The kitchen is the heart of any home, but it can also be one of the biggest hot spots for germs. Food preparation and storage should be taken care of in a hygienic environment and kitchen cleaning should be completed regularly - especially when you have a large family using it every day.
A lot of people see a wipe down of surfaces and a quick sweep of the floor for food remains as sufficient, however, there are a lot of places that you may not realise you shouldn’t be missing.
Therefore, we have provided a list of 5 popular kitchen appliances that could make you and your family ill if they are not properly cleaned.
Fridge
One of the most important appliances to focus on during kitchen cleaning: the home of all your chilled foods. It is recommended to at least give your fridge a wipe down every week before a new big food shop and a deeper clean every three months.
This gives you the chance to wipe away any meat juices, food spills and scattered food remains before they develop into bugs such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria.
It is also advised to keep your fridge organised to avoid cross contamination:
· Milk, yogurt, sour cream and cottage cheese should be on the bottom shelf at the back where it is coldest.
· Packaged raw meat also belongs where it’s coldest on the bottom shelf so if any meat juices seep through it will not drip down to contaminate the rest of the fridge.
· Vegetables usually have a dedicated draw in the fridge as they stay fresher with some humidity.
· Butter and soft cheese can be placed in the dairy compartment on your fridge door.
· Condiments, nut oils and orange juice can also be stored along the fridge door.
Oven
With food constantly going in and out of your oven, it can quickly become a home for grease, oil and grime build up, leading to bacterial growth.
With kitchen cleaning, your oven door should be wiped down weekly, with an overall monthly oven clean scheduled in. Just be cautious with self-cleaning ovens and check the manual before cleaning, as some will not take to certain products.
Microwave
A lot of the time, our microwaved foods can cause spills and splats across the interior, which bacteria can feed off. In particular, defrosting raw meat in your microwave can lead to e-coli and salmonella bacteria from the meat juices.
Anti-abrasive products are essential from microwave cleaning, preventing tiny scratches which can store germs as well as damaging the appliance.
Simply clean your microwave with warm water and washing up liquid to free your microwave of unpleasant smells and left over food. Then, heat a bowl of water with added lemon slices or vinegar. Once heated, turn off and leave the steam for 15 minutes and then wipe and clean the seal for a cleaner and safer microwave.
Washing Machine
With more people using their washing machines on a lower temperature to be eco-friendlier, as well as opting for biological powder with bleach, it presents a risk of more bugs and germs being able to survive during washing.
According to research, almost half (44%) of washers will contain E-coli. Staphylococcus aureus has also been found, which can lead to boils and rashes when wearing clothes after being washed.
It is advised that during your kitchen cleaning, washing machines should be cleaned monthly, or straight away if you notice smells or mould.
Dishwasher
Those with compromised immune systems should beware of dirty dishwashers as they could be at risk of fungal infections. Despite being ran on a high temperature, dishwashers can still be home to bacteria like pseudomonas and acinetobacter.
Some people could also face respiratory difficulties when food debris are left to collect in the drain and block the waterflow. This can stop the dishwasher from cleaning properly and can cause mould.
Deep kitchen cleaning can be a time consuming job, especially with larger appliances that require regular cleaning. Hiring a domestic cleaner can ensure the job is completed correctly and routinely, with the appropriate products and techniques.
Contact Domestique today to arrange a one-off or regular cleaning service.