Guide To Kitchen Cleaning

When it comes to the kitchen, careful cleaning is more than a good habit — it’s a necessity. Foodborne illness is always a concern where food is prepared, but a lot of environmental damage also can occur there. Without a proper understanding of how to use, clean and disinfect your space, you could unintentionally cause harm to yourself, your loved ones and even the world around you. So how do you keep your kitchen clean, safe and eco-friendly? Here are some key tips:

1. Skip store-bought disinfectants

Many of the most common kitchen cleansers today contain toxic chemicals and/or volatile organic compounds that are bad for the environment as well as people. Don’t buy them or keep them in your house.

2. Make natural cleaners from kitchen staples

Instead of using toxic chemicals, choose everyday items that can accomplish the same results. Believe it or not, you don’t need a bunch of fancy products to keep a kitchen clean and contaminant-free. Staples such as baking soda, water, vinegar and lemon juice can be used and combined to create excellent cleaning solutions. Try scrubbing the sink with baking soda and a sponge, for example. Use vinegar to remove grease or tough stains. These products aren’t only inexpensive and readily available, but they’re also more eco-friendly than standard alternatives.

3. Minimize bacteria by cleaning messes promptly

Sure, it’s tempting to leave dishes in the sink overnight or to tell yourself you’ll deal with a spill later. However, the longer you wait to address a mess, the harder it will be to clean and the more germs that may result. The bacteria on your dishes need only a few hours to increase exponentially. Nip these contaminants in the bud by cleaning them up quickly.

4. Wash hands often

Speaking of minimizing bacteria, you can do yourself a big favor by regularly washing your hands. Make it a habit to always wash with warm, soapy water before and after working with food (especially raw meat) and after any task that potentially exposes you to bacteria, including blowing your nose, changing a diaper and handling pets.

5. Wash fruits and vegetables

Always rinse fresh fruits and vegetables with running water and dry with paper towels or clean cloth towels. Water alone is sufficient. Skip the soap, bleach or commercial produce washes.

6. Save water by washing dishes in the sink

Rather than washing dishes under running water, fill the sink and soak all your items first. Then use the faucet only to rinse scrubbed pieces — and you’ll practice conservation in the process.

7. Practice proper food safety

Always use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken, beef or other animal products are thoroughly cooked to the proper internal temperature.

Because foodborne pathogens are virtually invisible, practicing preventative measures is incredibly important. Use the above seven tips to keep your kitchen free of bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause harm to you and your family.

Author bio: Bart Dobek is President and Lead Food Safety Consultant at BD Food Safety Consultants LLC, a food safety training and consulting firm in Chicago. With more than 14 years of food industry experience, Dobek has worked with a wide range of USDA and FDA inspected food manufacturing establishments, including sandwiches, meats and food contact packaging.

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