The Kitchen is one of the best places to be when you’re hungry, but it can also be one of the worst places to be when you’re cleaning. Everything you use or touch seems like it needs constant cleaning and attention. Even places that look clean can be dirtier than you think. If you use you sink as a place to wash your dishes it may have more bacteria than your toilet and contain E. coli and salmonella. Here are several tips to consider next time you are cleaning in your kitchen.

Know your Kitchen: There are many places in your kitchen that you might not be aware of that require your attention. The corner that lies where your cabinets meet the ground and underneath your fridge are a gathering places for food particles, dust and even mold.

Clean as you go: Make sure to clean dishes, utensils and appliances as you use them. This is important because if you let things sit around they can create one big mess in your sink or on your counter. This also goes for your fridge. Make sure you throw out old expired food that can lead to unwanted odors and mold instead of pushing them to the back.

Cleaning your Refrigerator: Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar. This ensures that your refrigerator is disinfected as well. If there is still an unwanted odor try leaving an open carton of baking soda in your fridge to absorb the smell.

Cleaning the Microwave: Fill up a cup of water and put it in the microwave on high for a few minutes. The steam from the cup will loosen any stuck-on food, and then you can just wipe it away.

Deodorize your Garbage: If your trash cans smell because of lasts night’s diner you threw out you can easily deodorize them. If it is contents of the trash that is creating odor sprinkle some backing soda in the garbage. If the trash can itself smells bad you can clean and disinfect it with distilled white vinegar.

Green Cleaning Tip: Save money and trees buy finding alternatives to paper towels. For instance buy a reusable rag, or microfiber cloth from a supermarket or kitchen store. You can also repurpose old clothes that you don’t wear anymore.