often. To get in between the buttons, try a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!