Kitchen Cleaning – Find Those Hidden Kitchen Germs and Clean Them Out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know your kitchen is clean. You clean the counters with antibacterial sprays. You wipe off the stovetop with care after every use. Dishes and pots are cleaned in the sink or dishwasher every night without exception. Despite your best efforts, there are still places in the kitchen that bacteria can lurk.

If you truly want to keep your kitchen clean, then let’s seek out these hidden germs in their hiding places and get rid of them once and for all.

Kitchen Cleaning – The Refrigerator

The refrigerator is where we put our items to preserve them and keep them germ free. However, there are a couple places in this safety zone where bacteria can lurk. Let’s start by looking at the door. No, not the gallon storage or the egg holder, but that seemingly unimposing rubber seal. It’s what keeps all the cool air in and all the hot air out, but it can also harbor unwanted guests. The combination of moisture and warmth can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Remember to periodically clean this seal with warm soapy water to prevent this buildup.

Now that we have taken care of the door, let’s look at the inside of the fridge. The produce drawer can be a prime growing area for germs and bacteria. Yeast, mold and salmonella can be brought into the produce draw simply by placing produce inside that hasn’t been rinsed and cleaned. Remember to pull the drawer out and clean it with warm soapy water at least once a week to remove the contamination.

Kitchen Cleaning – The Kitchen Sink

The sink is what we use to do all the cleaning, so how can it possibly be infected? The problem is, while we use the sink to keep the kitchen clean it can also harbor germs if it isn’t taken care of properly. Remember to use disinfectant on the sink every day to keep it clean and germ free.

While we are looking at the sink, let’s look at that sponge we use to clean our dishes. Any fan of Mythbusters may recall that these sponges are one of the biggest harbingers of germs in the entire home. Remember to regularly change your sponges, towels and rags out regularly to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria.

Kitchen Cleaning – The Kitchen Appliances

While we use them every day, sometimes we forget that they need to be thoroughly cleaned. Two of the main culprits are the coffee pot and the blender. Both of them can contain germs that go unnoticed.

We pour water into the reservoir of the coffee maker every morning, but not all of that water gets used to make coffee. Enough can be left over to allow bacteria, mold and mildew to grow. Most coffee makers have instructions on how to properly clean the reservoir and tubing, usually involving a vinegar cycle. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions to keep it clean.

Also remember to fully disassemble the kitchen blender in order to get all the bacteria hiding in the blades. Most blender bottoms will unscrew to give full access to the sealing gasket, blades and outside threads of the pitcher. Clean them thoroughly to remove all bacteria. Simply rinsing them off is not enough, be sure to run the washable parts through your dishwasher, as well.

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