A clean and safe kitchen is a sure sign of a healthy lifestyle. It’s an important step to a healthy home.
Why Shall We Keep Our Kitchen Properly Sanitized? Ways and Risk to Ignore it
A clean kitchen will help reduce the risk of exposure to many indoor pollutants such as bacteria, and allergens, like dust mites. A clean kitchen is also less inviting to mice, rats, and other pests.
Bacteria or germs are everywhere in your kitchen, where food is stored, prepared, and eaten. Bacteria may cause illnesses on your food, kitchen utensils, counters, appliances, floors, pets, and especially your hands.
It is important to take the necessary steps to clean and sanitize before, during, and after preparing and eating your food to keep you and your family safe from food poisoning. Cleaning includes both surfaces and your hands.
How to Sanitize Unsealed Wood Prep Tables?
Wood that has never been treated with a sealant or birdlime will harbor bacteria and fungi as food particles and juices penetrate the fissures.
Unfortunately, you can never disinfect unsealed wood; you can clean and sanitize it to reduce the level of bacteria on surfaces in the four following steps:
- Use a clean microfiber cloth soaked with water to remove the visible debris and grime from the wood table.
- Mix a solution of a wood soap (Murphy’s Oil Soap, Castile soap) and warm water to clean the surface. Follow the product label directions for the concentration of soap.
- Dip a clean cloth in the soapy solution and wipe down the table. Do not oversaturate the wood. In the end, dip the cloth in clean water and wipe down the wood to remove any soapy film on the wood.
- After the table has dried, spray with distilled white vinegar or 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to help kill microorganisms.
How to Sanitize Stone and Ceramic Tile Food Prep Tables?
Ceramic tile and stone-topped tables are easy to clean if the stone has been sealed. But even stone that has been sealed can be etched by strong acids used for food preparation like citrus juice, vinegar, and wine and by harsh chemicals like full-strength chlorine bleach and ammonia.
You can clean and sanitize stone and ceramic tile prep table as:
- The very first step is to remove any visible pieces of food and then clean the table surface with a microfiber cloth dipped in a solution of hot water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
- Sanitize the surface with a commercial disinfectant spray or safe wipe for stone and ceramic tile surfaces. Use enough of the product so that the surface stays wet for at least four to 10 minutes. Vinegar and chlorine-based sanitizers are not suitable for stone because they can etch the surface. However, chlorine bleach and water solution can be safely used to clean ceramic tile prep tables and the grout between the tiles.
- In the end, allow the surface to air-dry, and then clean with a microfiber cloth dipped in clean water unless you have used a disinfectant that is labeled as food-safe.
When Should You Clean and Sanitize Surfaces and Utensils?
You should clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces and utensils after working with raw meat, when switching from one food item to another, when switching tasks, after taking a break, and after four hours of constant use.
Do Disinfectant Wipes Kill Viruses?
Disinfectant wipes are disposable cleaning wipes that have a germ-killing solution on them. They are designed to kill viruses and bacteria on hard surfaces like doorknobs, counters, TV remotes, and phones.
They don’t work on soft surfaces like clothing. The germ-killing ingredient on disinfecting wipes is a chemical pesticide, so it can’t be used on skin or food items.
These wipes are tested and approved to kill not only bacteria but viruses as well, including coronavirus.
Q&A. Extra Tips and Advice
Which dish sanitizer is the best?
Following is a list of some best dish sanitizers used in homes:
- Bulk Dish and Surface Non-Rinse Sanitizer by Clean Quick Professionals
- Product of Member’s Mark Commercial Sanitizer
- Steramine Sanitizing Tablets, Sanitize Food Contact Surfaces, Model 1-G
- P&G Professional – 84959153 P&G Professional Bulk Dish Chlorine Non-Rinse Restuarant Sanitizer
- Low Temp Dish Sanitizer – 4 Gallon case
- Diversey Suma Liqu-A-Klor Sanitize
Is it safe to wash dishes with bleach?
Hand washing dishes may remove visible food and dirt, but it’s not enough to kill bacteria. To sanitize the kitchen utensils and dishes, you can use bleach and water solution after hand washing.
Either way, always measure the correct amounts of bleach and water to make the sanitizing solution. Otherwise, it may cause the following risks:
- Bleaching dishes can harm your eyes.
- Bleaching dishes harms your lungs.
- Bleaching dishes harms your skin.
- Bleaching dishes means you’ll eat some of that.
- Accidental chemical reactions from bleach
- The environmental danger of bleaching dishes
What Is the Proper Way to Sanitize a Table which is used for preparing food?
Prep tables are commonly used for cutting or slicing vegetables, fruits, or other ingredients for preparing the food.
Restaurants or foodservice chains have refrigerated prep tables for preparing burger toppings, salads, and cold sandwiches. So, it’s crucial to clean and sanitize these food preparing tables regularly.
The proper way to clean and sanitize a prep table includes four steps:
- Scrape or remove the food particles and loose dirt from the prep table.
- Thoroughly rinse the table surface with a soap solution. Use a disposable paper towel and hot water to clean the prep table.
- After cleaning the table with soapy water or detergent, use a diluted chemical sanitizer solution to disinfect the table.
- In the last, air dry the prep table for some time.
Sanitizing Methods For Kitchen Surfaces and Utensils
You can follow these five steps to wash and sanitize the kitchen utensils:
- Remove detachable parts, such as blades, plastic or wooden handles, and screens from the kitchen utensils.
- Wash dirty dishes, pots, pans, and utensils, and the separated parts in the hot, soapy cleaning solution. You can also use a brush, if necessary.
- Rinse in clear water after washing.
- Place items in a wire basket or other container and immerse them in a chlorine sanitizing solution.
- Air-dry dishes in a clean and sanitized dish rack. Please do not use a dishtowel because it could recontaminate the dishes.
In the sanitization process, to keep your kitchen counters and surfaces safe, you can follow these steps:
- Remove the food particles and loose dirt from the surface.
- Use a soapy water solution to rinse them thoroughly. You can also use alkaline cleaners. Use a disposable paper towel and hot water to clean the surface.
- After cleaning the table with soapy water or acid detergent, use a diluted bleach water solution to disinfect the surface. In the last, air dry the prep table for some time.
How to dry Kitchen Utensils after Disinfection?
After disinfecting the kitchen utensils, air-dry them in a clean and sanitized dish rack. Do not use dishtowels or cloth towels because they could recontaminate the dishes.
Is Sanitizing my Dishwasher required?
Even though the dishwasher’s job is to clean the dishes, it too needs a once-over periodically. Over time, food residues gunk up the drain and spray arms. That’s why hot-water sanitization is commonly used for cleaning the dishwasher.
Here’s how to keep your dishwasher or kitchen sink clean and sanitized:
- Locate the drain on the bottom of the basin. Use a paper towel or rubber gloves to remove any food. If there’s a removable screen around the drain, take that out too and rinse it off.
- Run a hot cycle in an empty dishwasher with either 1 cup distilled vinegar in an open container on the top rack, 1/2 cup citric acid crystals in the detergent reservoir, or 1 cycle’s worth of a dishwasher cleaner. They all work to dissolve food and mineral buildup in the spray arms and drain.
- The rubber gasket around the door can also get pretty gunked up and may have mold or mildew. Wipe it clean with a hot, soapy cloth.
What is the Proper Procedure to sanitize a Food Preparation area Servsafe?
The food preparation area is a separate space to store or prepare food. It’s a room or a portion specifically designed or arranged for cooking or otherwise making food ready for consumption. That’s why this area should be clean and safe to prepare hygienic food.
The sanitization method for a food preparation area includes five steps:
- Scrape or remove the leftover food bits and loose dirt from the surface with a clean duster.
- Use a soapy cleaning solution to wash the food preparation area thoroughly. You can also use alkaline cleaners.
- Use a disposable paper towel and hot water to rinse the surface.
- After cleaning, sanitize the area to reduce bacterial growth.
- In the last, allow the surface to air dry for some time.
How do you sanitize a table?
Food preparation is generally done at the kitchen table. These kitchen tables are used for cutting or slicing vegetables, fruits, or other ingredients for preparing the meal. So, it’s essential to clean and sanitize them regularly.
You can sanitize your table by following the four easy steps:
- Scrape or remove the pieces of food and loose dirt from the table.
- Use a soapy water solution to rinse the table thoroughly. Use a disposable paper towel and warm water to clean the table. You can also use alkaline cleaners.
- After cleaning the table with soapy water or detergent, use a diluted bleach solution to sanitize the table.
- In the last, air dry the table for some time.
Best way to find out about microwave paper plates.
What is the correct way to clean and Sanitize a Prep table?
Prep tables are used for cutting or slicing the vegetables, fruits, or other ingredients for preparing the meal. The restaurant kitchen has refrigerated prep tables for preparing burger toppings, salads, and cold sandwiches. That’s why proper cleaning is essential.
The correct way to clean and sanitize a prep table includes four steps:
- Scrape or remove the leftover food particles and visible debris from the prep table.
- Use a soapy water solution to rinse the table thoroughly. Use a disposable paper towel and hot water to clean the prep table. You can also use alkaline cleaners.
- After cleaning the table with soapy water or detergent, use a diluted chemical sanitizer solution to disinfect the table.
- In the last, air dry the prep table for some time.
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