3 Spots In Your Kitchen You Aren't Cleaning Enough (And How To Reach Them)

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Sometimes it can seem impossible to keep your kitchen clean. There's always the potential for sauces spilling, or glasses shattering, or pasta flying everywhere. There are ever-growing piles of dishes and extra grimy cookware (that may require a power tool to clean). And there are seemingly endless nooks and crannies between surfaces and on appliances that invite dust. Every now and then, some scrubbing has to be done all over the kitchen to keep it gleaming, or at least presentable, for a brief time until the whole cycle starts up again.

But even if you are fastidious about keeping your home as clean as possible, you may be missing a few crucial spots in the kitchen where dust and grime can collect. Take a look below for some of the most common spots in your kitchen that most people aren't cleaning enough, as well as some advice on how best to turn them from gross to sparkling. 

Yes, the light switch is one part of your kitchen you almost certainly aren't cleaning enough. It's easy to understand why — light switches aren't something we think about super often, and they don't usually get obviously dirty, so it's easy to overlook them when we're on a cleaning spree. But they are being touched frequently, and over time, oil from our skin can build up on the switch. Light switches are non-porous, so viruses can remain there longer. 

Now that you know about this potentially gross area, how should you go about cleaning it? It's probably not a good idea to spray an all-purpose cleaner or isopropyl alcohol directly on the switch because of the potential risk of getting an electric shock. Instead, spray some cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the switch. For an even more thorough cleaning, you can unscrew the entire wall plate and wash it in soap and water. 

Cabinets are an iconic aspect of kitchen design and are often a big part of what gives the room its character. As such a central part of the kitchen, it's usually not that hard to remember to wipe down the fronts of them on a regular basis to make sure they're shining. However, even if you're cleaning the front and sides of your cabinets regularly, you may be neglecting the tops. These need attention too — they're flat surfaces that dust and grime can collect on easily.

The reason the top of kitchen cabinets don't get enough love is, of course, because they're hard to reach. How should you go about accessing this out-of-the-way grime depository? Depending on exactly how high up your shelving goes, you may need a stepladder, but it's also useful to have an extendable duster (like this one from Swiffer) that can reach into those hard-to-access places. This will prevent you from having to awkwardly clamber onto your kitchen counter in order to wipe away dust with a paper towel. 

The inside of the dishwasher is potentially a spot you haven't thought about cleaning very often. After all, the dishwasher is made for cleaning other things. Yet, paradoxically, it still requires some upkeep. Mineral deposits can occur in the corners of the machine, but most importantly, don't forget to clean the dishwasher filter.

So what's the best way to go about cleaning the cleaner? We recommend using white vinegar and baking soda. First, pour two cups of vinegar into a dishwasher-safe vessel and place it on the top shelf. Run a normal, hot cycle. When that's done, dust the bottom of the dishwasher with baking soda and run it again. You can do this about once a month to keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape.