We’re all busy between work, school, play, and everything else. Sometimes the cleaning takes a back seat to the schedule, and this is especially true for the kitchen. You may barely be keeping up with daily wipe-downs of the counters or mops of the floors, but every once in a while, your kitchen needs a deep clean to keep germs and bacteria at bay.
Here’s a look at the seven nastiest spots in your kitchen that need attention – now.
1. The Floors
This one is obvious because it’s the truest. Even if you insist everyone takes off their shoes upon entering the home, your floors take the brunt of all the dirt, spills, and stains that occur. A recent study shows that bacteria such as P. aeruginosa and fecal streptococci are often present on floors from being tracked in on the soles of shoes and the paws of pets.
2. Refrigerator Door Handle
High-touch areas such as the refrigerator door handle can contain the most and fastest growing bacteria. Most bacteria and viruses can cause serious infections, and some viruses such as the flu can live on those surfaces for up to eight hours. Use disinfectant wipes on this and all other high-touch areas, such as the microwave door handle and oven handle.
3. Coffee Pot
Nearly 80 percent of people drink two or more cups while at home. That’s a lot of coffee, and a lot of use out of your coffee machine. With your coffee pot constantly heating up and cooling down several times a day, and the fact that water is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, it’s no stretch to realize that you could be taking a shot of bacteria in your morning brew.
Properly and regularly clean out your coffee pot; add vinegar to the reservoir once a week and run it through a few times.
4. Sponges and Towels
Not only do rags, towels, and sponges get exposed to and retain germs and bacteria, they can contain foul odors that will stink up your whole kitchen. Change out your towels once a day and rinse your sponges after every use. Get a new sponge once every couple of weeks, and make sure it can dry properly.
More than 75% of sponges contain coliform bacteria such as salmonella, making your sponge just as dirty if not more so than your floors.
5. The Sink
You would think that the sink is relatively clean, as you’re always cleaning dishes in it and it gets lots of exposure to water and soap. But think again. It’s one of the germiest spots in your whole kitchen, accumulating microorganisms and mold. To clean your sink, fill it with bleach and water.
6. Can Opener
Whether you have a manual, automatic or under-cabinet can opener, you should make it a point to clean it regularly. The can opener comes into contact with food particles with each use, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria that can easily spread to other areas of your counter or items in your kitchen drawer.
7. Knife Block
You may clean your knives after each use, but you’re probably neglecting the knife block itself, which accumulates bacteria over time. Your knife block will absorb any water clinging to the clean knives, resulting in mold or germs. Wash the block every once in a while in soap and water, using a small brush to get into the slots. Let it dry upside down to get all the water out.
Contact 1st Class Carpet Cleaning and Restoration
While we may not be able to help with the cleaning of your can opener or knife block, we can certainly help with the floors. Call us for a free quote at (248) 491-3088 on tile and grout cleaning in Michigan.
