Germ-proofing the kitchen to protect the house and your health

Keeping a seemingly clean kitchen is easy, even for those who are not into it. However, you may not know how dirty your kitchen really is because germs are everywhere, and not handling them can lead to health problems and even affect your kitchen. For example, kitchen sponges and dishcloths might contain salmonella, while the kitchen sink can grow E. coli due to the high amount of food that goes down the drain. 

But deep cleaning isn’t always the optimal solution to keeping the kitchen clean and germ-proof. Cleaning sometimes means providing the right appliances and tools to minimise cleaning efforts and get rid of the harmful things around the kitchen you’ve used for too long. 

So, if you want to avoid foodborne illnesses while maintaining a high cleaning standard in your kitchen, here’s what you’ll need to do. 

Wipe and disinfect kitchen surfaces 

While it’s recommended that you wipe the countertops and surfaces daily, disinfecting them can be done less frequently, but it is necessary. Germs spread considerably fast in these areas, where you may place your outside groceries next to water glasses. At the same time, you might forget to wash your hands before touching these surfaces, which must be implemented for complete neatness and safety around the kitchen. 

One of the easiest ways to disinfect is using a solution made of liquid chlorine bleach and water. You can also buy a regular commercial sanitizer and wipe surfaces as you’d typically. Normally, you’d want to disinfect the sink and countertops. However, you can reduce the daily frequency to items that you don’t touch or use a lot, so if you’re interested in kitchen splashbacks models, know you won’t need to offer them that much attention. 

Use high temperatures for washing tools 

If you use a dishwasher or plan to buy one, know that it’s beneficial in eliminating bacteria from your dishes because it uses high temperatures in the washing cycle. At the same time, try to wash your dish towel, rags and hand towels at similar high temperatures, depending on your washing machine cycles, because this helps kill germs. 

But besides the high washing temperatures, you must also ensure the environment is as dry as possible, from the clothes you use to how wet the dishes are when you put them back. Remember not to let any wet rags around the kitchen because dampness is a direct invitation to germs and illnesses. Moreover, a wet room is prone to developing mould, which damages the room and affects your health. 

Maintain walls clean 

Even the walls can be the best place for bacteria in the kitchen, so it would be best to cover them with either HPL or plexiglass from the Plastic Sheets Shop for enhanced hygiene and ease of cleanliness. To keep them neat for longer, make sure to wipe them down, especially after cleaning. Try using natural solutions on the walls and combine vinegar with water, which won’t be as harsh to the materials as chemical products. 

The walls should also get a deep clean occasionally with a rigid brush or a sponge and thoroughly rinsed to eliminate all residue. Moreover, remember to dry the walls as much as possible to prevent mildew and mould growth. When it comes to disinfecting, you can use the same mix between bleach and water. 

Take the trash out 

Trash is dangerous if it sits too much around the kitchen. Although you may leave it for a day or two since it doesn’t develop strong smells immediately, it might attract mice and roaches that can damage the walls around it and require you to repair the surroundings. Plus, getting rid of pests in a room where you keep all the food is difficult and uncomfortable, which is why you must take the trash out daily. 

If you’re concerned about wasting all the plastic bags since you don’t always have enough trash for the bin to get full, you might look for biodegradable trash bags as they reduce the amount of waste. At the same time, it might be the start of you recycling more often so you’ll have less trash to take out and more recyclable materials reused. 

Clean the refrigerator 

Even if it looks like a clean space, the refrigerator holds the most bacteria, especially at the bottom shelf, where all the dirt collects from the upper shelves. At the same time, not everyone is wary of cross-contamination, which is a dangerous practice when people mix produce together without knowing about contamination risks. 

Avoiding cross-contamination means separating raw meat from cooked meals because the micro-organisms from outside can grow and expand even in cold and moist places like the refrigerator. Hence, learn to separate risky foods and clean the fridge as often as possible. Finally, disinfect it with proper solutions every two weeks to ensure no germ build-up. 

Watch for the cutting boards 

You may not think that cutting boards are more harmful than a toilet seat, but the truth is that cutting raw meat on these boards allows all the bacteria to enter their structures, especially if they’re made of wood and contaminate the rest of the produce you cut on them. That’s why it’s best to have separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables to minimise the risk of foodborne illnesses. 

When it comes to cleaning cutting boards, you must do more than a simple rinse. Cutting boards must be cleaned with disinfectants or in the dishwasher, where the high temperatures will kill any bacteria left. If you’re wondering which model is better, know that glass plastic boards are best, but wood-based ones have antimicrobial features.