The 6 grossest spots in your home, and how to clean them

E. coli on the doorknob. Asthma-inducing dust mites in your rugs. That weird pink slime growing in the toilet. Your home might be your refuge, but it’s also full of germs and dirt. “But I think since covid, people’s cleaning IQs have gone up a few points” says Carolyn Forté, the executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. “They’re being more mindful about what needs to be cleaned.”

In particular, many of us now understand the difference between cleaning (which removes surface dirt and impurities) and disinfecting (which kills germs). “Still, people are so busy, I think they speed clean and often don’t really go deep in areas that get overlooked - under furniture, in nooks and crannies you might not think about,” Forté says.

Here are some of the filthiest, least hygienic parts of your house, along with expert tips on how to clean them.

Doorknobs and light switches

Doorknobs, light switches and fridge handles are high-touch zones, meaning they’re a breeding ground for germs and nasties on par with the dreaded kitchen sponge. “We forget to clean these hard surfaces because they don’t really look dirty,” says Caroline Solomon, a personal organizer in New York City. “You want to clean them - ideally once a month - with a disinfecting wipe or with a spray you make from equal parts rubbing alcohol and water.”

Rub down these surfaces more frequently if someone in your household has a cold. “During winter, which I call ‘sick season,’ I’ll even clean the outside door and hall railings of our condo,” says Lexi Grant, the operations manager for Well-Paid Maids, a cleaning service in the D.C. area.

Also good to know: Some metals (brass, bronze) have antimicrobial properties, making them a less icky choice if you’re remodeling your bathroom or replacing cabinet pulls in your kitchen.

The dishwasher filter

If your dishwasher smells vile even after you’ve run it - or plates emerge coated with grit or globs of pasta - it’s time to clean the machine’s filter. For the uninitiated, that’s the mesh and plastic thingamabob (probably a cylinder) in the bottom of the dishwasher, usually under the lower rack. It’s designed to catch food scraps, but it needs to be empty for the filter to work properly.

“Remove the filter once a month, then scrub the inside and outside with warm, soapy water,” Solomon says. “Then put a cup of vinegar on the top rack of the dishwasher, and run an empty load on the hot cycle. That’ll steam things up and breaks down all the dirt, grime and potential mildew, especially around the gasket. Then wipe the whole interior.”

Underneath and behind kitchen appliances

Kitchen countertops are among the germiest, dirtiest spots in your casa, so if you aren’t cleaning and disinfecting them daily or weekly, please do. “But the areas behind your stove and fridge also need attention,” says Scott Roewer, founder of the D.C.-based Organizing Agency. “Things fall behind the stove when you cook, grease makes everything gross, and it all creates an inviting atmosphere for bugs or mice.”

To clean these hidden zones, unplug and pull out kitchen appliances (even the dishwasher) every month or so. Then sweep and mop the floor under - and scrub the walls around - them. “Clean all that, plus the appliances themselves, with a degreaser - I like Simple Green - or a solution of vinegar and warm water,” says Alexandria Brouard, a professional organizer and founder of Cozy Home Studios in Bethesda, Maryland.

Sheets and other bedding

The average human constantly sheds skin cells, many of which end up clinging to your bedsheets, potentially leading to eczema, allergies or just an excess of dust. If you sleep with a pet, it can bring sneeze-triggering fur or dander to bed and track in E. coli from the litter box or dog park.

“Wash your sheets in hot water at least once a week - every six weeks is no bueno,” Solomon says. “People don’t think beds get that dirty, but they’re full of hidden dust mites and skin cells.” Also include mattress pads on your laundry list every month to six weeks, and replace pillows when they start to show a lot of sweat stains or begin looking deflated.

If you snooze with your fur baby, bathe it more frequently or use pet wipes on its paws before bed.

The kitchen sink

You need to clean and sanitize your kitchen sink frequently to get rid of bacteria and germs. Once a week is the bare minimum, and it should always be done immediately after cooking raw meat or seafood. “The easiest way is to plug the sink, fill it with hot water and two tablespoons of bleach, then let it sit for 10 minutes,” Roewer says. “Then use a clean cloth to wipe down the faucets and spray nozzles. Before you drain the sink, dip the cloth back in and clean underneath the sink rim.”

Don’t forget to run the disposal before you commence Operation Clean Sink. Solomon likes to run a couple of ice cubes and lemons through it to help remove chunks of stray food and to bring a subtle, fresh scent to the cucina.

The bathroom floor

The toilet is the most frequently cleaned place in the average American home, according to a 2018 survey by the American Cleaning Institute, a lobbying group for the cleaning products industry. But the floor around your commode also deserves scrub-a-dub love, because staphylococcus, coliforms and E. coli can lurk there, too. “Underneath the toilet, kind of where it attaches to floors, gets so neglected and dusty,” Grant says. “I get on my hands and knees and scrub it by hand, first with a wet microfiber cloth and then a dry one. I soak the wet cloth in warm water and an all-purpose cleaner.”

Jennifer Barger writes the Substack “The Souvenirist,” which explores the intersection of design and travel. She’s on Instagram at @dcjnell.