You may think your kitchen is clean enough, but dare to look closely. Have you inspected your oven? What about the range hood? Maybe if your house cleaning services had the complete equipment to thoroughly clean it, you would be able to clean it more regularly.
When was the last time you checked the filters? Do you frequently wipe the sink or countertop with every use? The kitchen is the place where you prepare and cook food. Since food is perishable, any fresh or spoilt fruit, vegetable, or meat is rife with the growth of micro-organisms.
Kitchen surfaces
Food poisoning may cause foodborne diseases such as diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. In particular, those with weak immune systems such as those with diabetes, organ transplants, or liver diseases are most susceptible. Some of the micro-organisms that may cause food poisoning are Escherichia coli, Listeria, moulds, and salmonella.
The causes of Escherichia coli are undercooked meat or unpasteurized milk. Such bacteria can cause bloody or watery diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever. Some alcohols like ethyl and isopropyl can kill these bacteria as well as regularly disinfecting sinks and countertops may prevent contamination. Poor sanitation is a major cause of salmonella infection. Similar to Escherichia coli, salmonella may be killed by disinfecting the tops of kitchen tables and sinks.
When there is moisture, moulds may grow. Some moulds are toxic since they produce toxins. People exposed to these kinds of toxins may have allergic reactions or even neurological problems. As a solution, it is best to clean or repair parts of the house that can carry the most moisture, such as the roof gutters. Regularly drying wet areas may also prevent mould growth.
Oven
Cleaning a dirty oven is one of the most challenging household chores. When you cook in an oven, which is greasy and smelly, the oven may ruin your food. Worse, some grease that has stuck to the top of the oven may even fall on your food, which could lead to food poisoning. In addition, food or grease that has stuck to any parts of the oven will continue to cook, some even resulting in burnt-out food. Such food may even lead to continuous burning, a fire hazard.
You may spend a long time cleaning your oven. Even house cleaning services may have a hard time in removing the thick grease or burnt-out food in your oven. But if you plan in scrubbing your oven clean, you can start by removing all pieces of burnt-out food. Then you can apply baking soda mixed with water on the burnt parts. And wipe it off with water combined with a white vinegar solution.
Rangehood
Also known as a fume hood, this equipment absorbs toxic fumes. When your range hood is dirty, it is not effective in filtering smoke. What happens is that this smoke, vapours, and dust will circulate in your kitchen, leading to many diseases such as allergies or respiratory illnesses. Sometimes, inhalation of toxic fumes may directly affect the bloodstream. As a solution, some filters may need to be cleaned regularly. In some cases, the filter may need to be replaced.
Most of the food that you eat is prepared and cooked in the kitchen. When you get ill, not only can you not do things, but you are likely to spend a significant amount of hard-earned cash for your treatment too. In this situation, the adage that it is better to prevent an illness than to treat it has never been more accurate.
Author: Darren Wilson
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