Do you know what they are?
When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting your home, you might wonder what areas are the most important to focus on, especially in the kitchen. Chances for cross contamination is quite high if you do not ensure that your kitchen is properly cleaned and disinfected.
Luckily for you, we have created a Home Disinfecting Guide that you can use for your entire home, but in this post, we will focus on the kitchen area.
So, what are the 7 dirtiest places in your kitchen?
1. Countertops
No surprise here. This is one of the surfaces that get touched numerous times throughout the day
and simply wiping down the surface might not be enough to ensure that surface bacteria is
removed. A study by NSF International in which 22 families were asked to swab 30 household
items per day to measure contamination of levels of yeast, mold and coliform bacteria (a family of
bacteria that includes Salmonella and E.Coli) concluded that 32% of kitchen countertops contained
coliform bacteria. As always, Sprinkle Spray has you covered, be sure to make use of your Sprinkle
Spray Spray & Wipe Disinfectant Surface Cleaner to rid your countertops from germs.
2. Cooking Utensils
Often overlooked, but your kitchen utensils can harbor a lot of bacteria. Studies have found harmful strains like E.coli and Salmonella present on various kitchen utensils such as rubber spatulas, mixing spoons, etc. Tip: Be sure to take your rubber utensils apart before you wash them and let it dry completely before assembling it again. With this in mind, it might be a good idea to wash all your smaller utensils when you need them and to not just pull it out the drawer and start cooking. :)
3. Knife Block
An often overlooked item in the kitchen which can carry a lot of germs. Wooden blocks can harbor yeast and mold, especially if you replace your knives without ensuring that they are completely dry. Tip: Remove the knives and wash the block separately. Clean the knife slots with a small brush. To further sanitize the block, you can dilute 1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 liter of lukewarm water. Submerge the block, or fill each slot with the liquid and allow it to sit for at least a 1 minute. Rinse thoroughly and turn upside down on a clean surface to dry. If used frequently, you should do this process monthly
3. The Kitchen Sink
Many people assume that because they wash their utensils, cutlery, pots, crockery, etc. in the sink, that it is not necessary to disinfect and clean your sink. Big mistake! Sinks need to be cleaned daily to rid it of bacteria. In the NSF study it was found that 45% of kitchen sinks contained traces of coliform bacteria. The Sprinkle Spray Spray and Wipe Disinfectant Spray can be used to safely disinfect your sink as often as you need. Tip: Be sure to scrub the sides and bottom of the sink as well. Use a good and effective drain cleaner at least once per month too.
5. Reusable Containers
Reusable grocery bags and food storage containers can harbor a lot of germs especially if there is some type of rubber seal involved, as these can test positive for yeast and mold. Be sure to wash your reusable containers as soon as you have finished using it and never just refill it with new contents before washing. Make sure that the rubber seal is completely dry before using it again.
6. Countertop Appliances
When it comes to countertop appliances more intensive cleaning might be needed. For example, if you don't clean out and flush your coffee maker, it can put you at risk of ingesting harmful bacteria. The Sprinkle Spray Disinfecting Spray & Wipe can be used on the surface and buttons. Tip: Be sure to deep clean your coffee machine at least once per month with its cleaning cycle. Disassemble your blender and wash every separate component thoroughly. Don't forget to plug out your appliances before you start cleaning. :)
7. The Refrigerator
Ice and water dispensers, meat drawers, vegetable drawers, door handles and door seals are hot zones for bacteria. A study by NSF concluded that 36% of items in the meat and vegetable compartments tested positive for Salmonella and E.Coli, 14% of the refrigerator water & ice dispensers tested positive for yeast and mold and in 14% of refrigerators tested, the door seal tested positive for Listeria. Tip: Be sure to use a quality disinfectant like our Sprinkle Spray Disinfectant Spray & Wipe to clean your fridge. Deep clean your fridge at least once per season, where you ensure that everything is taken out and all areas inside the fridge is washed and disinfected.