The Germiest Places in Your Kitchen (That Aren’t the Sink)

Everyone thinks of the kitchen sink as a germ hotspot, but it’s certainly not the only one in the room. Plenty of areas and common kitchenware items collect bacteria and grime, and since these places tend to get less attention, they tend to accumulate more residue. We spoke with cleaning experts to learn the germiest spots in the kitchen and how to keep them clean.

Spice Jars

Having a range of spices on hand is ideal for delicious food, but these containers can harbor more than flavor. Elena Navarro calls spice jars one of the "most overlooked germy areas in the kitchen," and a 2022 study, published in the Journal of Food Protection, confirms her thoughts. 

After cooks had prepared turkey burgers, scientists found that 48 percent of the handled spice jars contained a concentration of MS2, which infects E. coli bacteria. This was the highest concentration amongst any of the other items in the study, which included a thermometer, mixer, trays, and utensils. 

Navarro explains that this is most likely because people commonly touch their spice jars with unclean hands after handling raw meat and don’t sanitize the containers after the fact. “A damp micro-fiber cloth with dish soap, followed by a quick spray of diluted white vinegar, effectively cleans the item without leaving any harsh chemicals near the food,” Navarro says. 

Knife Blocks

“Crumbs fall into the slot of the knife block and create an ideal environment for moisture and bacteria to grow,” Navarro warns of knife blocks. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has also reported findings where microbiologists tested the interiors of knife blocks and found both yeast and mold inside.

Our experts recommend only putting knives back in the block once they are completely clean and dry to avoid food, dust, and mold-causing moisture from accumulating in the dark, narrow slots. You can also occasionally turn the empty block upside down to shake out any debris or use a small brush to scrub the slots. 

Rubber Seals

A rubber seal, like those inside your dishwasher and along the door of the refrigerator, holds on to more bacteria and gunk than you’d think: In a BMC Microbiology study , researchers tested 30 separate dishwasher rubber seals and found every single one contained some type of bacteria, sometimes even multiple species.

Navarro expresses that a quick rinse will not do the job when it comes to these surfaces. Even with repeated hot water and detergent exposure, bacteria persist because particles easily stick to the inside of rubber seals. To properly clean them, "Remove the seals or gaskets from the product, soak them in warm soapy water, scrub them gently with a soft-bristled brush," Navarro says. "Rinse them, and dry them completely before placing them back on."

Related Stories

14 Habits That Are Making Your Home Dirtier, According to Professional Cleaners

13 Common Kitchen Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid, According to Experts

Sponges and Dish Rags

That sponge that sits faithfully next to your sink? It might need to be replaced if it's been hanging around your kitchen for too long. In a study published by the International Journal of Food Science, researchers analyzed over 200 kitchen sponges, finding a host of bacteria alongside yeast and mold. “Campylobacter and Staphylococcus aureus are other common contaminants associated with raw poultry and skin contact,” Navarro says. “These bacteria are able to thrive in warm, moist, protein-rich environments, which is exactly what is present on sponges.”

Sponges and rags come into contact with nearly every surface, Navarro adds, and are rarely sanitized properly in between uses. She recommends, "Sponges should be heated to 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the microwave for two minutes each day and replaced every 1-2 weeks."

Handles, Knobs, and Counters

As Autumn Ryan, cleaning expert and founder of SoRite, explains, "Germs are reintroduced from people." This makes high‑touch, dry surfaces in your kitchen (refrigerator handles, counters, and oven knobs) common sites where bacteria linked to food-borne illnesses can harbor, as confirmed by a study published in Frontiers of Microbiology.

"They come in on your shoes and hands, in your sneezes and coughs, or in food you're preparing," says Ryan. "That's why I recommend disinfecting the most often touched surfaces, such as handles and knobs."

To keep your kitchen’s handles and knobs clean, our experts suggest wiping down these areas with a disinfecting wipe after touching containments like raw meat or garbage. Since these areas are touched by everyone in the home, it’s especially important to stay on top of disinfecting to reduce the spread of bacteria.