The Unexpected Spot In Your Kitchen You Should Disinfect Daily

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If you prioritize having a germ-free kitchen as much as a sparkling clean-looking one, then you should be doing more than just wiping down countertops, meticulously washing cutting boards, and disinfecting the sink. While these may be at the top of your to-do list, when it comes to disinfecting, you may be forgetting to clean these spots — and they are surfaces you touch every single day. Kitchen handles found on the doors of refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, and cabinets are sneaky germ hotspots that are easy to overlook. 

These everyday objects are touched often and quietly collect bacteria from everything your hands encounter. When you're meal prepping, for example, you're touching raw ingredients, handling packaging, constantly opening and closing the fridge to grab ingredients, and pressing control panels constantly. No matter how much you wash your hands in between (where you repeatedly touch the faucet), germs are bound to end up on all those touched surfaces. 

In fact, a study conducted by the U.S. National Science Foundation found stove knobs and faucet handles among the top 10 household surfaces with the highest bacteria levels. Faucet handles were tested to have more bacteria than pet toys. So, it's time to get serious about giving these high-touch areas more attention. 

While high-touch handles weren't the germiest places in the kitchen (that distinction goes to the inside of the kitchen sink and the dish sponge/rag), they ranked high enough to be added to the list of kitchen items that should be cleaned more often. The good news? Cleaning and disinfecting these areas doesn't require much effort and really isn't all that difficult. One key step to keep in mind is that you should clean any surface before you disinfect it. Why? Dirt, grease, and food residue can actually block disinfectants from working properly. So, you'll want to ensure the surface is wiped clean before using a spray like Lysol Disinfectant Spray or wipes like Clorox Disinfectant Wipes. 

If you're not a fan of the chemicals in Lysol or Clorox, then you may want to consider Purell's Foodservice Sanitizer, which comes in spray or wipe form. It's EPA certified and formulated to be effective without leaving behind a strong odor or chemical residue, which makes it perfect for daily use (avoid cleaning solely with vinegar, since it only kills around 80% of bacteria). Whichever product you choose, the key is to work these steps into your daily cleaning routine. After you're done cleaning, grab the disinfectant and wipe down fridge handles, stove knobs, cabinet pulls, and faucet levers daily. With just a bit of extra effort and a few extra minutes, you can keep these high-touch areas clean and germ-free.