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Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected

In these current times, keeping our kitchens and countertops clean and disinfected has taken on particular importance for our health. What’s more, we have extra time on our hands to give it a proper daily clean. The kitchen has more germs than any other room in your home, even more than the bathroom, according to the leading microbiologist Charles Gerba, professor of public health, environmental science and immunology at the University of Arizona. As a result, cleaning the kitchen the right way helps us to avoid infections and take care of our health and that of the whole family. After all, this space is used to handle, prepare and store food but with heat, steam and moisture creating the perfect conditions for bacteria and germs to grow. So how often should we deep-clean our kitchen? And what should we clean every day in the kitchen? Here’s some advice on what to do:

Image number 33 of the current section of Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected in Cosentino Canada
Image number 34 of the current section of Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected in Cosentino Canada

YOUR CLEANING ROUTINE

Some areas need a daily clean, namely chopping boards (the best being the plastic ones you can put in the dishwasher or wash by hand and then bleach), the fridge, and scouring pads and cloths.

An effective way to clean your fridge is with vinegar, one of the most powerful antiseptics around. And for scouring pads and cloths, it’s a good idea to use a solution of 10% bleach and water, let it work for five minutes, and leave it to dry after thorough rinsing, as moisture allows bacteria to proliferate. An alternative, if the equipment allows, is to put the pad or cloth into the microwave in a bowl of water for two to three minutes, then rinse well and leave to dry. You should also replace your pads and cloths when they wear out, which is advisable to do every two or three weeks.

These elements of your kitchen need a less frequent deep clean and disinfection: countertops, floors, cupboards (inside and out), garbage pail and electrical appliances. Here’s a detailed how-to guide.

SPOTLESS COUNTERTOPS

Whatever the type of countertop, it should be given a quick daily wipe to remove sauce stains, breadcrumbs or other food waste. It should also be fully disinfected every day, using warm water and soapy solution to eliminate germs. In fact, during health-alert periods such as this one, extra care should be taken and countertops and surface areas should be cleaned more frequently, after each use (2 to 3 times a day), to ensure they are fully disinfected. Maite Pelayo, microbiologist and technical spokesperson for the Silestone Institute, recommends rubbing the surface cleaning agent or soap and water with a pad used exclusively for this purpose and leaving it to work for a few minutes. Do not use pads that you also wash up with, and if you have a steel countertop, choose a product that won’t scratch your surface. Next, you’ll need to wipe and dry using a clean cloth.

The method for disinfecting kitchen countertops made from our brands Silestone, Dekton, Sensa or Natural Stone is recommended for any surface you have physical contact with. As well as cleaner, you could also use a cloth moistened with a solution of one part bleach to 100 parts water, which you can make by adding a tablespoon of bleach to a litre of water. Finally, you could also use isopropyl alcohol, taking the recommended precautions and remembering not to mix products.

Image number 35 of the current section of Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected in Cosentino Canada
Image number 36 of the current section of Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected in Cosentino Canada

IMPECCABLE FLOORS

As a general rule, it should be sufficient to sweep or vacuum then mop the floor between three and four times a week. However, given the exceptional circumstances we’re living through, the Silestone Institute recommends giving the kitchen and floor a general clean after cooking, then ventilating the whole area.

CLEANING OUT CUPBOARDS

It’s advisable to clean the front of your cupboards with soapy water once a week, paying special attention to handles, where most dirt tends to accumulate. When it comes to insides, these should be given a thorough clean every three months.

Image number 37 of the current section of Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected in Cosentino Canada
Image number 38 of the current section of Tips and advice for keeping your kitchen clean and disinfected in Cosentino Canada

WHAT ABOUT RECYCLING BINS?

These are used for recycling organic waste, glass, paper and packaging (plastic, tins and Tetra packs). Before getting started, put on a pair of gloves to protect yourself from the bacteria that builds up inside recycling bins. Ideally, give them a good clean once a week, inside and out, paying special attention to the corners, if your bins are rectangular or square. For proper disinfection, use a detergent as well as white vinegar.

DON’T FORGET YOUR APPLIANCES

It’s also important to pay attention to the water tank of your coffee machine, which is one of the five areas with the highest number of germs in the kitchen. Eliminate them with a weekly clean, and do the same for all your other equipment, such as the kettle and toaster, but not the oven, which should be wiped down after every use. If that feels too tedious, choose a pyrolytic oven with a self-cleaning function. These are also more eco-friendly as they don’t need to be cleaned with solvents or any other chemical pollutants.

INFREQUENT BUT NECESSARY CLEANING

Finally, give a twice-yearly clean to those large hidden and forgotten areas under the plinths of your cupboards or behind the fridge, for example. These spaces gather dust and need special attention when giving your kitchen a thorough clean. Take the opportunity to dust and wipe down hidden floor tiles, too.

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SOME EXTRA TIPS FOR A DEEP DISINFECTION OF YOUR KITCHEN

There’s no point cleaning your kitchen thoroughly if you start the task with dirty hands. A quick rub and rinse is not enough to eliminate every trace of virus or bacteria from your hands, so take at least a minute to wash with warm water and soap, lathering vigorously for at least 20 seconds all over your fingers, the backs of your hands and wrists, before rinsing with plenty of water. To dry your hands, use a clean cloth or a disposable paper towel.

In addition, stay safe by cooking food at high temperatures (at least 70º) and keeping it sealed to avoid recontamination.

It’s also essential to wash your kitchen tableware and cutlery well, preferably in the dishwasher at its highest temperature. Finally, don’t forget the sink drain, which should be disinfected once a month.

As you now know, we need to keep the communal areas of our kitchens clean, as well as door handles and light switches, and pay special attention to the fridge handle…Because these measures can help us avoid potential infections, cleaning the kitchen plays an important role in protecting our health and that of our loved ones.

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