6 Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Bacteria-Free

Photo: Skitterphoto/Pixabay

The kitchen is one of the most important places to disinfect. Here, some tips to keep bacteria at bay.

1. The Sponge

The warm, moist kitchen sponge is enemy #1. Not only is this porous, spore-producer grimier than a public toilet, but it also acts as a vehicle, spreading germs from surface to surface.

The fix: Either zap it in the microwave 1-2 minutes on a weekly basis and then run it through the dishwasher or replace sponges with microfiber towels that you launder regularly.

2. The Sink

The kitchen sink is another place where contamination runs wild. From the basin to the drain and taps, nowhere is safe from the perils of raw food.

The fix: In the evening, spray the drain, basin, faucets and spigot with disinfectant.

3. The Towels

Dishrags are a hotbed of bacterial growth. Like the sponge, they give germs a free ride across kitchen counters, onto your hands and even onto that freshly washed apple you’re shining

The fix: Launder towels regularly and dry on high heat. Alternatively, switch to paper towels, and for those who are eco-friendly, use the 1/2-size sheets or recycled paper.

4. The Fridge

Raw meat and poultry isn’t the only culprit that makes this a bacteria-box; unwashed fruit and veggies come with pesticides and other germs.

The fix: Wipe down the inside of your refrigerator once a week and do a deep clean once a month. As well, clean refrigerator handles on a daily basis.

5. The Cutting Board 

Cracks and crevices caused by wear and deep knife cuts make the cutting board a damp, dark, safe harbour for bacterial growth.

The fix: If using a wood board, rub it with mineral oil monthly. As well, to disinfect, use a bleach solution of 1 tbsp bleach with 1 gallon of hot water. If using a plastic board, run it through the dishwasher and use separate ones for produce and meat/poultry.

Secret Cross-Contaminators

Also, be aware of these lesser-known germ carriers:

Can Opener: Wash with hot, soapy water

Fruit Rind: Wash before slicing through the fruit

Reusable Shopping Bag: Machine wash regularly

Kitchen Telephone: Clean with antibacterial wipe

Salt & Pepper Shaker: Wipe surfaces with disinfecting wipes

Raw meat/poultry: Don’t rinse before cooking—proper cooking gets rid of harmful germs

Outside of the home, beware of the shopping cart: Littered with bodily fluids and bacteria.

Don’t fret. It’ll all be ok if you wash your hands like a surgeon and never consider keyboards, escalator railings, playgrounds and communion cups…

 

Authors of bestselling cookbooks Bite Me and Bite Me Too, saucy sisters Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat love eating, feeding, entertaining and dishing up easy recipes and forkin’ fun at BiteMeMore.com.