The dirtiest items in the kitchen that you FORGET to clean and easy ways to make them pristine again

Many proud homeowners are meticulous about cleaning – but there are still some things that even the most diligent of them forget.

Cleaning expert Joyce French from UK advisory website homehow.co.uk has revealed the dirtiest household items we often neglect.

These include salt and pepper shakers, can openers, which, according to the specialist, should be washed with vinegar and warm water after each use, and knife blocks.

Forgotten dirty areas also include kitchen sinks and door and cabinet handles, which Joyce recommended cleaning with white vinegar diluted with water every day.

Here FEMAIL offers an overview of the neglected germs in a house and how often you should clean them …

Cleaning expert Joyce French said a can opener (pictured) should be washed after each use by dipping it into a container filled with warm water and vinegar

tin opener

Cleaning expert Joyce French said a can opener should actually be washed after each use by dipping it into a container filled with warm water and vinegar.

“If you use your can opener regularly, it can rust and may not work properly, so you should try to clean it as often as possible,” said the cleaning expert.

“The best and easiest way to clean a can opener is to put it in a container and fill it with warm water and vinegar to make sure the can opener is fully submerged.

“That should take about twenty minutes to an hour. During this time you may find that some of the dirt is floating in the tub. This is a good indicator that the cleaning solution is working.

After twenty to sixty minutes, you should remove the can opener and inspect it. If there are stubborn stains, you can scrub the area with a toothbrush. Once it’s completely clean, you can rinse it off with clean, warm water. ‘

Knife block

Expert Joyce recommended cleaning a knife block (pictured) with either a pipe cleaner or a toothbrush after turning the item upside down to remove any loose dirt inside

Expert Joyce recommended cleaning a knife block with either a pipe cleaner or a toothbrush after turning the item upside down to remove any loose dirt inside.

She said, “Many kitchens have knife blocks that can hold knives of all sizes. However, they also contain a significant amount of moisture as the knives are often washed and put back into the knife block without drying.

“To avoid moisture damage and mold, you should try to wipe your knife block regularly. Before cleaning, you should remove all knives and wash and dry them properly.

The knife block should be turned over to remove crumbs. Then use a pipe cleaner or toothbrush when the holes are large enough to clean the slots.

“The outside can then be cleaned with warm water and detergent. Then rinse and dry thoroughly before putting everything back in.”

Salt and pepper shaker

While Joyce barely ever made our “To Clean” lists, the salt and pepper shakers (above) accumulated a significant amount of grease, dirt, and debris

While Joyce barely ever made our “To Clean” lists, he said that salt and pepper shakers collect a significant amount of grease, dirt, and debris and should be cleaned once a month.

She explained, “One thing in your kitchen that you may not even think about is your salt and pepper shakers. However, these can actually form a significant amount of grease, dirt, and debris.

“To clean your salt and pepper shakers, you must first put salt and pepper in a bowl so that you can thoroughly clean the shakers.

After emptying, you should fill a bowl with hot water and dish soap and submerge the shakers. You can then use a tea towel to clean the inside of the salt and pepper holders.

“You should use a bottle brush on stubborn stains, then rinse with water and let dry before pouring salt and pepper back on.”

Kitchen handles

“Kitchen handles (pictured) are one of the main causes of germs because you keep touching the cabinet doors while cooking,” warned the cleaning expert

“Kitchen handles are one of the main causes of germs because you constantly touch the cabinet doors while cooking, which can even transmit dangerous bacteria such as salmonella,” warned the cleaning expert.

“To make sure your kitchen is safe and bacteria-free, you should try to clean your kitchen handles on a daily basis.

“You can use a simple white vinegar cleaning solution diluted with water that you can pour into a spray bottle to make the process easier.

“You can also dip a cloth in the solution and wipe the inside and outside of the handles. Be sure to rinse them with water and dry them with a clean paper towel.”

Tea and coffee holder

“If you have tea and coffee holders in your kitchen, they can get dirty very easily, as the coffee and tea granules tend to stick to the canisters and even make them dirty,” said the cleaning expert.

“After you’ve used all of your tea bags or coffee, you should clean them thoroughly. To do this, you should first rinse the holders and then soak them with warm water and washing-up liquid for about five to ten minutes. The canisters should then be rinsed with warm water and dried thoroughly before tea or coffee can be placed in the holders.

“A rule of thumb for cleaning tea and coffee holders is to clean them at least once a month or every time they are empty.”

kitchen sink

“You may not notice, but kitchen sinks contain a significant amount of dirt and bacteria, so it’s important that you clean the sink every day,” said the cleaning expert.

To ensure that you clean your sink properly without causing damage, it is important that you use cleaning products that are compatible with the sink material.

“For example, the best way to clean a stainless steel sink is to pour water into the sink and down the drain.

“You can use a brush for marks that won’t move. If your sink won’t drain, this can be resolved by pouring a mixture of water, baking soda, and vinegar down the drain.

“If you have a copper sink, repeat the above steps but replace boiling water with warm water and dish soap.

“Your sink should be cleaned every time you wash your dishes. However, a more thorough cleaning should be done at least once a month. “

Toaster

“Most households use a toaster regularly, but often forget to remove the crumbs and extra dirt. This should be done at least once a month to prevent crumbs from building up, ”said Joyce.

“Before cleaning your toaster, unplug it, remove the crumb tray and empty it into the container. You can then start cleaning the crumb tray with warm water and washing-up liquid. Once it’s thoroughly cleaned, you should let it dry.

“For the inside of the toaster, turn it upside down to remove loose crumbs. Then use a toothbrush to clean the wires and add some vinegar to remove any stubborn crumbs or dirt.

To finish, take a clean, damp cloth, apply some vinegar, and wipe the outside of the toaster. You can also use bicarbonate of soda to wipe away stubborn stains. ‘