Sure, you've removed any obvious signs of dirt and grime and the remnants of last night's dinner have been disposed of, but unfortunately, the saying "out of sight, out of mind" doesn't apply to germs and bacteria.

A 30-minute binge saves time, but the consequences could be bad for your health.

In fact, here are 10 items you didn't know you were cleaning wrong.

1. Toilet

The toilet seat isn't the dirtiest item in the bathroom - behind it is.

Even though great care and attention is taken to keep the bowl and seat clean, neglecting the area behind it can result in a build-up of urine and feces. One way to clean this area is with rolled paper towels.

Huffington Post says "Take two or three paper towels and roll them up tightly, as if you're rolling a cigar, dip them in a bucket of cleaner. Then, while facing the toilet, place the roll of towels behind it; take one end in either hand, and 'floss' the back base."

Let the cleaner sit for five minutes, floss again and dry.

2. Garbage disposals

Anything associated with the word "garbage" needs cleaning and the garbage disposal unit is no exception. Before resorting to a store-bought sink cleaner, try using homemade vinegar cubes.

Simply freeze vinegar like you would water, throw them down the drain when needed and turn on the disposal. Alternatively, a few citrus rinds can remove bad odours.

3. Towels

Fabric softener is a conditioner used to, well, make fabric soft. But in some cases its name can be misleading.

Christina Peterson from Good Housekeeping says, "While everyone loves to dry off with a soft towel, liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets can reduce the absorption factor of terry cloth and other fluffy fabrics."

Instead, laundry expert Marlowe Leverette recommends washing bath towels every three to five uses and adding some vinegar to the load.

4. Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is great for removing excess moisture from the air but if left unclean a dirty dehumidifier breeds mould and bacteria.

The Mayo Clinic says even in healthy people dehumidifiers have the potential to trigger flu-like symptoms or even lung infections when the contaminated mist or steam is released into the air.

The Mayo Clinic recommends changing the water and filter regularly and cleaning every three days.

Remove any mineral deposits or film from the tank or other parts of the dehumidifier with a 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide solution, which is available at pharmacies, it says.

5. Pet hair

Cleaning pet hair often seems futile.

While you can't prevent the hair from sticking to surfaces, you can minimise the amount. Give your pets a brush every few days with a good grooming tool and catch shedding hair before it hits the couch.

Alternatively, Bright Nest has another solution: rubber gloves. "Simply moisten your gloves with water and run your hand over the surface of your furniture."

6. Gym clothes

Gym clothes can quickly become a smelly pile of bacteria.

As well as softening fabric and eliminating static, Reader's Digest says vinegar also kills bacteria in your washing.

"A single cup of vinegar will kill off any bacteria that may be present in your wash load."

7. Red wine stains

Somewhere along the way, it became popular belief that red wine stains can be cleaned with white wine.

But according to Professor and assistant chairperson of Textile Development and Marketing, Ingrid Johnson, salt is the best way to clean red wine out of the carpet.

"The first and easiest thing to do is to sprinkle with salt as this will absorb the wine," Johnson says.

8. Coffee maker

If you aren't cleaning your coffee maker regularly, there's a good chance it has mould in it, according to a 2011 study.

Director of the Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab at Good Housekeeping, Carolyn Forté, says, "the carafe, lid and filter basket should be cleaned daily with warm, sudsy water." But she also recommends cleaning the machine with vinegar every few months.

9. Knives

It seems like a no-brainer to put everything in the dishwasher - that's what it's there for. But washing your knives in the dishwasher leaves them dull, blunt and susceptible to rust.

Simply handwash them with warm soapy water, it will only take a minute.

10. Sheets

Considering we spend one third of our lives asleep, for some, that means spending a considerable amount of time lying in dirty sheets.

Although Martha Stewart believes washing your sheets is a "personal preference", she recommends doing it weekly.

But if you enjoy a snack or two while in bed, the Post says this isn't enough. "For those who constantly eat in bed, she says every three days would be ideal."

SMH