Considering we use our kitchens every day – whether we’re preparing a wholesome family meal, or simply socialising with family – it’s only natural that we should spend a fair amount of time keeping the space clean. Not only can having a clean kitchen help to maintain an aesthetically pleasing home environment, but it’s also thought that a clean kitchen can boost mental health.
Cleaning your kitchen might seem fairly straight-forward. However, there are certain things that you should be mindful to avoid doing. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest no-nos when it comes to tidying the heart of our homes.
8 things to avoid when cleaning your kitchen
Don’t clean out of order
When cleaning your kitchen, always work from top to bottom, so you can clean up any mess you make along the way. For example, you could begin by cleaning your kitchen cupboards, before moving on to the worktops. From there, finish with the floor. It’s that simple; just adapt the order of your routine to suit your kitchen.
Don’t put sharp knives in the dishwasher
A good set of knives is a must for any kitchen. However, while a well-sharpened set of knives can help to make food prep much easier, never put sharp knives into your dishwasher.
Putting knives into your dishwasher can result in nasty accidents, but it can also affect the quality of your knives too. This is because the combination of abrasive cleaning agents, and water power can quickly dull the edge of the blade.
So, rather than cleaning knives in the dishwasher, wash each one carefully by hand and dry them properly before storing in order to preserve the blade for as long as possible.
Don’t forget to clean your cleaning appliances
How often do you clean your cleaning appliances? Unless the answer is weekly – at least – you’re not doing it enough! Your dishwasher, washing machine and sink all need cleaning regularly to keep them functioning to their full potential.
Remember to run appliances empty on long, hot washes to disinfect them, and clean your sink after every use.
Don’t use harsh chemicals on expensive worktops
Granite and marble worktops, and stone materials, require specialist cleaning products. Generally, you should avoid using any acidic kitchen sprays on stone worktops unless they’ve been completely sealed. Instead, invest in specialist cleaners designed for untreated stone. Considering how much money these worktops cost, it’s worth putting in the extra effort and expense when it comes to keeping them looking their best.
Don’t rely on your oven’s self-cleaning function
Many ovens have some kind of self-cleaning function, and it can be tempting to turn it on and leave it to do it’s thing. Usually, however, the key aim of an oven’s self-cleaning function is simply to loosen dried-on food; you’ll still need to get in there and clean it out, afterwards. If you don’t take the time clean your oven manually after the self-cleaning cycle has completed, you’ll probably find that it’ll fill your kitchen with smoke next time you use it.
Don’t overlook door seals
A 2011 study found that 60% of tested home kitchen appliances had fungi growing on the rubber door seals. While it’s unlikely that this will make you ill, it could affect the ability of the appliances to keep clothes and dishes clean, for example.
Along with running appliances on hot washes, make sure you clean any door seals with anti-bacterial spray. Alternatively, use white vinegar, for a natural disinfectant. And don’t forget the fridge door, too!
Don’t use the same dish cloth for different jobs
Even if you only use dish cloths for cleaning your kitchen, you’ll want to ensure you don’t use the same cloth for different jobs. Cross-contamination isn’t something many of us think about in our kitchens, but it can happen quite easily if we’re not careful enough.
For example, use one cloth to wipe down worktops after preparing food, and a different cloth for cleaning cupboard doors, the fridge, etc. Wash each cloth after completing a big cleaning job, and soak them in a mixture of water and bleach from time-to-time to disinfect them.
Don’t forget door handles and knobs
We often overlook door handles and knobs, and appliance handles and switches (e.g. the handle on your kettle, and the switch on your toaster) when cleaning our kitchens, but this can be one of the biggest sources of bacteria in our homes. After all, these kinds of items are often in almost constant use, whether by our family, or the different guests we invite into our homes.
So, don’t forget to give door handles and knobs, and appliance controls a quick once-over the next time you clean your kitchen!
As you can see, while cleaning your kitchen may seem like a fairly simple task, there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s important to know what not to do when keeping your kitchen clean and tidy, in order to keep your work surfaces looking their best; and keep appliances functioning optimally. If you find yourself regularly forgetting the small things, or perhaps you just don’t have the time to keep your kitchen as clean as you’d like, consider hiring cleaning services London or another local cleaning service near you. Hiring a professional cleaner is a great way to ensure your kitchen is consistently cleaned to a high standard, provided you can afford the additional expense.
Can you think of any other things you shouldn’t do when cleaning your kitchen? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.