The One Kitchen Spot You Never Clean Is Actually Crawling With Germs - Tasting Table

"No matter how diligent you are, chances are there are spots in your kitchen you forget to clean but that do need a good wash. We tend to focus on zones that feel obvious because of all the food directly passing through them, like the refrigerator, oven, stove, and sink, and it's easy to remember to wipe down counter tops because those surfaces are right in front of us with visible crumbs, spills, and residue."

"But everyone in your home is constantly touching them, possibly in the middle of prepping food or cleaning other areas. Because of its universally essential status, the light switch becomes a breeding ground: Once one person touches it, there are germs there to be picked up by the next person, and these germs then get spread to every other surface."

Kitchen surfaces receive constant traffic and food exposure, creating abundant opportunities for bacteria to spread. Many cleaning efforts focus on appliances and counter tops, leaving frequently touched items overlooked. Light switches are handled repeatedly by multiple people, often with contaminated hands, and therefore accumulate germs that transfer to subsequent touchers and other surfaces. Bacteria hazardous to health, including salmonella and E. coli, can thrive on light switches due to moisture and organic residue in kitchen environments. Regularly cleaning light switches interrupts the transmission cycle, reduces cross-contamination risk, and is a quick, simple step to improve overall kitchen hygiene.

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