Even if your kitchen is crystal clear, dangerous bacteria and viruses can live in it. To get rid of them, you need to regularly carry out antibacterial cleaning of dishes and surfaces. We tell you how to do it right, and give general tips for maintaining order.
one Wash dishes in hot water
Remove dirt from dishes and pots with your usual dishwashing detergent, but wash them in hotter water than usual (at least 40 degrees). But you can take less cleaning agent — just a couple of drops will suffice. After washing, thoroughly rinse the remains of the product with hot water — this time the temperature should be above 60 degrees. Be sure to wear thick gloves so you don’t burn your hands.
2 Use an antiseptic
When the dishes have become visually clean, it’s time to disinfect them. To do this, you will need a special tool.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Choose concentration from 3%.
- Sodium hypochlorite. If the product contains this component, it is suitable for antibacterial treatment of dishes and surfaces. From store products, this is, for example, Cif.
- Alcohol. If you do not have it in its pure form, take any alcoholic drink with a strength of 70%.
- Chlorhexidine. A well-known antiseptic, which is used in medicine, is also suitable for cleaning dishes. Enough standard concentration — 0.05%.
3 Dry thoroughly
After you have treated the plates with an antibacterial solution, rinse them with plenty of water and dry them thoroughly with a towel. Do not put the plates back in their places until you are sure that they are completely dry. Excess moisture will become a breeding ground for new bacteria.
four Choose the right dishwasher program
Not every program in a dishwasher kills harmful bacteria. To disinfect the dishes, the water temperature should be at least 60 degrees, and the cycle time should be from one and a half hours. Some dishwashers have a separate function of boiling water treatment or disinfection. If you do not have such a regimen, an intensive wash cycle with an antibacterial cleaner is sufficient.
5 Change your sponge regularly
This is a breeding ground for bacteria and dirt, so you need to renew it at least once a week. Better yet, replace the sponge with a brush — it can be disinfected and used longer.
6 clean the sink
Harmful bacteria can take up residence in your sink if you don’t wash it regularly with a disinfectant. After antibacterial treatment, wipe the surface dry and do not leave unwashed dishes in the sink for a long time.
Bonus: How to Reduce Bacteria in the Kitchen
To reduce bacteria in general, keep the general order in the kitchen, following simple rules.
- Wash your hands often or treat them with an antiseptic. This should be done after cutting raw meat or fish, before serving dishes and after eating. Otherwise, bacteria will be transferred from one object to another.
- Don’t put your bags on the countertop. It is better to leave packages from the store on the floor and not lift them on the table. Bacteria that have fallen on the packaging that was on the ground, in the car and at the entrance, will immediately move to where you cook food, and there will be no talk of any hygiene.
- Throw away cutting boards. You need to change this accessory as soon as scratches and cuts begin to appear on it. It is in them that bacteria like to linger after cutting products, and it is almost impossible to rinse small recesses with high quality.
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Store raw foods separately. Thermally processed vegetables and meat should be stored on a separate shelf, away from raw ones. This is necessary so that bacteria do not accidentally get on cooked food. Some of the harmful microorganisms die when exposed to high temperatures, so fresh, thermally processed food is safer.
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