Some people mix up cleaning and sanitization when it comes to keeping the kitchen well-maintained and hygienic. But a clean kitchen and a sanitized kitchen are two different things actually. Whether you are serving food at your home or for your business, cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen ensures food safety. Whenever you cook food or any raw meat, make sure you clean and then sanitize your whole kitchen including the surface and sink, which is essential to kill the bacteria.
Sanitizing is not just for flu season; it helps in keeping a kitchen safe and germ-free all year. Keeping a kitchen sanitized and organized encourages less food waste.
Here’s your easy guide on ‘how to clean and sanitize kitchen’ to leave it spotless and eliminate the germs you can’t see.
1. Clean First:
Cleaning is the first step to ensure you are removing the bacteria that cause foodborne illness from your kitchen.
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Clear Clutter Off your Counters:
You can’t properly clean around junk that doesn’t belong to your kitchen. Start in any one corner of the kitchen or any one section of the counter and remove that doesn’t belong to your kitchen. Clear all the items away from the counters and clean them completely.
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Empty the Dishwasher and Wash Dishes:
If you have some floating dirty dishes or pans that still need to get washed, start with washing them. If your dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, wash any lingering dishes first and then run the dishwasher.
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Dust the Tops of the Fridge and Cabinets:
No matter which place you are cleaning, cleaning from top to bottom always makes sense. In the kitchen, you should begin at the top by dusting the overhead light fixtures, the top of the refrigerator, and the tops of your cabinets.
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Clean Small Appliances:
Next to dusting, you should quickly clean your small appliances. It’s a good opportunity for you to shine and clear debris from the coffee maker, microwave, toaster/toaster oven, or stand mixer. Start with the interior and then finish up by wiping down the exterior of each small appliance using the microfiber cloth.
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Deep Clean Your Sink:
In order to deep clean your sink, first, rinse it out. Use a scrubbing cleanser to address nooks and crannies with a detailed cleaning brush. Scrub your faucet and sponge holder as well.
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Clear Out the Fridge:
Now it’s the turn to clear out your refrigerator. For this, you should go through shelves and remove the things that are expired, wipe down any spills, and put the things in the right place.
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Sweep, Vacuum, and Mop the Floor:
After all, sweep with a broom to pick up all the dust and debris. After sweeping, use a vacuum cleaner to clean the fine dust and follow it up with a thorough mopping.
2. Then Sanitize:
After cleaning, the next step is to sanitize your kitchen in order to get rid of bacteria from your kitchen. This step will kill any remaining or hidden bacteria that were left during vacuuming or mopping. You can use different sanitizers, from a commercial sanitizer to an easy homemade version which includes making a solution by adding 1 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach to one gallon of water. Pour your sanitizing solution on the surfaces which you need to sanitize and then wipe them with a paper towel. If you are using commercial sanitizer, you are advised to follow the instructions that are mentioned on the label.
Final Words
A clean kitchen helps prevent foodborne illness; thus, it is vital to clean and sanitize it from time to time. With the above-mentioned guidelines, you can knock out any foodborne illness-causing bacteria or you can call a cleaning company like Maid For Homes to do the cleaning efficiently.
