Did you know that there are more than 30,000 different species of bacteria that have been discovered and named so far? Many of these bacteria live in our houses, on countertops, inside sinks, on the floors, and so on. The kitchen is a hot spot for bacteria.

This is because bacteria can travel from your food to your countertops and other surfaces. This is why cleaning your kitchen is important. But you might be making more common kitchen cleaning mistakes than you realize. 

Keep reading to learn more about these mistakes and how to avoid them. 

1. You Don’t Clean Your Sink

Many people think that their sink is clean because it receives running water throughout the day. But this is not true. Your sink can act as a magnet for bacteria if you’re not careful. 

Running water won’t clean the sink on its own. To remove bacteria and other microbes, you need friction. This is why it is important to scrub your sink once in a while. 

Scrubbing the sink with soap will dislodge any bacteria stuck to the sink. There will likely be some particles of food stuck to your sink as well. If you rarely clean your sink, the buildup of food and bacteria may make it develop a bad smell.

It may shorten the lifespan of your sink too. Aim to properly scrub your sink once a week. This will prevent any debris and bacteria from building up.

A kitchen cleaning service can help you with this. Or, you could add this chore to your kitchen cleaning routine.

2. You’re Not Washing Your Dish Towels

Dirty dish rags are a big culprit for the spread of bacteria. Many people reuse their dish towels endlessly without washing them. Over time, this will clog your rags with bacteria.

Mildew and fungus might start to grow within the fibers too. Using dirty, old rags to clean your dishes and countertops will only spread these microbes. This can make your entire kitchen filthy and you might not be aware of it. 

This will cause bacteria to grow throughout your kitchen. This could cause your kitchen to have a bad odor too. The trick is to clean your dish towels regularly. 

Throwing them in the washing machine after a few uses should do the trick. This will prevent excess microbial growth. Cycling through different towels is also a good way to keep them in good shape. 

3. You Forget to Clean Your Dishwasher

The dishwasher is a cleaning device, so it should stay clean, right? Not necessarily. Many people don’t clean their dishwashers because they think they will clean themselves. 

The problem with dishwashers is that food can get stuck in them. This is especially true for the bottom of the dishwasher. This area is often full of crevices, making it hard for food to escape.

Once the food gets stuck in your dishwasher, it will start to decay. This may lead to your dishwasher having a bad smell. You will need to clean the dishwasher manually to fix this problem. 

Cleaning it with a rag should do the trick. You can scrape away whatever might be stuck in the machine. Cleaning out your dishwasher might make it function better too. 

Cleaning the dishwasher once every other week is a good place to start. 

4. You Forget about the Garbage Disposal

Many people forget all about their garbage disposals. A garbage disposal functions to cut up whatever leftover food slides off of your plate and down the sink’s drain. The disposal does a good job of draining away the majority of this food. 

But it isn’t able to do away with all of it. Some food will get stuck in the garbage disposal. If you never bother to clean it, this food will start to break down and smell rotten. 

This can contribute to a very unpleasant smell in your kitchen. Cleaning your garbage disposal involves pouring kitchen cleaning products down the drain like vinegar. Doing this once a week should keep it clean.

5. You’re Using the Wrong Cleaning Products

Some people damage their countertops and other surfaces because they’re using the wrong cleaning products. They often do it without realizing it. Suppose you have granite countertops. 

Using a cleaning product like bleach can damage the natural stone. This is because the stone will get scratched and might even stain. This is very true when using abrasive materials like baking soda or old rags. 

Make sure you use the right products when cleaning. This will keep your kitchen looking brand new. This is true when cleaning kitchen floors and cabinets too.

6. You’re Not Cleaning Your Appliances

You have likely forgotten to clean your blender, toaster, coffee maker, and appliances in the past. Not cleaning these appliances will make your kitchen look and smell dirty. 

Cleaning all the crevices in these appliances can take a lot of time and effort. If you keep up with it, it will be easier. 

7. Not Pre-soaking Your Dishes

No one likes cleaning dishes. Pre-soaking them can make the process much easier. Soaking them in the sink with warm water will soften the food on them. 

This prevents the need to scrape your dishes. Instead, you can easily wipe away whatever might be stuck to them. This saves you a lot of time and effort. 

All about Common Kitchen Cleaning Mistakes

Many people make common kitchen cleaning mistakes without realizing it. You might forget to clean the sink or you might not realize you have to clean your dish towels. You might not clean your kitchen appliances or pre-soak your dishes either. 

Hiring a professional cleaner can make all this easier for you. Look no further than our cleaning services to learn more.