The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, which may be one of the reasons why it’s so filthy. Many people spend hours each day in the kitchen preparing delicious meals, unaware of the dangerous bacteria lurking around them. However, once you can pinpoint the areas that are breeding grounds for bacteria, you can make an effort to eliminate the nasty germs once and for all.
What germs are most commonly found in the kitchen?
Most of the germs that reside in your kitchen would make you shudder if you knew of their existence. Items in your seemingly clean kitchen may contain bacteria such as Salmonella from meat and eggs. Listeria from animals and various types of raw meat. Or even E-coli which has been proven to be fatal in certain circumstances. An outbreak of any one of these could cause a restaurant to shut down, so why should you live with this dangerous bacteria in your home?
The dirtiest places in your kitchen
Sponges and dishcloths
The perils of dish sponges are well known by now, with many turning to alternative options for cleaning dishes to avoid the grimy, bacteria-ridden sponge. But dishcloths may be just as bad, as they can still collect deadly bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli. The National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF) claims that 75 percent of these items used to wash dishes contain potentially harmful germs. The worse part is, these tools are intended to clean your dishes, when in reality, they are spreading contamination throughout your cupboard.
How to avoid contamination:
One of the safest ways to prevent disease is to ditch your sponge and dish towel altogether and use a dish scrubbing brush instead. These are much easier to keep clean and can be thrown in the dishwasher for disinfection. Replace your brush every month.
Kitchen Sink
You would think that the kitchen sink would remain fairly clean with the amount of water and soap that come in contact with it on a daily basis. But in reality, it is considered one of the dirtiest places in the kitchen. The area around the garbage disposal, around the back of the faucet, and where the sink meets the counter are particular hotspots for bacteria growth. In fact, according to the NSF, 45% of home kitchen sinks tested positive for E. coli or coliform bacteria.
How to avoid contamination:
Be sure to wash your sink thoroughly after every meal, or at least once a day with an actual disinfecting agent, not just soap and water. Be sure to use a clean cloth or a disposable paper towel.
Countertop
Most people give their countertop a quick wipedown after meal preparation. However, this usually isn’t enough to keep the bacteria at bay and may actually increase the issue if a sponge or dishcloth is used. One NSF study found that 1 out of every three countertops was covered in coliform bacteria.
How to avoid contamination:
Spray countertop with a disinfectant and wipe with a clean paper towel at least once a day or after every meal. Make sure to clean behind items on the counter and use extra care to reach those hard-to-reach places.
Cutting boards
Wooden cutting boards, in particular, harbor a multitude of dangerous bacteria, but plastic cutting boards are not immune. When used to cut raw meat and not cleaned properly, germs can easily spread to your food.
How to avoid contamination:
Have a designated cutting board that you use for meat and one for vegetables and fruit. This will hopefully prevent any cross-contamination. Wash cutting boards thoroughly after each use with soap and hot water and rinse well. Be sure to dry cutting board, as a moist environment can attract bacteria.
Refrigerator handle
Opening the fridge is often a mindless act. Whether you’re putting away groceries after a trip to the store or grabbing the minced garlic for a meal you’re preparing, you are using your hands to open the door. Think back to how many things your hands touch throughout the day and how many times you open that door and immediately return to cooking…scary thought right? The refrigerator handle is often a forgotten element in cleaning but is also one of the nastiest places in your kitchen.
How to avoid contamination:
Clean your fridge door handle at least once a day with a disinfectant and clean paper towel.
-Susan Patterson