For years, people have assumed that the culprits behind many foodborne illness outbreaks include kitchen gadgets and accessories, but recent research shows that other common household items harbor germs, too.
This is bad news for sponges, which have been named in several recent studies as one of the most germ-infested items in the kitchen, but it’s also bad news for your dish sponge.
New research shows that other items in the kitchen could also carry foodborne illness. Don’t throw out your sponge just yet. Follow a few tips to make your kitchen safer without creating a germ-free zone.
1) Chopping Board
Chopping boards are often covered in bacteria, especially after being used with raw meat, poultry or fish. One survey found that raw foods left on a chopping board for only two hours after chopping can lead to cross-contamination and food poisoning.
The best thing to do? Wash your chopping board with warm soapy water after each use, and replace it every six to nine months, because wooden chopping boards can easily harbor bacteria that can’t be cleaned out.
2) Refrigerator Drawers
The refrigerator is the last place you’d expect to find bacteria, but studies show that the drawers of the refrigerator can harbor a lot of germs. The door of the refrigerator, on the other hand, is much cleaner.
This is due to the fact that the door is opened more often, which allows the cold air to blow out more germs. The drawers, on the other hand, are only opened occasionally, which could explain why they are more germ-filled than the door.
3) Spatula
Bacteria tend to build up on kitchen utensils such as spatulas, and this bacteria can easily spread to other food items when they’re not properly cleaned.
The best thing to do? Wash your spatulas with hot soapy water after each use, and replace them every year or two.
4) Bottom of Your Blender
Blenders are a wonderful tool in the kitchen, but they are home to a myriad of germs. The blades of the blender can become contaminated with bacteria that then gets spread to other food items, as well as the blender itself.
Make sure you wash your blender in the dishwasher with a hot water cycle once a week, and always clean it after using it to make smoothies.
5) Can Opener
If you’re using your can opener for anything other than cans of soup or tuna, you may want to reconsider. Most can openers are home to a lot of bacteria, but the handles are the worst culprits.
These handles can become covered in germs when used on other items, and they should be cleaned separately. Clean your can opener after every five uses, and replace it once a year.
Conclusion
You’re probably wondering what you can do about these germs. After all, it’s impossible to deep clean every item in your kitchen, let alone your entire kitchen. With these tips, you should keep your kitchen clean without feeling like you need to replace everything.
With The Dream Clean Team, you won’t ever miss a nook or cranny of your kitchen again. Thanks to our quality house cleaning services in Fort Walton Beach, your home will be spotless in no time at all. Give us a call now so you won’t have to live another day in a dingy house.
