Keeping your kitchen clean involves regularly replacing items that are frequently used. From sponges, dish rags, to cutting boards are kitchen essentials they can be a breeding ground for bacteria if you don’t pay enough attention. They have more interaction with germs and bacteria as they are frequently used. Frequent cleaning and regular replacement is important for these most-used kitchen items.
Here are seven kitchen items you have to be mindful of if you want a bacteria-free kitchen:
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Cutting Boards
We all use cutting boards all the time. They make food preparation a breeze. If we ever need to cut anything, the cutting board is your best friend. Thus, it interacts with so much food that you have to make sure it will always be in its cleanest. If you have a plastic cutting board, clean it by running applying dish soap and rinse with clean water. If you have wood or bamboo, you must clean it with hot and soapy water.
You’ll know if there’s a need to change your cutting board when it already shows signs of extensive wear and has an unstable surface. The signs of wear like deep groove marks can harbor bacteria, exposing you and your family to risk.
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Sponges
Sponges come into contact with so much grease and bacteria, so they need to be replaced regularly. It would be best if you clean your sponges daily by heating it in your microwave or tossing them into your dishwasher to kill the germs.
To disinfect your sponge, use ¾ cup bleach in 1 gallon of water and soak it for 5 minutes. Rinse it with warm water afterward. Along with doing this daily cleaning, sponges must be replaced every month,
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Water Filters
If you have a pitcher with a built-in pitcher, keep in mind changing the filter regularly. We use filters to sift away harmful bacteria, but even the “cleaner” needs a clean. Read the manufacturer’s recommendations for your filter replacement and follow it religiously. If your filter is already full of filth, it won’t be able to do its job.
Read the manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations, but most filters are replaced every 2-6 months.
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Water Bottles
Reusable water bottles can help reduce your carbon footprint unlike single-use plastic bottles. And while it gives you the convenience of just refilling it every time, you have to be mindful of always cleaning your reusable water bottle. We tend to just keep refilling the water bottle without washing it because perhaps, we’d think we’re the only one using it. Water bottles can last for years if you take it properly.
Remember the general rule that water bottles need to be cleaned every day. You have to pay attention to easy-to-miss areas like the mouthpiece. Also, give special attention to areas that might not be reached by your sponge. It would be best to invest in an elongated bottle cleaning brush to clean all the areas.
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Dish Rags and Towels
Just like your sponges, your dish rags and towel are also a regular in your kitchen. You use them to keep your kitchen dry or during a kitchen spill and sticky situation. You use them to keep your surface squeaky clean.
Whether it is spilled crumbs or the remnants of your chopped vegetables or any other kind of dirt, your rags and towels are there to the rescue. Thus, they are also exposed to a lot of germs. The danger is, it can transfer to your hands every time you use them.
What you can do is swap out your dirty rags and towel daily to keep the germs away. Wash them with detergent and soak them in hot water. If they’re already ripped or badly stained, that’s your cue to replace them.
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Spices
Check out your spices. Every kitchen owner might be guilty of this – spices that have withered over time. You’ll be shocked to discover that you still have spices from a year ago. To keep track of your spices, you can put a label on the date of purchase, so you’ll know how long it’s been in your kitchen.
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Plastic Storage Containers
Avoid reusing plastic containers for a long time because plastic breaks down over time and it can cause chemicals to seep into your food. If you can observe cracks, discoloration, or unusual smells, then it’s time to toss it into the garbage bin.