6 Kitchen Spots Everyone Forgets to Clean

Cleaning the kitchen is no small feat. After all, the kitchen is the center of the home. We not only cook and eat there, but we spend a lot of time hanging out or doing work in there too. Naturally, dirt, grime, and crumbs tend to build up pretty quickly. While we (almost) always remember to wipe down kitchen mainstays like the countertops and clean out the fridge, there are still a lot of little nooks and crannies we tend to forget. So we spoke to the experts to find out which places we need to check twice. Read on, then grab your microfiber cloth!

Inside the Dishwasher

“Many people assume dishwashers clean themselves, but over time, food particles, grease, and soap scum actually accumulate inside,” says Pleshek. And all of these leftovers can leave a funky smell behind and even cause your washing machine to work less well over time. He recommends running a cleaning cycle with a vinegar or dishwasher detergent once a month to keep it stench-free. And don’t forget about the filter! Matt Schmitz, managing editor at HomeServe, suggests doing this somewhere between every week and every month, depending on how often you use your dishwasher.

Cabinet Tops

Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they don’t get dirty! “If your kitchen cabinets don’t reach the ceiling, the tops are likely covered in a layer of dust and grease,” Plashek says. This can make them both sticky and unsanitary (ew). “A quick wipe-down with a degreaser every few months will keep them from becoming a greasy mess.”

Underneath an Electric Stovetop

Did you know that most electric stovetops lift up? If you take a peek underneath, you’ll find a ton of grease and food. “Over time, this buildup can cause unpleasant odors in your kitchen if left uncleaned,” Pleshek says. Get into the habit of lifting the stovetop up to wipe away any debris about once a month.

Refrigerator Coils

Pleshek notes that this is probably one of the most commonly overlooked areas in the whole home, but behind or beneath your refrigerator, there are condenser coils that are essential for maintaining the right temperature inside of the fridge. “When your refrigerator coils become covered in dust and dirt, it forces the appliance to work harder, reducing efficiency and increasing energy costs,” he says. Cleaning these coils regularly can help extend the life of your fridge.

Garbage Disposal

“All that nasty crud you wash down the drain might be out of sight and out of mind, but it’s going to build up over time and provide an unfavorably fragrant reminder in your kitchen,” Schmitz says. He suggests filling the garbage disposal to the brim with ice, then running cold water and letting the disposal run until the ice is totally crushed. “Your disposal will spit up a sickening snow cone of sludge,” he says. Yuck.

Oven Broiler

All of those juices that drip out of your delicious food? This is where they end up. Before you clean yours, check the manufacturer instructions for your range and oven. Then, if you’re OK to move forward, this is what Schmitz suggests: “Open the drawer, spray down the broiler pan and other soiled surfaces with the oven cleaner,” he says. Do NOT spray the cleaner directly on the heating elements.” Let the product sit for the recommended time and, wearing latex gloves, wipe down the the sprayed surfaces with a damp sponge. Then going over it again with a clean, wet microfiber cloth.