The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home so it’s no surprise it’s also one of the dirtiest. Aside from daily cooking messes, more than just food scraps can end up on your countertops. Think about how commonly we use the kitchen as a dropzone for everything from grocery bags to mail to backpacks. The amount of dirt that comes into the kitchen is shocking. To make sure you keep your kitchen as clean as possible, be sure to pay attention to the dirtiest places.
1. Sink
It’s ironic that the spaces we use to clean are oftentimes the dirtiest. A prime example of this is the kitchen sink. While water is constantly running, it is not enough to wash down the tiny bits of bacteria that linger. The worst spots are where the sink connects to the countertop and the areas around the drain and garbage disposal. While you might not be able to see it, E. coli or another type of coliform bacteria could be hiding in plain sight on your sink.
Ideally, your sink should be disinfected after every meal is made as you’ve probably used the sink at some time during its preparation. While this is ideal, it’s not very realistic. You can keep disposable disinfectant wipes by the sink for a quick clean, but sometimes it’s best to call in the pros. If you’d rather leave the dirty work of scrubbing your sink to someone else, consider hiring a cleaning service that can provide you with weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly services. This way you know your sink is being professionally cleaned on a regular schedule.
2. Countertops
Think about all of the items that end up on your kitchen countertops. Now think about the fact that you also prepare all your meals there. That’s right, the same surface you put your gym bag on you also make dinner on. Needless to say, our countertops can be filthy. Without regular cleaning, bacteria can build up and has the potential to make its way to your food and make you sick.
To avoid this, it’s best to always disinfect your countertops before you begin cooking. A disinfectant wipe will do the job for the regular day-to-day. Weekly you should give your countertops a proper wipe down, paying special attention to nooks and corners. Again, hiring a cleaning service to take care of this for you will give you peace of mind your kitchen is just a little bit cleaner.
3. Refrigerator
You might have thought your fridge was safe but unfortunately, it’s actually one of the dirtiest places in your kitchen. While the temperature inside your fridge will help to keep some bacteria at bay, other forms can actually grow in cooler environments. Most people do not wash fruits and vegetables before putting them in the fridge and even more people do not wash the crisper after taking their produce out. Bacteria and pesticides found on fruits and veggies will be left behind and can transfer onto other items. This is why it’s so important to wash your produce before you eat it.
Another culprit that can make your fridge a breeding ground for bacteria is raw meat. Fluids that leak out can accumulate along the edges of shelves and in drawers and cause mold and coliform bacteria to form. This can easily transfer to other items in your fridge and can spread the bacteria around your whole kitchen. To avoid this, it’s best to wash your fridge shelves and drawers monthly. This is an easy task to ask your cleaning company to do while they’re already doing your routine kitchen cleaning. Don’t overlook this small but important cleaning task.
4. Handles, Knobs and Buttons
These items should come as no surprise. Almost every item in the kitchen has some form or knob or button that is used at some point during meal prep. But how often do you actually clean these places? Probably not nearly as often as you should. Without routine cleaning bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, mold and yeast can end up on these items and can make you very ill. These items should be wiped down daily with a disinfectant wipe, or added to your regular cleaning list of to-dos.
Now that you’re feeling sufficiently grossed out by your kitchen there’s only one thing to do — clean it. If the thought of cleaning your kitchen right now doesn’t excite you, you can always hire a pro to take care of it for you. This way you know you have a regularly scheduled cleaning coming to take care of the dirtiest places in your kitchen. Click on the banner below to get started.
