Keeping Your Kitchen Safe and Clean

By Maid Brigade of Northern Connecticut

With all you do in your kitchen, you want to make sure that it is nice and clean.

Here are some tips for keeping your kitchen clean and safe at all times.

One thing you’ll want to make sure you do is clean and sanitize your garbage can. Ideally, you should wash and disinfect it once a week. This will remove any foul smells, which might be emanating from the trash bin, as well as stopping any bacterial growth.

You also want to make sure that you have a lid for the can. A lid holds in odors that attract flies and other insects. You should also empty it as soon as it smells, even if it isn’t full yet.

Another important thing to do is to wash surfaces people touch. Periodically wipe doorknobs, handles, buttons, controls, and light switches in and around your kitchen. Even if they seem clean, they may already be harboring bacteria.

Keeping the kitchen floors clean is also a key. Sweep and mop regularly to keep it free from debris and grease. Instead of letting a mess stay there, clean up spills right away. Immediate mopping prevents accidents and avoids breeding grounds.

You should also wipe up spills in your microwave right away. It is easier to wipe it up immediately than it is to scrape it off later – once it has hardened.

To avoid bacterial spread, use multiple cutting boards. Prepare meats on one and produce on another. You will also want to wash the chopping board after cutting chicken, as raw food has a higher tendency of containing bacteria.

In addition, you need to maintain your personal hygiene. You should wash your hands before and after handing food.

You can also keep your kitchen organized in order to keep it clean and safe. Divide the kitchen into sections and select one to focus on. This will allow your concentration to be efficient and sharp.

Empty the entire section and clean the area thoroughly with a solution mixture of warm water and dish soap. Wipe everything with a damp cloth and wipe it again with a dry cloth.

Decide to keep or discard the items in your kitchen. You can preserve the organization flow when placing appliances or foods back into the empty space. Look at each item and decide whether to put it back or throw it out.

When it comes to your pets, you should never keep a litter box in the kitchen. Put it in a more suitable room – like the bathroom, garage, or laundry room.

Also, do not leave dirty pet food dishes out after feedings, as they will attract flies and potential rodents. You also want to make sure that your kitchen is free from any pet hair as this could potentially trigger allergies and asthma.

Need help getting - and keeping - the kitchen clean? Give Maid Brigade of Central Connecticut a call at 860-645-6243 and we’ll help you out.