If someone were to ask where the most germs reside in a house, the first answer that springs to mind are usually the bathroom. After all, it’s the place where you do your “business” and get yourself all clean.
But actually, it’s your kitchen that is home to more bacteria than any other room in your house.
These germs lurk everywhere from the sponges you use to clean your countertop to your knife block and the drain in your sink.
A little hygiene helps keep your kitchen germ-free. Here are a few tips from Web MD.
•Kitchen sponges are the first source of germs in the whole house. The moist, micro crevices that make a sponge such an effective cleaning device are the perfect place for germs and more difficult to disinfect. Wet your sponge and then pop it in the microwave for two minutes to eliminate the germs that lurk inside the crevices.
• Dishrags are really no beer than your sponges. Allow them to dry out between uses because most bacteria thrive only in moistness. In fact, they can only survive a few hours on dry surfaces. Rags should be washed in the washing machine and then dried on high heat.
• Faucet handles, refrigerator door handles, and doorknobs are next on the list. Use disinfectant spray or wipes on sink faucets, refrigerator handles, stove handles, cupboard handles, trashcans, doorknobs, and any other area that you touch with your hands.
• The drains in both your kitchen sink and bathtub provide yet another moist hideaway for bacteria. Use baking soda and an old toothbrush to get rid of stains, grit, and grime around drains.
• Cracks and crevices in your cutting board provide plenty of space for bacteria to grow. The average cutting board has about 200 percent more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Don’t cut up chicken and then salad on the same cutting board without disinfecting it. Better yet, use separate boards for raw meat and making salads.
