10 places in the kitchen that really need to be disinfected

Some of these areas are obvious: You probably know that you shouldn’t forget to clean your toilet. But there are some things we pay less attention to than we should: these are the ones that experts say should not be forgotten.

As a study by the US National Sanitation Foundation shows, a dishwashing sponge is a veritable Noah’s Ark for bacteria: the “average hospital” contains yeast, mold spores, E. coli and salmonella . You can get rid of it by putting the sponge in the microwave for a few minutes or putting it in the dishwasher, but even with these precautions it should be changed once a week.

Kitchen towels are in cahoots with a sponge: we promise ourselves that they are “only for hands and clean dishes”, but in the end we wipe everything with them – the kitchen table, the stove, the faucet, door handles. Crisan recommends adopting the “clean towel every day” rule: buy identical ones and, in the evening, throw them in the wash and replace them with new ones.

It’s easy to overlook cabinet handles and appliance knobs when you’re decluttering your kitchen. At the same time, they are real germ magnets, because everyone in the family touches them constantly. Cronin recommends disinfecting knobs and handles once a week with an individual solution of water and 9% white vinegar or a 100:5 mixture of water and bleach to avoid bacterial cross-contamination.

Studies have shown that 73% of collapsible and silicone lunch boxes contain higher than normal amounts of harmful microorganisms, including staphylococci and enterococci. It’s no wonder: these containers have nooks and crannies that are difficult to clean. To do this, use a homemade vinegar spray: mix it with water in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle, spray on the walls, wait 10 minutes and only then wash the container as usual – this must be done after each use of the item.

A study by the US National Sanitation Foundation found that one in two sinks (45%) were contaminated with E. coli. The easiest way to get rid of it is to spray the walls and bottom with the same vinegar spray: do it every evening, this simple action will only take a few seconds.

In November 2022, the Journal of Food Protection published the results of a study that found that more bacteria lives on spice jars than on counters, in microwave ovens, or on hoods. Surprised? But think about it: When we tend to reach for jars, it very often happens after touching raw chicken or beef. So don’t forget to wipe down containers when cleaning your kitchen cabinets with disinfectant wipes or a cloth dampened with a solution of vinegar and water.

In 2021, the US National Sanitation Foundation reported that refrigerator crispers are one of the most contaminated places in the kitchen, with salmonella, listeria, yeast and mold found there . How to prevent their appearance? Food chemistry expert Rosemary Trout, MD, advises keeping the temperature in drawers below 5°C, rinsing them with hot, soapy water every two weeks, and air drying them thoroughly before storing. hand them over. If you have a dishwasher, everything is even simpler: let the drawers warm up to room temperature, place them in and start the wash cycle.

Also read: 10 smart tips for cleaning the refrigerator: advice from professional cleaners

This is certainly no surprise: we all understand that the surface of the work area will not be clean. A 2021 study found the presence of 52 different foodborne pathogens on counters, including E. coli. To get rid of them, you can use a 1:5 solution of bleach and water. Don’t like chemistry? Green Housekeeping author Susan Sumner advises washing counters first with soap, then spraying vinegar, then spraying peroxide on them, then removing any remaining residue with a clean, damp cloth.

Did you know that the can opener is one of the 5 dirtiest places in the kitchen? Meanwhile, during research, scientists found salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mold. So be sure to regularly put your knife in the dishwasher or wash it in hot, soapy water and air dry it thoroughly.

A cup of coffee in the morning becomes much less pleasant if we know that it can contain bacteria dangerous for the human body: scientists from the University of Valencia have discovered an alarming number of enterococci, pseudomonas and other bacilli in coffee grounds. Don’t want to swallow them? Then mix vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio, pour the solution into the water tank and start the drink preparation cycle. This procedure should be carried out once every one to two months.

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