The kitchen should be the cleanest part of the house, there is no debate on that. It should be cleaned as often as possible, sanitized and disinfected after every use.

Most people only wash the dishes, clean the counter tops, rinse off the sink, and sweep the floor. They easily forget that the kitchen sponge usually harbors a lot of germs. That’s why you should also make a habit of sanitizing your kitchen tools and equipment after every use.

Here’s how to clean the kitchen with materials that won’t harm you in the future.

Set Up Bath Water for Your Dirty Utensils

The bath water is basically a hot water bath with soap for your dishes. Every time you are through with using an item you put it in the bath. This helps you save up on time because when you want to reuse the item you will just rinse it.

Remember to put items used with raw meat and poultry in a different water bath to avoid contamination.

Also, refrain from storing knives in the bath as you may cut yourself when reaching in for something else. This will also save you time when it comes to cleaning after meal preparation.

After you are done cooking you can do some light cleaning by clearing up the countertops and placing used condiments in their storage areas. After you are done with your meal you can proceed to clean the dishes.

Make sure you immediately clean off spills, especially grease spots to avoid settling stains.

Soaking Dirty Utensils inside a Dishwasher

Can you set up a bath for your utensils if you have a dishwasher? If you rely on a dishwasher to clean your dishes, follow this regimen:

  • You can start by removing any food residues from the dishes.
  • Spray them with a pre-treat detergent before placing them in the dishwasher.
  • Most dishwashers come equipped with a sanitizing button that contains safe chemicals for better results. However, the high heat produced by dishwashers when cleaning is enough to kill off germs.

Soaking Dirty Utensils inside a Sink

If you don’t have a dishwasher, you can soak your used dishes in the kitchen sink instead. But you may need at least three different sinks for this as indicated below:

  • If you have 3 sinks use one for washing, the other for rinsing and the last one for sanitizing. If you don’t have three sinks you can use 2 of your big pots to do the rinsing and the sanitizing.
  • Start by removing food residue off the dishes.
  • Use hot water with enough soap to clean the dishes.
  • Properly rinse off all the soap as it may react with the sanitizing chemicals you will use.
  • You can choose to sanitize your dishes with hot water or chlorine bleach.
  • Use unscented chlorine bleach for your kitchen use.
  • Air-dry your dishes to avoid spreading germs.

Don’t Forget the Sink: How to Clean the Kitchen Sink

Start off by scrubbing off the food stains and dirt around the sink. When sanitizing, add some unscented bleach to a sink filled with hot water and let it sit for a few minutes before you drain it.

Before draining the water, wipe down the faucets and handle using a sponge dipped in the sanitizing solution. For stainless steel sinks, you can simply use vinegar and paper towels to remove stains as well as disinfect the sink.

Knowing how to clean the kitchen will help to keep your family healthy. Read our blog to find out the must-have supplies you need to keep your home clean.