Safety in the kitchen is of utmost importance. Keeping the kitchen clean is one of the easiest ways to ensure the good health of the family.
Everyone knows the importance of cooking food to the appropriate temperature. Warnings are out there about the best ways to clean cutting boards and utensils. Safety information is readily available about the hazards of sponges in the kitchen. Cooks around the world know these very important safety tips, but is there something that may have been overlooked?
You may have taken a tip from restaurant critics and health inspectors by cleaning your can opener. Each and every can that passes through the can opener can be contaminated if it is not properly cleaned and sanitized. To avoid any cross-contamination concerns, it is imperative to keep the entire can opener extremely clean.
Safety aspects of utensils, cooking, and cleanup have been well covered in the media, but rarely any discussion is mentioned about disposals. The proper cleaning of your garbage disposal is essential to keeping your family safe and healthy. The garbage disposal is frequently overlooked when it comes to safety and cleaning. Your garbage disposal needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure no germs or bacteria are able to thrive in the damp and dark area.
Squeezing a lemon into the disposal to release the lemon juice can add a refreshing scent to the disposal. This tip will remove any nasty odor. Running a stream of water from the tap, place the lemon in the garbage disposal and turn it on. The blades will be exposed to the remaining lemon juice. This will keep your sink and drain areas smelling fresh and clean, but be aware that this does not keep your garbage disposal clean and sanitized.
To properly clean the garbage disposal, you will need to use bleach or a kitchen cleaner specifically designed for such a purpose. Most households have a bottle of bleach stored with their cleaning supplies. A little chlorine bleach will help tackle a big problem area.
Simply pour 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach down the garbage disposal with a liter of water. The bleach and water will take care of the bacteria and germs that may be lurking in the disposal or drain pipe. When the disposal chops up the food, tiny particles get stuck in the garbage disposal and drain pipe. These food particles can not only make a sour odor, but may be breeding grounds for trouble.
Cleaning your garbage disposal thoroughly with the bleach and water will greatly reduce the risk of illness for your family. When you clean your kitchen, be certain to remember to clean your disposal, as well. Cleaning the disposal should be included in your cleaning routine.
