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These are the dirtiest things in your kitchen to clean or replace ASAP
Not-so-fun fact: Something you use for meal prep may harbor more bacteria than your toilet seat.
Whether or not you consider yourself a neat freak, you probably clean your kitchen countertops pretty regularly. And you likely know how to wash produce and cook meat to a safe temperature. However, you can do all of that and still expose yourself to tons of germs in your cooking space.
There are a lot of unexpected places that harbor dirt, grime and bacteria in your kitchen. For instance, according to a study published by the Journal of Food Protection in 2022, spice jars had the highest amount of cross-contamination after participants prepared a meal using turkey patties containing bacteriophage MS2. The lesson? Always wash your hands after touching food. (Heck, you may even want to invest in an automated soap dispenser so you don't have to touch that either.)
Trust us, though; there are lots of other germy areas in your kitchen. Below, we've rounded up some of the dirtiest things in your kitchen you should probably be junking — or scrubbing — ASAP.
Things you should replace in your kitchen in 2025
Sometimes it's best to just start fresh — here are some of the grimy hot spots that you'll want to think seriously about replacing. New year, new start!
Kitchen sponges
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it's easy to forget to replace your kitchen sponges. According to a study in Scientific Reports, researchers found bacterial densities in kitchen sponges similar to those found in feces. (Have we got your attention now?)
The study also found that boiling or microwaving a sponge only increases bacterial growth! Instead, you should replace your sponges regularly — ideally once every week or two.
If you're game to start a weekly sponge-replacement regimen, this 24-pack will last you about six months.
"Much thicker than the name-brand ones," said this shopper. "They suds up very well and don't feel like they're going to tear apart. ... The price point is excellent as well. I wish I found these sooner!"
Cutting boards
More bad news: Your go-to slicing-and-dicing surface can harbor 200% more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat, according to a study done by the University of Arizona. "In most cases, it's safer to make a salad on a toilet seat than it is to make one on a cutting board," Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson, told Today. (Pro tip: Do NOT make a salad on your toilet seat.)
Whether yours is wood, plastic or glass, you need to give it more than a quick wipe down after each use. If you have a wooden cutting board, you should disinfect it with bleach and treat it with mineral oil. However, if you have a plastic board, you can pour boiling water over it or even toss it in the dishwasher to sanitize it. To avoid cross-contamination, get different cutting boards for produce and raw meats.
This set of silicone cutting boards is color-coded and features icons in the corners, designating each one for a different type of food. There's one board for fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, poultry, meat and more.
One five-star fan loves their durability: "The reverse has sufficient texture to prevent movement of the mat while prepping, and the cutting surface shows negligible marking from EXTREMELY sharp Zwilling Pro cutlery. Very pleased with this purchase."
Knife block
Okay, even as a self-proclaimed germaphobe, the presence of contaminants on a traditional knife block surprised me — but when you think about it, it makes sense. If you don't clean your knives well enough, food particles and bacteria can collect inside each slot in your block. To clean it, you can shake it upside down over the sink to remove crumbs and let it sit in hot, soapy water for a while. Then, let it dry out completely before placing your blades back inside.
If that sounds like too much of a chore (especially since you'll want to do it regularly), get rid of your old-school block and replace it with an easy-to-clean flat, magnetic knife holder.
Like the name suggests, there's a magnet embedded in this block that'll keep your knives organized and in sight. It's way easier to clean than a slotted block, and if you want to show off any fancy, expensive blades, you can display them easily.
"I have high-quality knives but blocks that come with a set take up a lot of space and other knives get 'lost' in the drawer," said a fan. "I ordered two of these units, which organized all my knives into smaller space, and my knives are now easy to see and access as needed. The product arrived quickly and was beautifully packaged. The magnets are strong, the wood base is beautiful, easy assembly."
Related: The best chef's knives for 2025, tested and reviewed
Plastic food containers
An essential for every home chef, food containers can be a secret sanctuary for bacteria and pathogens. This is especially true of containers with a rubber seal. It's important to clean them really well — put them in the dishwasher if possible — and let them completely dry before closing them and tossing them back into the cupboard.
If you have any containers that are stained or worse for wear, consider replacing them. Oh, and if you'd like to steer clear of any potential BPA exposure, consider tosssing the plastic and investing in glass ones.
These are dishwasher-, microwave-, freezer- and oven-safe. The leakproof lids snap to lock with a BPA-free silicone ring keeping everything airtight. However, the silicone rings are removable, so you can easily wash them — put them in the dishwasher or soak them in hot, soapy water.
"This set is so perfect in many ways," this reviewer wrote. "They stack inside each other — space-saving — I do wash the lids in warm, soapy water and the dishes in the dishwasher. They are lighterweight than most glass storage containers which is wonderful for arthritis sufferers."
Related: The best food storage containers for 2025, tested and reviewed
Coffee maker filters
Come on, when was the last time you remembered to replace your coffee maker's filter? (That's what we thought.) Give your morning helper a good cleaning according to its instructions, soaking the water reservoir in hot, soapy water and replacing the filter ASAP.
According to Keurig, you should replace your water filter every two months. Write it down in your calendar or set a reminder in your phone, and stock up on these. This 12-pack should last you nearly two years! Keep in mind that not only does the filter clean your water, it also prevents particles from entering your machine and building up inside.
Related: The best Keurig coffee maker for 2025, tested and reviewed
Soap dispenser
Ever thought about how dirty your soap dispenser might be? After all, it's probably the first thing you touch after handing raw meat, eggs and unwashed produce. Make sure you're giving it a good wipe-down with an anti-bacterial cleaner every day. Better yet, upgrade to a model you don't even have to touch.
This battery-operated automatic model has a motion sensor to detect when your hand is underneath and squirts out the perfect amount of soap.
More than 27,000 Amazon shoppers have given it a five-star rating, with one reporting: "I have ordered six of these in our home and really love them. They're easy to fill and maintain, and there's no mess with them. Very easy to use, nice quality."
Spice jars
Remember that study that found your spice jars are particularly vulnerable to cross-contamination? Swap out all those supermarket containers for a new glass set that can be wiped down with ease.
These 4-ounce containers not only give your cabinet a more uniform look, but they're easy to clean and come with a funnel, so it's easy to fill them up.
Things you should clean in your kitchen in 2025
Not everything needs to be pitched! Plenty of kitchen gear will be just fine after a little cleaning TLC — here's what will help make the task easier.
Refrigerator
You keep all of your food in your refrigerator, so, yeah, you want to keep it clean. You can use a fragrance-free dish soap, bleach or baking soda to clean the drawers and shelves — follow these steps for ensuring you hit every nook and cranny.
Highly scented dish soap could throw off the smell or even the flavor of the food in your fridge. Keep things tasting as they should by cleaning with a fragrance-free soap like this one. It's biodegradable and hypoallergenic too.
Kitchen sink
If you aren't already doing it, you should clean your kitchen sink daily. In fact, go a step further and clean it after every meal. Does that sound excessive? Well, try this factoid on for size: There's more E. coli in a kitchen sink than a toilet after you flush it. The thing is, E. coli lives and grows in wet, moist environments like your sink, and bacteria feeds on the food left in there or shoved down the drain.
Spritz away to clean your kitchen sink, not to mention your countertops, cabinet handles and more. However, if you're strictly looking to disinfect, wipe down the surface, then spray this on and let it sit for at least two minutes before wiping it up. Then rinse with clean water.
Dishwasher
You may not think to clean your dishwasher — doesn't it clean itself every single day? However, if you're noticing that your dishes are not getting as clean as they usually do or if the interior smells, it's time for a serious cleaning. You can watch this video from Home Depot on how to remove the filter and spray arms to give them the deepest clean. There are also tablets you can use to get rid of limescale and mineral buildup to keep your machine in tip-top shape. They'll get at hard-to-reach places like the tub, the internal hoses and the pump and valve.
Simply put one of these tablets in the detergent tray and run a normal dish cycle. If you suspect your machine is extra-grimy, you can toss a second one in the bottom of the machine as well. Do this once a month, and your machine will be golden!
Salt and pepper shakers
Just think about all the hands that touch these — everyone in your whole household, plus friends and family that come over for a meal. Our advice: Empty your shakers and give them a good soak in hot, soapy water, and use a brush to scrub off any residue on the insides. Important: Make sure they're completely dry before refilling.
You can use this set of brushes to clean your salt and pepper shakers, as well as reusable straws, water bottles (like your Stanley tumbler!) or hard-to-reach areas around the kitchen. The brushes are dishwasher-friendly, so you can sanitize them when you're done using them.
Can opener
When was the last time you cleaned your can opener? Never? Well, do it now. The cutting wheel often touches the food inside the can, and if it doesn't get washed properly, it can accumulate bacteria like E.coli and salmonella. Use a brush to remove any food particles from the wheel and wash it with hot water and soap. To disinfect it, let it sit in a bleach-water solution, then rinse and dry it off to prevent rust.
Dissolve one of these in a gallon of hot water and scrub your can opener and any other kitchen items that need a good disinfecting.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
