The Germiest Things In Your Kitchen
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Being the sanctum sanctorum of any home, the kitchen is the place we try our best to keep clean. However, despite our best efforts, the kitchen still serves as the perfect breeding ground for a variety of germs and bacteria.
That being said, most of the microorganisms in your kitchen are perfectly harmless. However, some of them such as salmonella, E.coli or listeria can cause serious diseases. So, a thorough knowledge of the items that accumulate the most germs is essential. It can save you and your family from all kinds of health problems!
Here’s a list of the germiest items in your kitchen and how you can keep your kitchen germ-free:
1. Dish Towels
Problem: As per a study conducted by the American Society of Microbiology, dish towels get contaminated by pathogens such as E.coli that can lead to problems such as food poisoning (1).
Solution: It’s better to use cloth towels to dry things such as your hands or dishes. Never use them for cleaning the countertops. For that, you should use paper towels, which you can discard immediately. If you must use cloth towels, wash them frequently.
2. Sponge
Problem: Sponges used to clean your dishes or your sink are a storehouse of bacteria. More so when you use the same sponge for multiple purposes. That can lead to a serious case of cross-contamination.
Solution: Experts recommend you to stop storing your sponges in the kitchen so that they’re unable to contaminate anything in its proximity. Alternatively, you could also use paper towels to do all the cleaning. However, if sponges are what you need, sanitizing them regularly is a must! Also, you should change them every 3-4 weeks or so.
3. Chopping Board
Problem: Whether it’s meat or veggies, chopping boards are constantly exposed to raw food items. Naturally, this means that they’re likely to accumulate germs, which can transfer to the one cooking or into other foods if the board is not cleaned properly. The likelihood of germs being passed on increases if the board has cracks.
Solution: Chopping boards are easy to clean. So, washing them after every use can prevent contamination. A hot, soapy water scrub should be just fine.
4. Countertop And Sink
Problem: Studies show that your kitchen sink is actually way dirtier than your bathroom (2)! Your sink can contain over 500,000 bacteria/sq in, which is insane! The perpetrators of the bacteria attack can range from raw meat and juices to dirty dishes and more.
Your countertops, too, are not far behind. Not just germs from food, but your countertops are also exposed to bacteria from other sources such as the shopping bags, handbags, etc.
Solution: A disinfectant can save you from exposure to nasty germs. Clean your countertop and sink with a disinfecting solution at least once a day to minimize the growth of the bacteria.
5. Faucets, Handles, And Knobs
Problem: When you’re busy cooking, you run the risk of contaminating everything that comes in contact with your bare hands. The objects that get the most contaminated though are the sink tap, the fridge handle or the doorknob. As a result, these may now contain bacteria.
Solution: Keep a cloth or a disposable paper towel ready at all times to wipe clean the knobs, handles, and faucets that you touch while cooking. Don’t forget to clean them at least once daily.
6. Gadgets
Problem: Gadgets are such a big part of everyone’s lives that we’re sure you’re not the only one to take the phone to the kitchen with you. They are quite useful for checking recipes or just scrolling through social media as you wait for your food to cook. But, since you touch them always, they’re often one of the germiest items in your house. Research reveals that smartphones contain more bacteria than toilet seats, up to 10 times more (3)!
Solution: Wipe your phone’s screen with a specially made cleaner as often as you can and wash your hands after you’re done using your phone if you’re in the kitchen.
7. Raw Meat
Problem: This includes poultry as well. Raw meat and poultry form the most common cause of food poisoning (4). The reason why germs spread from meat is that you wash them before use, which leads to cross-contamination.
Solution: You don’t need to wash meat to make it germ-free. Cooking it at a high temperature is the only way to kill all the bacteria in it.
8. Pre-Cut Fruit
Problem: Pre-cut veggies and fruits are known to cause food-borne diseases (5). Precut melons are the worst though as they cause salmonella quite often (6).
Solution: Wash your veggies and fruits before you cook them or consume them raw. You can also chop your own fruits and veggies instead of buying their pre-cut versions to be safe.
While keeping your kitchen clean at all times is necessary, practicing the precautions listed above can help you in having a truly germ-free kitchen. Since the kitchen is where your neutron is taken care of, it is essential to keep it free from any contamination or germ attacks! So, let’s start cleaning, guys!
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