Clean housekeeping dictates that you wash your hands often and clear away clutter and food waste frequently while you work in your kitchen. But while those are both helpful habits, many homeowners have several unsanitary ones without even realizing it. Below, find out more about how to keep a cleaner and healthier kitchen.

3 Simple Ways to Sanitize Your Kitchen

1. Clean Your Cutting Board

Keeping at least two cutting boards in your kitchen is vital for avoiding cross-contamination and illness. The USDA recommends using one non-porous cutting surface for meat alone, and one for everything else.

Raw meat carries a lot of bacteria that can be absorbed into porous materials like wood or bamboo, spreading to vegetables, fruits, and other foods placed on the cutting board. You can disinfect your cutting boards by soaking them in bleach diluted with hot water, followed by rinsing.

2. Sanitize Your Sponges

Although you rely on your sponges to keep your dishes clean, they could be doing more harm than good. Recent research has shown that the average kitchen sponge carries more bacteria than most toilets, including numerous species with the potential to cause serious illnesses.

The solution is to incorporate sponge cleaning into your housekeeping routine. Studies by the USDA show that boiling or microwaving sponges can kill as much as 99.99% of bacteria, and 99.98% when putting them through a dishwasher. You can also use a fresh dishcloth daily and wash them frequently.

3. Wash Dishes the Right Way

Washing dishes doesn’t stop with hot water and soap. While these are a helpful start, it’s necessary to rinse dishes with hot water to avoid leaving filmy soap residue or bacteria from food particles on the surface.

Never use cold water, as this won’t kill bacteria or clean as effectively. Next, use a drying rack to allow dishes to air-dry rather than risking contamination from a hand towel, and never put wet dishes in your cabinets.

 

If you need help with regular housekeeping to keep your kitchen sanitary, contact A Affordable Cleaning By Diane's Service in Anchorage, AK. This team of cleaning experts understands the challenge of finding time to sanitize kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces. That’s why they’re proud to offer their affordable, thorough cleaning services and 15 years of experience. Call (907) 248-3909 to request an estimate, or visit them online for more information on their personalized cleaning services.