There is nothing like reading a brutally honest Reddit thread to make you question your entire cleaning routine. At least, that is what happened to me after reading a thread on the dirty things Redditors notice in other people's homes that ‘ick them out’.
We’re not just talking about dirty toilets and full trash cans, here. From the tops of condiment bottles to towels, it turns out that guests notice the tiniest details – and remember them long after they leave. Oh dear.
So, spurred on by horrified curiosity, I have rounded up seven of the most shocking dirty things Redditors notice in other people's homes to better flesh out my pre-guest cleaning checklist, lest my home end up on this damning thread.
Dirty things Redditor’s notice in people's homes
In the r/CleaningTips subreddit, u/flowerybb started the discussion thread ‘What are things you notice in another person’s home that, if dirty, ick you out?’, and I was stuck reading it for hours, gripped my morbid curiosity and a fear of being the unwitting perpetrator of one of the icky cleaning mistakes.
So, to save you the time, these are the seven ‘icks’ I found that people seem to agree on – a rare occurrence on the internet.
1. Crusty build-up around condiments
Cleaning the things in your fridge is just as important as the fridge itself.
Cleaning a refrigerator goes beyond wiping down the shelves, and these Redditors' observations have proved it. For u/Avalolo, their biggest ick is, ‘When jam jars, condiment bottles, etc, have an excessive amount of crusty buildup around the rim.’
They are not alone, either. u/tdawg210 added, ‘Or cross-contamination – jelly stripes in the peanut butter jar or bits of tuna/egg/what have you in the mayo jar.’
With u/kkillbite concluding, ‘please add crumbs in the butter to your list.’
It’s safe to say that cleaning condiment jars to make my fridge look better is now going to be a part of my weekly kitchen cleaning checklist.
Using a microfiber cloth, from Walmart, dampened with a little warm water and some Dawn dish soap, from Target, should make this a quick addition to my list of chores. Just make sure it's all fully dry before resealing and popping back in the fridge as water droplets are an open invite for mold.
2. Kitchen spills
Keep your appliances spotless to impress guests.
Sticking with the theme of kitchen cleaning mistakes, the inside of your appliances and cabinets is another ick for many Redditors. u/Merrybee16 simply said, ‘Refrigerators. Some people are absolutely disgusting about spills and stains in their fridges. Refrigerators followed closely by microwaves,’ they added.
This is one I can certainly agree with, and one I pride myself on avoiding with regular use of my favorite pink grapefruit Method all-purpose spray, from Target, and a clean cloth.
Plus, every few weeks, I deep clean my kitchen with a steam cleaner, specifically the Black & Decker 7-in-1 steam cleaner, from Walmart leaving no spill or stain behind.
It is not just spills to pay attention to, but the contents of your fridges and cabinets, too. In one of the worst anecdotes I found in the thread, u/Ecstatic-Wasabi shared, ‘I recently visited my in-laws and I ended up gutting the kitchen after realizing the box of brownies I was making for my father-in-law were from 2014.
'I found multiple frosting tubs, the oldest was from 2007. Jello boxes, canned goods, hard of random sauces, just so much food! My mother-in-law didn't even realize when it went missing.’
This comment was left two years ago, so I am praying they have become a bit better at decluttering a fridge since then.
3. Damp hand towels and no soap
Keep soap by the sink at all times.
It isn’t just your kitchen under scrutiny by your guests. Redditors were quick to point out all the unhygienic bathroom mistakes that gross them out, too.
First pointed out by u/maria0284, ‘not having soap in the bathroom’ is a common ‘ick’ amongst Redditors, with many adding that used hand towels only make it worse.
u/TeaWithKermit admitted, ‘I cannot stand using other people’s towels, especially if they are already wet. I just use my jeans instead. Several years ago, I realized how much I hate it, and I now provide a nicely folded stack of white washcloths for my guests to use with a basket to throw the used ones in.
'I bought several packs of 12 washcloths at Target super cheaply, and now I get to feel morally superior that my guests will have a pleasant hand-washing experience.’
Don't forget to add in a convenient laundry basket, such as this woven hamper, also from Target, next to the sink to give your guests somewhere to drop their used hand towel and wash them on high heat to banish bacteria.
4. Stickiness
Keep high-touch points clean to avoid sticky messes that 'ick' guests out.
While u/CindiCindi15 had a bone to pick about sticky bathroom floors, u/dragonstkdgirl added, ‘sticky anything.’
From door handles, to remote controls, to light switches and even furniture, every potentially sticky item was highlighted by one user or another, so I will be upping my focus on target hygiene cleaning before guests arrive, focusing on any high-touch points that could potentially be left with residue.
For floors, using one of the best steam mops can help mitigate stickiness left behind by cleaning products, while following the disinfecting golden rules and using a quality non-toxic cleaning product, such as the Attitude all-purpose cleaner, from Walmart, and a cloth can tackle surfaces.
5. Dirty cutlery
Don't disgust guests with dirty flatware.
Both the cutlery and the utensil drawer are a magnet for Reddit’s disdain. u/NSH-43 shared, ‘I hate when bits of food are left stuck on utensils after they’ve been washed.’
If you use a dishwasher, it may be that you are making some common dishwasher mistakes, resulting in an uneven clean. When handwashing dishes, I avoid this common ick by using the right tools, such as a Scrub Daddy sponge, available at Walmart, and quality dish soap, such as Dawn PowerWash, also from Walmart.
u/queen_dr_mam added that a dirty cutlery drawer is just as bad, with another commenter adding, ‘I live alone and am a clean person, and I have no idea how the drawer gets dirty, but it drives me insane.’
I rushed to clean mine after reading this comment, realizing it is one of the dirty hidden areas of a kitchen I forget to clean. Having a removable cutlery drawer organizer, similar to this OXO expandable utensil organizer from The Container Store, made this simple and allowed me to refresh it in the sink.
6. Toothpaste globs
Toothpaste splatters and hard water marks need to be cleaned regularly.
As I use an electric toothbrush, I have become accustomed to having little toothpaste splatters all over my bathroom vanity and mirror. However, it turns out it is common ick for guests.
As u/DiscoLibra shared, ‘Toothpaste globs in the sink and spittle dots all over the bathroom mirror’ are seriously off-putting.
Although it has always been part of my weekly bathroom cleaning routine to clear these spots away, it is now a daily habit of mine to wipe them up, using a damp cloth. I keep a stash of clean microfiber cloths ready to go.
The Method Glass Gleaner, available at Walmart, makes light work of cleaning a mirror without streaks with the added benefit that it smells of mint, banishing bad bathroom smells at the same time.
7. Dirty water filters
A fridge water dispenser and filter needs cleaning every few weeks.
It is all well and good having the best water filters in your home, but they could be grossing out your guests.
u/theWanderingShrew shared, 'A dirty water and/or ice dispenser on the fridge is a big ick for me. I work in other people's homes, and I'm so picky about which houses I'll refill my water bottle in. So many people let these things get so mildewy and crusty it's revolting.’
It isn’t just a fridge, either. u/MissUseofImagination added, ‘Similar to this, dirty Brita or other water filters are so gross.’
It turns out that, along with cleaning a water pitcher filter, you should be cleaning your drinking water faucets, too. A small head bristle brush, such as the Mr. Siga detail brushes from Walmart, makes it easy to get into all the small gaps for thorough cleaning, especially when paired with cleaning with vinegar to clear away limescale and mold. The Great Value White Vinegar, from Walmart, makes this a super affordable hack, too.
What to shop
This pack of two method cleaning sprays is made with plant-based ingredients, for a refreshing, quick clean without any harsh ingredients.
The Scrub Daddy sponge softens under hard water and toughens under cold water, allowing you to adjust the level of abrasive you need depending on the task at hand, be it cleaning cutlery or removing sticky residue.
Pack of three
Sponge cloths are plant-based and free from plastics. They decompose in compost heaps in around 10 months, making them an eco-friendly, hygienic alternative to traditional sponges and paper towels. They can also be quickly cleaned in a dishwasher, ready for reuse.
Baking soda is a natural abrasive that helps break down tough deposits without scratching delicate surfaces such as metal and glass. Mixed into a paste with water or use with vinegar for fizzy cleaning. It's safe for use in most areas of your home.
Clementine scent
This hand soap is paraben-free, and is made without phthalates or animal-derived ingredients, and is instead scented with essential oils to be softer on skin.
Steam cleaning is a great non-toxic cleaning tool that can sanitize and disinfect surfaces without the need for harsh chemicals. It can also help to limit the need to scrub.
These seven are just the tip of the iceberg. The subreddit is a never-ending minefield of certified ‘icks’ that could be putting off your guests.
Be warned, however, that not all Reddit threads are helpful. We have rounded up some of the worst cleaning tips on Reddit to help you sort fact from fiction and avoid some common cleaning pitfalls.
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