Despite your best of intentions, you could be doing real damage to your favourite kitchen kit by cleaning it the wrong way. From tarnishing tableware to damaging non-stick pans, here are 31 things to avoid doing next time you're deep cleaning – and some helpful tips on how to get sparkling results.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the common mistakes people make when cleaning kitchenware, counting down to the worst of all.
We've based our ranking on how bad the error is, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Salad spinners can be incredibly handy when it comes to thoroughly washing your leafy greens and veggies, ridding them of excess dirt and small bugs you might not otherwise catch. But this item needs more than a cursory wipe down after use. When you're washing up by hand, use warm soapy water and rotate the spinner in a whizzing direction in the sink to help remove any small bits of dirt trapped in the holes.
Placing a layer of foil at the bottom of your oven might seem like a good way to catch any drips or crumbs, but in modern ovens this is a real no-no. There are multiple reasons why this is a bad idea, from blocking air flow to causing fluctuating temperatures. It can even cause the oven to overheat in some cases.
Cleaning your garbage disposal with bleach or other abrasive cleaners may cause damage to the pipes and blades. Switch to an eco-friendlier option and try using rock salt and ice cubes, which will help dislodge any stubborn sludge. Fruit peels, baking soda and vinegar meanwhile will help eliminate lingering odours.
Cleaning a coffee machine with diluted vinegar has been recommended as an eco-friendly way to maintain the machine by removing limescale – but it could actually be doing more harm than good. While vinegar is good at cleaning plenty of items, using it on a coffee machine could cause the seal and rubber gaskets inside to erode. Most brands recommend using a gentle limescale remover or specific coffee machine solution to target the areas that need it most.
If you neglect to clean silverware, it can start to go yellow over time, before turning brown and ultimately black. Keep those family heirlooms in tip-top condition with a few simple steps. You can either use a non-abrasive silverware cleaner once or twice a year (depending on how often you use the cutlery), or you can remove tarnish by covering a baking dish with aluminium foil and mixing around 2oz (57g) baking soda and 2 tsp salt with boiling water and placing the silverware in the dish for around 30 minutes, then drying thoroughly once cool.
Enjoy meal prepping but hate your plastic containers smelling like yesterday’s lunch? You can simply remove the odour by rinsing them out with vinegar before washing with warm, soapy water. Once dry, pop a pinch of salt in the container – this should help prevent any pungent smells returning.
You may think your dishwasher gets a good clean every time it’s used, but it’s still important to give the door a thorough going over every now and again. As the water streams face towards the centre, the door is often missed and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Wipe it down at least once a week – or ideally, after every use.
Filling up the sink with dirty dishes and leaving them to soak might seem like a good idea, especially if they’re covered in stubborn grime, but leave them for too long and the filthy water will form a nasty stain around the sink. Investing in a washing up bowl is an easy way to solve this problem.
Soap and water just won't cut it when it comes to cleaning your garlic crusher thoroughly. Using a cocktail stick is the best way to ensure you've removed any remnants stuck in the grate. Or you could use the potato method – simply push a small piece of potato through the crusher; this will dislodge any stuck garlic and take any odours with it.
This may be a simple one, but it’s a step people often forget. Next time you’re deep cleaning your kitchen, remember to wipe down the cupboard doors, handles and even light switches – all of these are regularly used and can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
If hard water from your dishwasher has made your glassware go cloudy, there's an easy solution. You simply need to give your glasses a thorough hand wash to prevent the build-up becoming permanent. Allow your glasses to soak in warm vinegar for up to an hour, then scrub the stubborn spots with a sponge. Dry the glasses quickly for a shiny finish.
When was the last time you changed your scouring pad? Sponges and cleaning cloths can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Don't wait until they're falling apart; instead, replace them regularly and store them somewhere where excess liquid can drain away.
If last night’s pasta bake or chicken stew has left your Tupperware stained a dull orange, and soapy water won’t shift it, reach for the baking soda instead. Wipe the inside with a smooth water and soda paste and leave it to sit for an hour or so. By the time you come back, the stubborn marks should have disappeared. Alternatively, fill with a mix of vinegar and hot water and leave overnight.
Self-cleaning ovens may seem like a good idea, but they can cause serious issues. Newer ovens often have hidden heating elements, which result in temperatures rising when the cleaning function is in use. But this can also be a huge problem, as you risk overheating the appliance and ultimately damaging the fuses. To avoid, experts recommend ignoring this setting altogether and cleaning your oven the old-fashioned way.
To stop your dishwasher covering glassware in limescale in the first place, use a limescale remover once a month and check you’re using enough dishwasher salt. Every other month, give it a good rinse by pouring a cup of vinegar into a dishwasher safe bowl and running it on a heavy cycle. For an even fresher finish, once the vinegar cycle has finished, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom and run on a quick cycle.
From washing up dirty dishes to wiping down surfaces – or, worse, going from bathroom to kitchen – using the same sponge or cloth isn’t a good idea. You’ll be transferring harmful bacteria from room to room and surface to surface, meaning you could be more susceptible to getting ill. Use different cloths for different jobs to reduce this risk.
With all of the nooks and crannies around the blender blades, it's easy for food particles to get stuck inside – cue potential mould, blade corrosion and rust. Rather than leaving a smoothie or soup mixture to dry out before washing, rinse it thoroughly straight after use and allow to dry fully before storing.
As a rule of thumb, wooden utensils and kitchenware are best washed by hand. A super-hot clean in the dishwasher will cause the material to deteriorate – and fast. If any cracks or splits do appear in wooden utensils, get rid of them – these gaps are perfect places for bacteria to grow. Stick to handwashing, not soaking the utensils for too long and allowing each piece to dry fully before putting away.
House proud coffee drinkers will know just how irritating a stained mug can be, but you needn't throw it away. Instead, cover the stained area with a paste made from bicarbonate of soda and water, leave for around 10 minutes (longer if the stains are stubborn) and you'll soon have squeaky clean cups once again. Just remember to rinse them out thoroughly before you use them.
Fed up with onion and garlic smells lingering on your chopping board? There’s an easy solution to tackling this problem. To remove any odorous smells, cover your board in kosher salt and rub with half a lemon to create a paste. Allow to dry, brush off and then wash well, before leaving the board to dry completely.
From filling up water bottles to washing the dishes, the kitchen sink gets a lot of use – but when was the last time you properly cleaned it? Rinsing out your sink with warm water, wiping it down and drying it is an easy step to add into your daily routine, while deep cleaning it with baking soda and warm water once a week will help keep it squeaky clean.
Submerging your plastic lunchbox or Tupperware container in very hot water – or, worse, positioning it at the bottom of the dishwater near the hottest washers – will cause the plastic to soften and warp. Avoid this altogether and stick to handwashing with lukewarm water instead.
Using a metal scouring pad on a stainless steel or metal-style hob will scar it for life – and scratches will also make it more susceptible to rusting and staining. Bleach is also likely to mark and damage the surface. Instead, use soapy water and towel dry to prevent watermarks. You can also finish with glass cleaner if you need to remove any lingering fingerprints.
They may claim to be dishwasher safe, but high temperatures and strong cleaning chemicals can seriously wear down the non-stick coating on your pans. While it can be more time consuming, washing by hand with a soft sponge will prove beneficial in the long run. If you have a stubborn mark, let the pan soak in warm soapy water before wiping.
Not descaling your kettle will result in a build-up of limescale (preventing the elements from conducting heat effectively) and will also mean your kettle takes longer to boil and could burn out. You can buy limescale removers from supermarkets or try the old-fashion method; half fill your kettle with water and allow to soft boil (switching it off before it boils completely), then enough add vinegar or lemon to take it to three-quarters full. You can leave then leave for an hour or overnight, rinsing the following morning with fresh water to remove any remaining vinegar odours.
Cast iron pans may be brilliant at holding heat, but they're a bit of a pain to clean. Soaking in water, placing in the dishwasher or scrubbing with a scouring pad are all big no-nos, as this ruins the pan's protective surface. The solution? Wash it by hand with mild soap and warm water instead – and don’t forget to ‘season’ your cast iron pan regularly, to give the protective layer a boost (seasoning involves rubbing the pan with oil and then heating it in the oven, so the fat forms a plastic-like coating).
One of the most effective ways to keep on top of your kitchen cleaning is to tidy as you go. When you're waiting for pasta to simmer or while the stew is bubbling away in the pot, use this time to wipe down surfaces, clear away mess or stack the dishwasher.
Leaving any signs of grease or food particles on non-stick pans is going to cause issues. A build-up of grease can start to carbonise the surface, causing it to deteriorate at a faster rate. Remove any excess crumbs and wipe your pan with kitchen roll before rinsing it with cold water – this will not only remove the grease effectively, but also avoid oil blockages in your plumbing.
No matter how dirty or stained your wooden chopping board is, never submerge it in water or put it in the dishwasher. As a porous material, the wood will soak up any liquid and this internal moisture could cause it to warp or crack and it may even start to rot. Wash with a sponge instead and allow to dry thoroughly before storing.
While it can be tempting when there's a tough patch that won't budge, scrubbing non-stick pans with metal scouring pads is best avoided. This type of sponge will wear away the coating, leaving you with a less effective pan in the long run. Swap to a stiff sponge to avoid having to replace your pans.
Not only does over-filling your dishwasher prevent the water from circulating effectively – it also makes it more likely for utensils to obstruct the blades. Pack your dishes in neatly, leaving enough space between each item to allow the water jets to hit, and you'll save yourself time and effort, as nothing should need a second wash at the end of the cycle.
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Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.