The 6 kitchen areas most people miss during a spring clean – as experts urge fixing the hidden dirty spots before they ‘smell or attract pests’

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Springtime is finally upon us, and while that means Easter fun and better weather, it also signals the best time to clean our homes from top to bottom, ready for a summer of hosting.

But according to an expert, there are six hidden areas of the kitchen, in particular, that Britons regularly forget to fix up each spring.

Each year, worktops are wiped down, floors are scrubbed and cupboards are quickly reorganised in a bid to start the season afresh.

Yet Daniel Beadle, kitchen expert at Kitchen Warehouse UK Ltd, insisted that even the most thorough spring clean can leave behind some of the dirtiest spots in the home.

He said many people focus on what’s visible, while missing areas where grime eventually builds up.

‘People tend to clean what they can see straight away, like surfaces and floors. But it’s the hidden or less obvious areas that often collect the most dirt, grease and bacteria,’ said Daniel.

‘Once the weather warms up, any buildup you’ve missed can start to smell, attract pests or simply make the whole kitchen feel less fresh.’

Read on to discover the six kitchen areas most people miss during a spring clean…

The tops of cupboards and cabinets

The expert explained: ‘One of the most overlooked spots in any kitchen is right above eye level. The tops of cupboards often go untouched for months, if not years.

‘Grease particles from cooking rise and settle there over time, mixing with dust. What you end up with is a sticky layer that’s much harder to clean if it’s left too long. 

‘Because it’s out of sight, many people don’t think to check it. But once you do, it’s usually one of the dirtiest places in the kitchen.’

Cabinet handles and touch points

While most remember to wipe down their cupboard doors, handles are often missed or cleaned less thoroughly, claimed Daniel. 

He said: ‘These are some of the highest-contact points in the kitchen. They’re touched constantly throughout the day, often with hands that have been handling food.

‘Even if your kitchen looks clean, these small areas can still carry a lot of grime.’

He recommended including them as part of every deep clean rather than treating them as an afterthought.

The inside edges of drawers and cupboards

Spring cleaning often involves a quick tidy inside cupboards, but rarely a deep clean.

‘People might take items out and reorganise them, but they don’t always clean the actual surfaces thoroughly. 

‘Crumbs, spills and packaging residue can build up in corners and along edges. It’s those small areas that are easy to overlook, but they make a big difference to how clean your kitchen actually is,’ he explained.

He added that these hidden spots can also affect food hygiene. ‘If you’re storing fresh items or packaging near those areas, it’s worth making sure everything is properly cleaned.’

Extractor fans and filters

Extractor hoods are one of the hardest-working parts of a kitchen, but also one of the least cleaned.

‘They’re constantly pulling in grease, steam and airborne particles. That all builds up in the filter over time. 

‘If left unchecked, it can reduce performance. You might notice your kitchen staying steamy or smelling stronger after cooking,’ the expert said. ‘That’s often a sign the filter needs attention.

‘A greasy extractor can make the whole kitchen feel less clean, even if everything else is spotless.’

Behind and underneath appliances

Large appliances like fridges, ovens and washing machines are rarely moved during routine cleaning.

‘That space behind and underneath appliances is where crumbs, dust and grease all end up. This buildup can affect more than just cleanliness. 

‘It can impact how efficiently your appliances run, and in some cases even create odours that people can’t quite trace.

‘Also any food debris left behind can become a magnet for pests, especially as we head into warmer months,’ he warned.

The rubber seals of fridges and appliances

Daniel revealed: ‘Fridge seals and appliance edges are classic blind spots. Because they’re slightly hidden, people don’t always notice buildup there. But over time, it can affect hygiene and even how well your appliance functions.’

‘It’s a small job [to quickly clean them], but it helps keep everything working properly and feeling fresh.

‘A kitchen can look clean on the surface, but still have underlying areas where dirt has built up over time. That can affect everything from hygiene to how the space feels day to day.

‘It’s often those hidden spots that make a kitchen feel slightly off, even if you can’t immediately tell why.

‘A proper clean is about more than what you can see. If you want your kitchen to feel properly clean, you have to go beyond the obvious. 

‘You need to take a more thorough approach, even if it takes a bit longer. It doesn’t mean doing everything at once. But being aware of these areas and tackling them gradually can make a big difference.’

The products that could help with your spring kitchen cleaning…