Although the kitchen may be the heart of a home, it is also the dirtiest place in a home. The obvious mess in your kitchen would be used dishes, sticky floors, or a crusty oven. However, many areas and objects are often overlooked, and you might forget to clean them. These surfaces are touched daily, so it’s essential to disinfect them regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria and cross-contamination.
Dirtiest places in your kitchen
Cutting boards
Cutting boards, especially the wooden boards, can harbour bacteria in their tiny nooks and crannies that appear after even a single use. It is important to wash the boards after every use. Use hot, soapy water and rinse well with hot water. To minimise the dirt, have at least two separate cutting boards. One for fruits and vegetables and one for meats. This will reduce cross-contamination during meal prep.
Countertops
A lot happens on your countertop. This is why it is important not to neglect your kitchen counters. They’re often the areas where shopping bags and other items are placed daily, on top of being a place to prepare food. At least weekly, take time to disinfect with a clean cloth or disinfectant spray before preparing food. Avoid using sponges or used dishcloths, as they may harbour bacteria and germs that can spread.
Small appliances
Small appliances such as coffee makers, blenders, or juice makers can harbour so much dirt in hidden places. Most small appliances must be cleaned after every use. Disassemble and clean your appliances thoroughly at least once a week. Apply the same cleaning routine to utensils such as can openers, spoons, and cups.
Sinks
Although water flows freely from your kitchen sink, tiny microbes are present on the surface. This makes it vital for kitchen sinks to be disinfected after every meal preparation, washing dishes or at least once per day, not forgetting the handles, faucet and other areas near the sink. They catch all the splatter from the sink.
Sponges, dishcloths, etc
Many homes make use of sponges, sink scrubbing brushes, and fabric dish towels. Unfortunately, these kitchen cleaning essentials harbour high bacterial levels, especially if not washed properly and disinfected. The best you can do is to wash daily in hot water after each meal preparation or cleaning session. Soak them in hot water with disinfectant to try to reduce the levels of bacteria.
Compiled by Chumasande Matiwane
First published on Garden & Home
