When you think about the germiest parts of your home, the toilet and trash can seem like the obvious culprits, so it will come as a surprise to know that the less obvious places tend to be the dirtiest.

Take your kitchen, for example. According to Healthline, dish sponges and rags often contain salmonella and E. coli. Ditto for your doorknobs, switches, and the TV remote.

So the next time you embark upon a good cleaning session, pay attention to these 10 places, which tend to be the dirtiest in a home and can make you sick:

1. Kitchen sink. Bacteria colonies can thrive in your kitchen sink. Rinsing food or leaving dishes to sit can make the perfect breeding ground for germs and if you are not giving your sink a good scrub down, they will continue to grow, The Active Times noted.
2. Stove range hood. Layers of grease tend to accumulate on the range hood or exhaust fan of stoves, but most people tend to overlook this when cleaning up. Dust gets stuck to the grease and germs can also breed here, Care.com reported.
3. Laundry. Are you guilty of leaving wet laundry in the machine? The bad news is that if you let clothes sit for more than 30 minutes in a washer, germs can flourish, Healthline noted.
4. Light switches and door handles. How many times do you open a door or flick the light switch on? Now think about how often you give your light switches and door handles a good clean. Even if you wash your hands regularly, chances are these are not completely bacteria-free and you are transferring the dirt from your hands to everything you touch in your home, Care.com said.
5. Can opener. Most of us are guilty of overlooking the can opener when doing the dishes, but we really shouldn't, The Active Times reported. Every time we open a can, the blade comes into contact with food. Mold, yeast, and even E. coli and salmonella can gather over time.
6. Bathtubs. Giving the bathtub a quick wipe down may not be good enough because this is a germ hotspot. The soap scum, dead skin cells, and bacteria left over from your last bath are gathering here, Care.com pointed out.
7. Makeup bag. Makeup applicators are the perfect breeding ground for germs, which can cause skin and eye infections, Healthline noted. Makeup brushes should be washed regularly with soap and water. Ideally, they should be disinfected with an alcohol spray.
8. Knife block. How often do you clean your knife block? Mold, yeast, and bacteria could be gathering in the deep recesses, especially if you put the knives away when they are still damp, The Active Times said.
9. Mattress. Dead skin cells and dust mites accumulate on your mattress over time, which is why it is important to vacuum it regularly, said The Active Times.
10. Pet bowls and toys. Studies show that pet bowls are among the top germiest spots in your home and that pet toys carry staph, yeast, and mold. According to Healthline, it is important to clean them regularly with hot, soapy water.

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