You overlook handles and knobs
Your family touches handles on the fridge, microwave, and oven; door knobs; and kitchen cabinet pulls several times a day, so it’s no wonder these can get super germy. A 2013 study published in the journal Food Control found that various types of disease-causing bacteria, including listeria and E.coli, were detected on handles of doors, refrigerators, and dishwashers, for example, in 15 different houses. Make a habit of wiping down these oft-overlooked areas every night, says Debra Johnson, a Merry Maids national home cleaning expert. Don’t miss these other steps you should never skip when deep-cleaning your fridge.
You rarely clean your kitchen sink
“There’s more E. coli in a kitchen sink than in a toilet after you flush it,” Charles Gerba, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson, told Food and Wine. Wet and dark, the sink is a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive; worse, germs can spread to items left to accumulate there. Use a mild soap and warm water to wipe down your sink’s basin with a clean sponge after a dish washing session. Don’t miss these other cleaning mistakes that leave your house germy.
