The kitchen is the last place you want germs to be present, but unfortunately, it’s the one room in the home in which they’re most likely to be found. Even if you keep your kitchen clean and tidy, micro-organisms may still be present, especially as they’re invisible to the naked eye.
To help keep your kitchen germ-free, try following these six tips:
- De-clutter
A clutter-free kitchen is so much easier to keep hygienically clean, and wherever possible, keep surfaces clear, with only your most frequently used items out on display (remembering to still clean them regularly, along with the surface under and around them).
- Clean up spillages and stains, pronto!
It only takes a few minutes to wipe down your stove and surfaces after cooking, and while this helps to keep them hygienically clean, it will also prevent them from becoming sticky messes that require more than a little elbow grease to eliminate.
- Disinfect every surface
It’s really important not only to clean spillages and other kitchen messes quickly, but to disinfect the surfaces and stove regularly, too. In fact, pretty much every surface in your kitchen would benefit from regular disinfecting, since germs and bacteria can build up on any surface, and you should try to do this at least once a week to keep you and any other members of your household protected.
- Clean the sink
We’re often so happy that we’ve finished washing the huge pile of dishes that we don’t even think about cleaning the sink afterwards, but don’t forget that everything that came off of your pots, pans and plates could be lingering on the bottom and sides of your sink, and this can quickly become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Simply spray the sink down with a disinfectant solution after every dish washing session, and let it sit for up to half an hour before rinsing it down.
- Use clean dishtowels
Often remaining damp for hours on end, dishtowels can harbor any number of harmful bacteria, so changing them frequently is essential if you want to stay healthy. If you have enough, change them every day, and try to have a separate towel for drying your hands on to prevent any cross-contamination.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap
If the ongoing pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we should all be washing our hands more often, and properly. Using soap and washing them under running water for 20 seconds is the correct way to eliminate bacteria build up, and of preventing any cases of foodborne illnesses in your household.
While becoming obsessed with germs and hygiene isn’t necessarily healthy, being mindful of them and practicing certain hygiene measures (especially in the kitchen), certainly is. To help keep germs at bay for longer, consider hiring a regular, professional cleaner to give your kitchen a deep clean as often as needed.
