6 dirty things you forget to clean every week
Six everyday items you forget to clean that are secretly home to harmful bacteria and germs.
Your TV Remote and Light Switches
Your Smartphone
Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths
Reusable Water Bottles
Door Handles and Cabinet Knobs
Your Toothbrush Holder
-
1 / 6
You wipe the counters, mop the floor, and wash the dishes — so your home must be clean, right?
Not quite.
Even the tidiest people often overlook a few spots that quietly collect bacteria, mold, and grime faster than a garbage bin.
Here’s the truth: some of the dirtiest items in your home are the ones you touch all the time but never think about cleaning.
They don’t look filthy, but under a microscope, they’re teeming with germs.
Here are six commonly forgotten things you should clean every week — and why skipping them could be ruining your home hygiene.
1. Your TV Remote and Light Switches
These small devices are germ magnets. You touch them multiple times a day — often while eating, sneezing, or scrolling — but rarely clean them.
Why it matters:
Studies show that TV remotes can carry more bacteria than toilet seats. They’re constantly handled but almost never disinfected.
How to clean it:
Wipe with a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Use a cotton swab for buttons and crevices.
Avoid spraying directly to prevent moisture damage.
Do the same for light switches — just one quick wipe weekly makes a huge difference.
2. Your Smartphone
You take it everywhere — the gym, the bathroom, even your bed.
It’s basically a petri dish that lives in your pocket.
Why it matters:
Phones harbor bacteria like E. coli, staphylococcus, and even viruses. When you hold it near your face, you’re literally pressing germs against your skin.
How to clean it:
Turn it off before cleaning.
Use a soft cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol or special phone wipes.
Don’t forget the case — wash it with soap and warm water weekly.
A clean phone = fewer breakouts and fewer germs near your mouth and hands.
3. Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths
Ironically, the things meant to clean your kitchen are often the dirtiest items in it.
Sponges and dishcloths soak up moisture and food residue — a paradise for bacteria.
Why it matters:
Research shows that a kitchen sponge can contain more than 300 types of bacteria, including harmful strains like Salmonella.
How to clean it:
Microwave a damp sponge for one minute to kill bacteria.
Or soak it in a mix of water and vinegar for 5 minutes.
Replace sponges every week and wash dishcloths in hot water after every use.
Clean tools = clean dishes.
4. Reusable Water Bottles
They’re eco-friendly, but not self-cleaning.
Water bottles collect bacteria from your mouth and hands — especially around the lid and straw.
Why it matters:
The moisture inside creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and germs.
Even a bottle filled with plain water can grow bacteria overnight.
How to clean it:
Disassemble all parts (cap, straw, rubber rings).
Wash daily with hot, soapy water and a bottle brush.
Once a week, soak everything in a mix of baking soda and vinegar for deep cleaning.
If it smells weird — that’s a sign bacteria have already moved in.
5. Door Handles and Cabinet Knobs
These are the ultimate “high-touch” zones — everyone in your house uses them multiple times daily.
Yet, because they don’t look dirty, they’re easy to ignore.
Why it matters:
Door handles collect oils, sweat, and germs from every hand that touches them.
When someone’s sick, these surfaces become the fastest route for spreading infection.
How to clean it:
Wipe with a disinfecting spray or alcohol wipe once a week.
Focus on bathroom and kitchen handles — they carry the most germs.
For brass or metal handles, dry them completely to avoid corrosion.
6. Your Toothbrush Holder
You rinse your toothbrush daily — but what about the cup or holder it sits in?
That damp environment is a bacterial paradise.
Why it matters:
Moisture from wet toothbrushes drips into the holder, where bacteria and mold grow unchecked.
How to clean it:
Rinse the holder with hot, soapy water once a week.
Disinfect with diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide if needed.
Let it dry completely before placing toothbrushes back.
Clean holder = clean brush = healthy mouth.