The kitchen is usually a favorite area in the house as a gathering place with family members and friends. So, make sure the kitchen is always clean and safe. The best way to keep the kitchen clean is to work neatly and tidy up the kitchen every day so it doesn't get messy. To keep the kitchen safe, there are several things that need to be done, such as maintaining good hygiene, processing food in the right way, and using kitchen utensils safely when cooking.
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Part 1 of 4: Cleaning and Tidying the Kitchen
Step 1. Fix the kitchen after each meal
Preparing food and eating activities often makes the kitchen messy. To keep the kitchen clean, get in the habit of organizing groceries and washing dishes after each meal, instead of letting them pile up. Plus, the kitchen will come back clean and ready to use again when you want to cook. Do the following after eating:
- Clean the table
- Put more food in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator or freezer
- Wash the dishes, dry them, then store them on the dish rack
- Run the dishwasher when the water is full
- Clean up food crumbs, pieces of fruit peel, and oil spills on the stove, floor, dining table, or kitchen counter
- Wash the sink in the kitchen
Step 2. Clean up immediately if any liquid is spilled or food is spilled
The right way to keep your kitchen clean and prevent stains, mold, or other problems is to clean immediately when the kitchen looks dirty. To clean up spilled food, use a spoon or rag to remove any solid food spills. Wipe up any liquid or sauce spills with a rag. Spray the cleaned area with a kitchen cleaning product and then dry with a cloth.
- If raw meat falls on the floor, clean the floor by spraying disinfectant to prevent bacteria from spreading.
- You must clean and dry the floor to keep the kitchen safe because the floor becomes slippery if not dried.
Step 3. Empty the dishwasher when it has stopped
If the washing machine is full, dirty dishes usually pile up in the sink making the kitchen a mess. Prevent this by emptying the dishwasher as soon as the dishes are washed and then storing it where it belongs. That way, you can put dirty dishes into the machine so that the kitchen remains neat and clean.
Step 4. Tidy the kitchen table
Emptying the kitchen table keeps the kitchen neat and comfortable. In addition, you can use the table to prepare food and do other tasks freely. Take the following steps to tidy up the kitchen table:
- Keep small appliances, such as a toaster or coffee maker, in the cupboard
- Put the fruits that don't need to be refrigerated into the fruit basket and place them on the kitchen table
- Prepare a special drawer to store various items that are often used in the kitchen, such as pens, paper, and scissors
- Provide a place to permanently store pots, frying pans and other cooking utensils
- Store spices on the shelf, including frequently used flour and sugar
Step 5. Clean the trash can regularly
Trash cans can be a breeding ground for bacteria and emit bad odors. Prevent this by cleaning the trash can regularly at least once a week according to the following instructions.
- Pour vinegar into an ice cube maker and freeze
- Sprinkle baking soda in the trash
- Run the water into the trash
- Put the frozen vinegar in the trash
- Keep the water running until the baking soda and frozen vinegar have melted
Step 6. Prepare a base for lining cabinets and drawers
Cabinets and drawers are useful for keeping the kitchen clean because they are easy to clean and replace. In addition to the base for storing food, the plinth protects the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen.
To clean upholstery, remove all items from the cupboard or drawer. Spray the cleaning liquid on the rug and then dry it with a clean cloth. Allow the upholstery to dry completely before returning items to the cupboard or drawer
Step 7. Clean the refrigerator and freezer
As a place to store a lot of food, the refrigerator must be cleaned regularly to keep it maintained and safe for storing food. Get in the habit of cleaning up food spills right away. Once a month, empty the refrigerator and freezer and then spray the cleaner on the drawers, shelves, and walls of the refrigerator. Dry with a clean cloth and then put the food and drinks back into the refrigerator.
To get rid of bad odors, place an open container of baking soda or coffee beans in the refrigerator
Step 8. Sweep the floor daily
Kitchen floors get dirty very quickly from dust, spilled liquids, bits of food, and other materials. To keep the floor clean, take the time to sweep the floor or use a vacuum cleaner to clean the kitchen floor every night after eating or every morning before breakfast.
Sweeping the floor of the house regularly helps reduce dust and allergens in the house
Step 9. Set aside time to mop the floor once a week
In addition to sweeping the floor every day, you should mop the floor once a week to keep the kitchen clean. The floor will be free of dust, food spills, sticky liquids, and stains after mopping. Fill a bucket with soapy water and then use a sponge or mop to clean the kitchen floor.
Instead of walking while the floor is still wet, wait for it to dry so you don't slip or leave footprints on the floor. Make sure the condition of the floor is always safe when traversed, for example by replacing linoleum that is torn or lifted
Part 2 of 4: Making a Garbage Free Kitchen
Step 1. Prepare trash cans and recycling containers that are sized as needed
Every family needs trash cans and recycling containers of different sizes. If the trash can fills up quickly so the contents spill and the floor becomes slippery or the trash needs to be removed every day, replace it with a bigger one.
Step 2. Empty the trash and recycling bins when they are full
To keep the kitchen clean, insect-free, and odor-free, tie a full garbage bag and place it in the garage or trash can for the garbage collector to carry.
After removing the trash, clean the inside and outside of the trash can using a cleaning solution. Wait for it to dry and then install a new trash bag
Step 3. Clean the trash can regularly using a disinfectant
Trash cans can be moldy, mossy, smell bad, and invite bacteria because they are used to hold garbage and food scraps. To keep the kitchen clean and hygienic, make it a habit to wash the trash thoroughly and then spray disinfectant at least once a month. Clean the trash according to the following instructions.
- Put on gloves and spray the water on the outside of the trash can with a hose or plant spray
- Spray enzymatic or disinfectant liquid on the inside and outside of the trash can
- Scrub both sides of the trash can with a sponge or brush
- Rinse with clean water
- Pat the trash can or place it outside and let it dry on its own
Part 3 of 4: Preparing and Storing Food for Safe Consumption
Step 1. Store raw meat, fresh fish, and dairy products in the refrigerator
These foodstuffs are very sensitive to temperature so that bacteria are easy to grow and decompose. Make sure you store raw meat, fresh fish, and dairy products in the refrigerator if you want to eat them a few days later or in the freezer if you need to keep them longer.
Place meat and fish in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag before storing in the refrigerator/freezer to keep them fresh. This step prevents other foods from being exposed to bacteria
Step 2. Wash hands before and after cooking or preparing food
To be really clean, make it a habit to wash your hands under running water using soap and rub for 30 seconds. Also clean under the nails and between the fingers. After washing your hands under running water, dry them with a clean towel.
- Washing hands before cooking or preparing food helps prevent the spread of bacteria and keeps food clean.
- Washing your hands after cooking helps prevent the spread of bacteria from foodstuffs to other objects in the house, especially after handling raw meat.
Step 3. Spray disinfectant after preparing food
Clean the area used when cooking to kill bacteria from raw foods after each meal. Wash all knives and cutting boards in warm water. Spray disinfectant on countertops, sinks, and other areas used for cooking and then dry with a clean cloth.
Step 4. Put more food in the refrigerator as soon as possible
More food can be consumed at lunch tomorrow, but store it quickly in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth to keep you and your family members safe. Once the food is smokeless, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Step 5. Warm food the right way
Bacteria thrive in food at certain temperatures. Therefore, more food should be warmed to at least 74°C before consumption. This step is useful for killing bacteria that trigger food poisoning.
Using a food thermometer is the fastest and most accurate way to measure the temperature of food
Step 6. Melt food in a safe way
To prevent bacteria from growing on frozen food, make sure you defrost it the right way. Do not place frozen food on the counter at room temperature because bacteria will grow quickly. Follow these instructions to safely thaw food.
- Keep food in the refrigerator for 24 hours
- Use the microwave by setting it on defrost mode (melting frozen food)
- Put the food in cold water then change the water every 30 minutes
Step 7. Use multiple cutting boards
To prevent cross-contamination of foodstuffs, use 2 cutting boards and 2 knives each to cut meat and vegetables. This method is very useful because vegetables are sometimes not cooked until cooked like meat. Bacteria that contaminate vegetables can trigger serious diseases.
To make it easier, use cooking utensils of different colors to process meat and vegetables
Part 4 of 4: Keeping the Kitchen Safe
Step 1. Use a shield to prevent oil splashes when cooking with oil
Hot oil often splashes and scorches the skin if it comes into contact with the oil. Place shields in front of frying pans and pans when frying fatty foods (such as pork) or using a lot of vegetable oil.
A splash of oil will contaminate the kitchen. So a shield to resist splashing oil keeps the kitchen clean and protects the skin from scorching
Step 2. Change napkins and kitchen rags daily
Bacteria thrive on napkins, rags and sponges. To prevent the spread of bacteria, wash rags and napkins in the washing machine after using them all day. Prepare some napkins and rags so that there are still clean ones when you wash dirty napkins and rags.
Dissolve bleach in water as a disinfectant to clean the sponge. Dissolve 50 ml of bleach in 1 liter of water and use it to soak the sponge for 5 minutes
Step 3. Keep sharps in the drawer
When not in use, knives, scissors, fruit peelers, and sharp cooking utensils should be kept in a drawer so as not to injure anyone. Insert the knife into the block to place the knife and store sharp objects in special drawers.
To keep knives sharp and safe, store them in blocks to put knives in, rather than in drawers
Step 4. Point the cauldron handle towards the back of the stove
In addition to preventing harm, do this if there are small children in the house. When cooking in a skillet, point the handle toward the back of the stove. Don't forget to turn the pan so that the handle is away from the front of the stove.
Children cannot pull out a cauldron of hot food if the handle is turned away from the front of the stove. Also, you don't bump the pan while cooking
Step 5. Set up a fire extinguisher in the kitchen
Fire in the kitchen is the main cause of fires. If there is a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, you can act quickly by putting the fire out immediately while it is still small and preventing the fire from spreading in the event of a fire.
- Place the fire extinguisher near the stove, under the counter, or near the kitchen door. Also prepare a fireproof blanket.
- Make sure each family member knows how to use a fire extinguisher properly.
Step 6. Do not leave food on the stove while it is on
Fires in the kitchen often occur when the person cooking is distracted. While cooking, don't leave the kitchen for any reason, such as to make a phone call, complete another task, or receive a package.
If you must leave the kitchen or leave the house while cooking, turn off the oven, stove, and other appliances and remove the food from the heat source
Step 7. Use a child friendly lock
If you have children or your home is frequented by children, make sure your kitchen is child-friendly. Install child-friendly locks on drawers, cupboards, and other furniture to keep small children (and pets) from picking up stored items.
Install child-friendly locks in drawers or cabinets filled with sharp objects, chemicals, and other tools that are dangerous for children
Step 8. Perform routine maintenance by checking the condition of kitchen appliances that use electricity, especially if you live in a rented house
In addition, check the safety of gas lines and electrical connections. Keep the blender filter clean. Make sure smoke detectors, fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and other home safety devices are working properly.
