This is the time of year when we tend to start thinking a little harder about possible germs because of the whole flu thing, plus over the Holidays, we tend to cook more, and food poisoning from improperly cleaned kitchens is a pretty big concern, especially if you prepare meat and fish. So I was lucky enough to get hold of a “Hygiene Verification” device to test my kitchen, and to test kitchen items that various family members on Home & Family bought in for the show.
The results were super-surprising/alarming! Suffice to say that I went straight out to Smart & Final, purchased a couple of gallons of white vinegar, and set to work until my kitchen was gleaming.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The dirtiest thing in your kitchen is likely to be your sponge. Sponges are safe-houses for bacteria, which make a warm and happy home inside y0ur sponge. You need to thoroughly clean it every 2 days, and toss it after 2 weeks.
2. Dish washing brushes are pretty bad too – same protocol as the sponge.
3. Dish towels should be tossed in the laundry everyday!
4. Cutting boards (if wooden) should be disinfected after each use. Never put it in the dishwasher because it will warp and/or crack. Plastic or silicone cutting boards are more sanitary.
5. Your coffee machine (especially the tank that holds the water) should be cleaned out weekly.
6. Your fridge should be thoroughly wiped out and disinfected every 2 weeks.
SO THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN AND DISINFECT IS???
I dislike chlorine bleach because it is harmful to our health and the environment. So I clean with either distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide (3% food grade, which is what you will find at the drug store). Both are very effective at killing germs (99.9999%) when used correctly.
Here’s what you need to do. The vinegar and the peroxide is way more effective when heated to 130 degrees. Place 2 cups of either in your microwave for 1.5 minutes. Either transfer to a sprayer, and use immediately, or soak your sponge, brush etc in the undiluted hot vinegar/peroxide. If you’ve heated it to the required temperature, 1 minute is all it takes before you thoroughly rinse or wipe off. If you do not heat up your cleaning liquids, you need to leave them on surfaces or as a soaking agent for 10 full minutes.
That’s all I got guys – so get stocked up with frankly the least expensive cleaning products ever, and pull on your rubber gloves.
Tip: If you hate the odor of vinegar, it does dissipate, however, you can add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to the mix.
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