The next time you reach for a knife and cutting board, look around. Is your kitchen really as clean as you think? According to Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson, there's probably more harmful bacteria in your kitchen than your bathroom. That's why professional cleaning services like Crystal Clear Cleaning of Burlington, Kentucky are here to save you from not only the filth and grime you can see, but all that you can't, from your sink to your oven.

In Food & Wine's article on Dr. Gerba's hard-to-believe bathroom versus kitchen proclamation, "Dr. Germ," as he's more commonly known, cites five things in your kitchen you never would imagine are as dirty as they are: sponges and dishcloths; the sink; the cutting board; the bottom shelf of your refrigerator; and countertops.

So how do you keep them clean in between cleaning services? Dr. Germ says:

• Change out your dishcloths every week.
• Put your sponges in the dishwasher or place them in the microwave for 30 seconds to disinfect them.
• Find a kitchen-safe disinfectant product to clean the sink basin. Vinegar and lemon juice are not enough.
• Keep one cutting board for meats and another for produce only.
• Soap and water alone will not disinfect a cutting board. Clean cutting boards with a kitchen disinfectant or put them in the dishwasher.
• Clean the bottom shelf of your refrigerator with a disinfectant every two to three weeks.
• Meat and produce should be kept separated in the refrigerator.
• Clean countertops with kitchen disinfectant and wipe off with a paper towel.

And when it's time for the heavy duty tasks, hire Crystal Clear Cleaning for professional cleaning services of all kinds by calling (859) 653-6983. Professional carpet cleaning and special office cleaning rates also are available.