Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Cleaning and organizing the kitchen
• Part 2 of 4: Removing waste
• Part 3 of 4: Safe handling of (preparing) food
• Part 4 of 4: Staying safe in the kitchen

The kitchen is often one of the most popular rooms in a home, so it is important to keep this room clean and safe for friends and family. The best way to keep your kitchen clean is to make a habit of cleaning while you cook and doing a few chores a day so that the mess doesn't pile up. Keeping your kitchen safe involves many different things, including good hygiene and food handling habits, and safe cooking and use of utensils.

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Part 1 of 4: Cleaning and organizing the kitchen

1. Clean up after every meal. Meal prep and eating can make a mess of the kitchen. One of the best ways to keep your kitchen clean is to tidy up and wash up leftover food after every meal. That way, the mess doesn't pile up and you have a clean kitchen to work with at the start of your next meal. Do the following after every meal:
   • Tidy up the table
   • Place leftovers airtight in the refrigerator or freezer.
   • Wash and dry, then put all the dishes away
   • Run the dishwasher when it is full
   • Remove spilled food, crumbs and debris from the stove, floor, table and counter
   • Clean the sink
2. Clean up spills as they occur. Another easy way to keep your kitchen clean and prevent stains, mold and other problems is to clean up spills as soon as they occur. For spilled food, use a cloth or spoon for solid leftovers. Remove any residual moisture or sauces with a cloth. If necessary, spray the area with an all-purpose cleaner or vinegar and wipe it dry.
   • When raw meat is spilled, use a disinfectant spray to clean the mess and prevent the spread of bacteria.
   • Cleaning spills from the floor is also important for safety, as a wet floor poses the risk of someone slipping.
3. Empty the dishwasher when the program has finished. A full dishwasher can mean that dishes are piling up in the sink, which in turn makes for a messy kitchen. To avoid this, empty the dishwasher when the dishes are clean and put all dishes back in their proper place. That way you can put the dirty dishes from the sink into the dishwasher and keep the kitchen neat and tidy.
4. Empty the counter. An empty counter top is a great way to keep a kitchen neat and organized, and it also gives you more room for food preparation and other work. Here are some ideas for clearing up messy counter tops:
   • Place small appliances such as toasters and coffee makers in cupboards
   • Store uncooled products in a fruit bowl on the kitchen table in a fruit bowl
   • Designate a special drawer for any items commonly used in the kitchen, such as pens, paper, and mail.
   • Give all pots, pans and utensils their own place
   • Keep all ingredients, including those commonly used, such as flour and sugar, in the pantry.
5. Clean the drain in the sink. The drain in the sink can harbor dangerous bacteria and start to smell, but regular cleaning will prevent this. Empty the drain at least once a week, as follows:
   • Fill an ice cube tray with vinegar and let it freeze
   • Pour baking soda down the drain
   • Let the tap run
   • Pour the frozen vinegar cubes down the drain
   • Run the tap until all the baking soda and ice cubes are gone
6. Place mats in shelves and drawers. The shelf and drawer mats are ideal for keeping your kitchen clean as they are easy to clean and replace. The mats or inserts are especially important in the pantry, but they also protect the shelves in all your (pantry) cabinets.
   • To clean the mats, empty the shelf and spray an all-purpose cleaner on the mats. Then wipe it with a clean cloth. Let the mat dry before putting the cupboard back in.
7. Clean the refrigerator and the freezer. The refrigerator is where you keep most of your food, so keeping this appliance clean is important for both safety and cleanliness. Clean up spilled food immediately. Once a month, remove all food from the refrigerator and freezer and wipe down the drawers, shelves and interior with an all-purpose cleaner. Dry the surfaces and reload the refrigerator.
   • To absorb odors in the refrigerator, place an open box of baking soda or a bowl of coffee beans in the refrigerator.
8. Sweep the floor daily. Kitchen floors quickly become messy with dust, crumbs, food scraps and other things. To keep the floor clean, sweep or vacuum the floor in the kitchen every night after your last meal, or every morning before breakfast.
   • Sweeping around the house regularly will help limit dust and allergens around the house.
9. Wash the floor weekly. In addition to daily sweeping, you should also mop the floor every week to keep it clean. Mopping removes dirt, wetness, sticky spots and other debris from the floor. Fill a bucket with soapy water and use a sponge or mop to wash the entire kitchen floor.
   • Allow the floor to dry completely before walking on it again to avoid slipping and footprints on the floor. Make sure that the floor is not a tripping hazard, e.g. if linoleum is torn, replace it.

Part 2 of 4: Removing waste

1. Use garbage and recycling containers that are the correct size. Every family has different waste and recycling container needs. Replace your containers with larger ones if you notice that they are often overcrowded, that debris often falls out and is a tripping hazard, or if you have to empty the containers daily.
2. Take out the trash and waste to be recycled when the bins are full. To keep your kitchen clean, insect-free, and odor-free, tie up full garbage and recycling bags and take them to the garage, shed, or other storage area until waste is collected.
   • When you remove the waste from the trash can, wipe the inside and outside of the bucket or bin with an all-purpose cleaner. Let the trash can dry before putting in a new bag.
3. Clean and disinfect your trash can regularly. Since your trash can stores trash and food waste, it can contain mold, mildew, odors and bacteria. It's important to clean and disinfect your trash can once a month to keep your kitchen clean and hygienic. Do the following to thoroughly clean the trash can:
   • Rinse the outside of the trash can with a garden hose or wipe it with a cloth
   • Spray the inside and outside with an enzymatic or disinfectant spray
   • Put on gloves and scrub the inside and outside of the trash can
   • Rinse the trash can with clean water
   • Dry the trash can with a cloth or let it air dry or outside

Part 3 of 4: Safe handling of (preparing) food

1. Cool raw meat, fish, and dairy. These are temperature sensitive foods that are susceptible to bacteria and spoilage. Always keep meat, fish and dairy in the refrigerator if you are going to use them within a few days, or in the freezer for longer storage.
   • Place unwrapped meat and fish in an airtight container or freezer bags to keep them fresher for longer. This also prevents the spread of bacteria to other foods.
2. Wash your hands before and after preparing food. To wash your hands properly, rinse them under running water. Then put soap on your hands and wash them for 30 seconds. Make sure to get under your nails and between your fingers. Rinse your hands again under running water and pat dry with a clean towel.
   • Washing your hands before preparing food will prevent the spread of bacteria and dirt in your food.
   • Washing your hands after cooking will prevent bacteria from spreading from the food to other items in your home. This is especially important after handling meat and poultry.
3. Disinfect your workplace after preparing the food. When you have finished preparing a meal, clean your work area to kill any bacteria that may have been present on the raw food. Clean all cutting tools and boards in hot soapy water. Optionally, you can spray the countertop, sink, and other surfaces with a kitchen disinfectant spray. Wipe your workplace dry with a clean cloth.
4. Immediately put leftovers in the refrigerator. Leftover food is useful for tomorrow's lunch, but to keep yourself and your family safe, it should be refrigerated immediately to limit bacterial growth. Once the food stops steaming, put it in an airtight container, in the fridge or freezer.
5. Heat the food well. Because bacteria multiply more or less quickly depending on the temperature, it is important to heat leftovers thoroughly to at least 75 degrees Celsius before it is safe to eat. This kills any bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
   • The easiest and most effective way to determine the temperature of a food is with a food thermometer.
6. Thaw food safely. To prevent bacteria from growing on frozen foods, you should also thaw the food thoroughly. Thawing food on the counter at room temperature is not recommended as bacteria will grow quickly. Safe ways to thaw food include:
   • In the fridge, 24 hours
   • In the microwave using the defrost setting
   • In a bath with cold water, where the water is changed every 30 minutes
7. Use multiple cutting boards. To avoid cross-contamination of food, use separate cutting boards and knives for meat and vegetables. This is important because foods such as vegetables are not always cooked as well as meat. If bacteria are transferred from the meat to the vegetables, it can cause serious illness.
   • To make your work easier, choose different colors of kitchen utensils for meat and vegetables.

Part 4 of 4: Staying safe in the kitchen

1. Using splash guards when cooking with oil. Hot oil tends to splash a lot, and this can cause burns if the oil gets on your skin. Place a splash guard over baking and frying pans when cooking greasy foods such as bacon, or when frying or deep-frying food.
   • Oil splashes are a nightmare when it comes to keeping the kitchen clean, and splash guards will help keep your kitchen clean and prevent minor burns.
2. Change all towels in the kitchen daily. Bacteria can quickly grow on towels, kitchen towels and kitchen towels. To prevent them from spreading, wash all cloths in the washing machine after a day's use. Provide several sets of towels and cloths so that you always have clean kitchen towels on hand while the used cloths are washed.
   • Non-washable sponges can be disinfected in a bleach and water solution. Combine 180 ml of bleach and four liters of water. Soak the sponge in the solution for five minutes.
3. Keep sharp objects in a drawer. Knives, scissors, vegetable shears and other sharp kitchen items should be kept off the counter at all times to avoid accidents. Place knives in a case and keep sharp objects in a special drawer.
   • To keep your knives sharp and safe, keep them in a knife block instead of a drawer.
4. Place pan handles towards the back of the cooker. This is especially important in households with young children, but it is also important to prevent other accidents. If you cook on the stove, place pots on the rear burners if possible. Always turn the handles of the pans so they point away from the edge of the cooker.
   • Turning the pan handles towards the stove prevents children from pulling hot pans of food all over themselves, and keep the handles out of the way so you don't knock pans over while you cook.
5. Have a fire extinguisher handy. Kitchen fires are one of the most common causes of home fires. The presence of a fire extinguisher in the kitchen helps to react quickly and extinguish a small fire if an accident occurs, to prevent the fire from spreading.
   • Keep the fire extinguisher near the stove, under a counter, or near an exit in the kitchen. In addition, consider keeping a fire blanket nearby.
   • Make sure every member of the family knows how to use the fire extinguisher.
6. Do not leave food unattended while you cook. Kitchen fires often start when people are distracted. When you are cooking, do not leave the kitchen for any reason, including to answer the phone, do other chores, or run errands.
   • If you have to leave the kitchen or the house while cooking, turn off all appliances, turn off the oven, turn off the stove, and take the food off the heat before you leave.
7. Use child safety locks. If you have children at home, it is important that your kitchen is safe for children. Child locks can be installed on drawers, cabinets and appliances to prevent small children (and pets) from opening or switching on things they should not touch.
   • Child locks are especially important for drawers that contain sharp objects, cabinets where you store chemicals, and other places where dangerous items are kept.
8. Have routine maintenance performed on electrical appliances and the like in your kitchen. This is important whether you are renting or owning a home. Routine gas safety checks and electrical safety checks are required in many rental properties. Keep the filters in your hood clean and make sure smoke detectors, fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. are all in order.