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The kitchen is one of the most important areas in a home. Not only is it where most of the food is stored, but it’s also where the meals for the day are prepared. As such, specific safety measures should be taken so that the home kitchen is always clean and hygienic. Otherwise, harmful pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi may find their way into the home’s food supply and contaminate it. This may result in members of your household suffering from food-borne illnesses An unclean kitchen can also attract all sorts of pests and rodents that can wreak havoc on other areas of your house.
Whether you’re the homeowner or a member of the family, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your kitchen remains clean and healthy at all times. Here are some top safety measures to keep in mind to help you do just that.
Always clean up after every meal
While washing dishes and pots can be quite the chore, you must make the effort to leave the kitchen as clean as it was before it was used. By doing so, you minimize the chances of bacteria or mould growing on food stains and leftovers. This also helps prevent pests such as cockroaches, flies, and other insects from being attracted to your kitchen by denying them of a food source.
Have a first aid kit handy
The kitchen is one of the more accident-prone spots in the home. This is because it is where tools—such as knives and other sharp utensils that can potentially cause injuries—are kept. Gas stoves, toasters, and electric tea kettles may also cause accidental burns if they’re used improperly. As such, the kitchen is the perfect place for a first-aid kit to be stored in. This way any minor injury caused by an accident involving these tools and appliances can quickly be addressed.
Moreover, it would also be prudent to have someone in the house who’s been properly trained in first aid, preferably in a government-accredited training centre such as Australia Wide First Aid. This ensures that any first aid being administered in your home is done correctly, which can be critical especially when the accident involves someone with a delicate constitution such as seniors and young children. The wrong type of first aid administered to a choking baby or a delicate senior could make a bad situation worse, so it’s important to invest in proper first aid training.
Clean spills immediately as they happen
Another way to keep your kitchen hygienic and safe is to clean up spills as soon as they happen, whether they end up on the floor, on the countertop, or the dining table. Allowing these spills to sit for any length of time could stain the surface they’re on, as well as create an ideal feeding ground for harmful germs and pests. If the spill has occurred on the floor, this could also inadvertently cause a slip and fall accident.
Clean out your refrigerator regularly
The refrigerator is where most of the perishable foods in the house are stored. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to keep it as clean as possible. Ensure that any spills inside the fridge are immediately addressed and disinfected with an all-purpose cleaner. Every two months, defrost the freezer compartment and empty the entire appliance of food so that you can clean the entire inside of your refrigerator. Return the food once everything is properly cleaned and dry.
Moreover, periodically check on any leftovers or takeout stored in containers in your fridge. Doing this ensures that you don’t accidentally leave something in your fridge for too long that it spoils and becomes a site for mould to develop, which could then go on to contaminate the rest of your stored food.
Don’t let the garbage pile up
Take out the garbage from your kitchen as soon as the bin is full. Letting it overflow in the bin or simply leaving it uncollected for long periods can be seen by pests as an open invitation to take residence in your home. Rotting or spoiled food should also be immediately disposed of in the bin or rent dumpster and put it outside of your home.
Make sure to clean the kitchen bin itself with disinfectant after taking out the trash, as it can also become a breeding ground for germs due to waste materials or liquids leaking from the plastic liner.
A clean and hygienic kitchen means a healthy family
Keeping your kitchen clean and hygienic might prove challenging, especially if it’s constantly in use. However, the effort is worth it in the end, as it means minimizing the chances of your family suffering serious and potentially life-threatening food-borne illnesses.
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