One of the most common misconceptions about household cleaning is that the bathroom is the germiest room in the house. But contrary to popular belief, it’s actually the kitchen. According to the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), kitchens have more bacteria and fecal contamination (yikes!) than any other place in the house. To make matters worse, more than 75% of sponges and dishcloths, 45% of kitchen sinks, and 18% of cutting boards have tested positive for bacteria like E. coli. Salmonella and E. coliand fecal contamination was significantly reduced compared to just 9 percent of bathroom tap handles.
Let me fill you in on some gross (but true) information, but some commonly neglected places we tend to forget to clean include toothbrush holders, doorknobs, baseboards, coffeemakers, and those pesky gaps between windows and sliding doors. It goes without saying that garbage disposals, trash cans, dryer vents, washing machines, and technology should be cleaned weekly (though your phone, earphones, and keyboards should be cleaned daily). Oh, and don’t forget to clean your handbag and kids’ backpacks, too.
Now that we’ve got the most damning statistics of the day out of the way, we have a solution: 15 clever cleaning tools designed specifically to clean those oft-forgotten places in your home. From moldy coffee tanks to neglected baseboards that collect dust and debris, to ceiling fans and dryer vents, these cleaning tools will ensure no bacterial particles are left behind.
Buy the clever deep cleaning gadget on Amazon
- Magic Window Truck Cleaner Tool Set, $13 (was $16)
- Clark’s Cutting Board Oil & Wax Kit, $53
- Quick & Clean Keurig Cleaning Pods, $10
- KevinRooty Disposable Crevice Cleaning Brush Tool Kit, 50-Pack, $14 (Was $15)
- Bril UV-C Toothbrush Sanitizer, $30 (was $35)
- Holikme 15ft Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush, $13 (Was $22)
- Powerstone Pumice Toilet Bowl Cleaner, $14 (was $15)
- Pulidiki Universal Dust Cleaning Gel, $6 (was $9)
- Sauberkugel The Clean Ball, $11 (previously $13)
- Baseboard Buddy, $25
Magic Window Truck Cleaner Tool Set
Amazon
We have to admit, this is genius. If you’ve ever vacuumed or compressed aired your windows or sliding door tracks, you’ve already put in more effort than most people. Both areas can accumulate dust, dirt, and mold over time. Many of us have become accustomed to being dirty. But believe it or not, teeth You can too. This clever cleaning toolkit comes with 3 window groove brushes, 4 scouring pads, and 2 2-in-1 multi-purpose detachable dustpan brushes to easily clean the seemingly impossible places in your home. The window groove brush has a unique ergonomic design that is easy to grip and fits perfectly in the grooves. The cleaning brush has two sides, one end to sweep away loose dirt and the other end is a scraper to push dirt out. It can also be used on blinds, sills, car vents, shower door grooves, sinks, faucets, and other places.
Clark’s Cutting Board Oil and Wax Kit
Amazon
I was really surprised to learn that cutting boards are a breeding ground for E. coli, but it makes sense: Cutting boards are used to cut everything from raw meat to vegetables and lettuce, all of which are known potential vectors for E. coli. Salmonella and E. coliIf you touch the kitchen sink faucet and then your food or cutting board, the contamination pathway is pretty simple.
This set includes food-safe cutting board oil, wax, an applicator, and a buffing pad that work together to properly clean, condition, and restore your cutting board. The wax forms a protective barrier on the surface, preventing moisture, dirt, and debris from penetrating too deeply into the wood for future use. (It also helps protect the wood from scratches!)
Quick & Clean Keurig Cleaning Pods
Amazon
One of the most shocking findings from the study is how easily mold can grow in coffee makers, making you want to throw your coffee maker in the trash right away. But there’s no need for such drastic measures, because Keurig Cleaning Pods can remove scale from the inside of your Keurig. Each cleaning pod has holes around the cup, allowing for 360-degree cleaning, removing residue and old coffee grounds that have built up in your coffee maker’s pack holder, funnel, and outlet needle. With six pods per set, you’ll get up to three months of cleaning power if you use your coffee maker daily. It’s easy to use, just do two big brew cycles – one with a pod and one with just water.
KevinRooty Disposable Crevice Cleaning Brush Tool Kit 50pcs
Amazon
For those hard-to-reach places in your home, there are disposable crevice brushes that reach those places other brushes can’t. They’re literally as fine as a cotton swab, but with a longer handle that makes them easier to reach. Each brush is 9.2 inches long, with a 1.6 cm flat brush head made of soft non-woven fabric that can be used wet or dry. They’re great for removing all kinds of dirt and buildup in nooks and crannies, whether that’s in the crevices of your toilet, in the crevices of your fridge, between the keys on your keyboard, in your car vents, on door rails, window rails, baby bottles, and more. Basically, if you’re stuck on how to get to those hard-to-reach places, give these a try.
Bril UV-C Toothbrush Sanitizer
Amazon
Strictly speaking, the bathroom isn’t the dirtiest room in most homes, but it still has its share of dirty places (and moments). The most likely place for E. coli to thrive in the bathroom isn’t the toilet, but actually the toothbrush holder. In fact, 27 percent of toothbrush holders have tested positive for such bacteria. So what can you do? To minimize the amount of bacteria transferred from your toothbrush to your holder, sterilize the bristles with UV light technology immediately after use. This handy little gadget sanitizes in just three minutes, killing 99 percent of common bathroom germs and airborne particles. To be extra thorough, wipe down your holder daily.
Keep scrolling for more helpful cleaning gadgets that will really enhance your home cleaning routine, whether it be in the kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere else.
Holikme 15ft Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush
Amazon
Power Stone Pumice Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Amazon
Pulidiki Universal Dust Cleaning Gel
Amazon
Sauberkugel Clean Ball
Amazon
Baseboard Buddy
Amazon
Angry Mommy Microwave Cleaner
Amazon
KidsCleanCar Portable Go Kart
Amazon
Grill Rescue BBQ Scraper
Amazon
Herda 316L Cast Iron Scrubber Cleaner
Amazon
Universal Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizing Brush
Amazon
Blade Maid Ceiling Fan Cleaner
Amazon
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheet
Amazon
Jeymi 2 Pack Dump Clean Duster Sponge
Amazon
Ginsco 2-Piece Hard Bristle Gap Cleaning Brush
Amazon
Haomaomao Sewer Drain Brush
Amazon
