Of all of the rooms in our house, the kitchen is arguably the one we wish to hold the cleanest.
Not solely can a grimy kitchen look terrible, however it will possibly turn into a severe hazard, resulting in meals contamination and even contributing to the expansion of mould. However what do you have to clear first in a kitchen?
When requested, skilled cleaners all agreed that, when cleansing a kitchen, we must always all be beginning with the counter tops – and for some excellent causes.
The very first thing to wash in a kitchen
Though we could also be wiping them down every single day after cooking, our counter tops ought to all the time be the very first thing we deep clear, knowledgeable cleaners concur. Particularly on condition that, though not one in every of the soiled hidden areas of a kitchen we overlook to wash, they’re nonetheless usually the dirtiest.
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‘Give it some thought – counter tops are just like the command heart of the kitchen. They’re the place we chop, prep, and serve meals. And let’s not overlook about all of the spills, crumbs, and sneaky micro organism that may accumulate there,’ says Karina Toner, cleansing knowledgeable at Spekless Cleansing. ‘By beginning with the counter tops, you are setting the stage for a clear and hygienic kitchen.’
The concept is that you need to deal with any ‘high-touch’ surfaces repeatedly and deeply, which, in flip, may help minimize kitchen cleansing instances in half, Muffetta Krueger, cleansing knowledgeable and founding father of Muffetta’s Home Assistants divulges.
‘These surfaces repeatedly come into contact with all types of contaminants, from meals, to palms, to home equipment, to the underside of grocery luggage. These can all harbor a bunch of micro organism, germs, and residues that then compromise the integrity of our cooking,’ she says.
Karina Toner
Karina is the Operations Supervisor at Spekless Cleansing, a trusted maid service primarily based in Washington D.C. The workforce has over 5 years of expertise offering top-quality cleansing providers for each residential and industrial shoppers. Karina oversees each facet of the enterprise, making certain that each consumer will get the identical top-notch service and a spotless clear each time.
This extends to any flat floor you employ in your kitchen too, not simply your counter tops, provides Nathaly Vieira, skilled cleaner and proprietor of InspireClean. ‘The very best tip I can provide is to start out with the surfaces. This contains counter tops, tables, and different flat surfaces. It is also vital to wash them earlier than you begin on anything since it will assist keep away from spreading any dust and dirt round your kitchen.’
(Picture credit score: Aimée Mazzenga)
It additionally helps in case you constantly comply with a routine of every day duties to maintain counters clear, as this may help you to wash down the floor simply and rapidly, and prevents dropped meals from hiding beneath home equipment the place it might go moldy, odor, and even entice pests.
Suggestions for deep clear kitchen counter tops
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The way you clear your counter tops will largely depend upon what they’re product of. Laminate surfaces, as an illustration, won’t require as a lot specialist care as cleansing granite counter tops or cleansing white quartz counter tops, as an illustration.
Usually talking, there are some easy cleansing suggestions you may comply with to ensure your meals prep house is hygienic:
1. Clear the counters
As with all cleansing job, it helps to declutter counter tops first, which might generally imply doing slightly pre-cleaning, says Sara San Angelo, a.ok.a The Cleansing Woman, proprietor of Confessions of a Cleansing Woman.
‘It’s best to clear the perimeters and deal with any soiled dishes,’ she reminds. ‘Whether or not that’s doing them by hand or placing them within the dishwasher, you will wish to have a clear and empty sink to wash the remainder of your kitchen. It creates easy accessibility, and much more house to work with.’
2. Use a gentle detergent and a microfiber material to take away grease
You solely want a gentle detergent to assist clean up your counters, be it a mild degreaser spray, a couple of drops of dish cleaning soap, and even cleansing with vinegar, advises Nathaly Vieira, skilled cleaner.
‘Mix with heat water if wanted and wipe down with a clear microfiber material, accessible at Walmart, to gather any lingering crumbs as you’re employed to keep away from them spilling onto the ground.’
3. Dry completely afterward with a clear towel
As soon as the counters have been degreased, drying them off may help to forestall streaks and guarantee any leftover residue has been picked up earlier than it alters the style of your cooking, continues Muffetta Krueger, cleansing knowledgeable. Use a clear, dry material or towel, and pop it within the laundry afterward.
Muffetta Krueger is a driving pressure within the home service enterprise, with over 15 years of operational administration expertise within the business.
4. Deal with micro organism with an anti-bac spray
For meals prep surfaces, you need to all the time comply with up with an anti-bacterial spray to be sure you restrict contamination threat – particularly in case you cook dinner with meat, says cleansing knowledgeable Karina Toner. ‘Cleansing is one factor, however we wish to ensure these counter tops are additionally germ-free,’ she warns.
‘After wiping them down, attain for a disinfectant spray or make your personal DIY answer utilizing equal elements water and white vinegar. Spray it generously onto the counter tops and let it sit for a couple of minutes to do its germ-fighting magic. Then, wipe it clear with a recent material.’
5. Seal counters product of a pure stone
Though an non-obligatory step, pure stone counter tops profit from common resealing to ensure micro organism and stains don’t sink into the pure materials – it will possibly additionally hold them shiny and searching model new, provides Karina Toner, cleansing knowledgeable.
‘Verify the producer’s directions or seek the advice of an expert for one of the simplest ways to seal your particular counter tops.’
FAQs
What’s the finest cleaner for laminate counter tops?
The very best cleaner for laminate counter tops is one thing containing a gentle detergent to assist break down grease. These hardy surfaces hardly ever want something with harsh chemical substances (which might do extra hurt than good), so a gentle detergent resembling dish cleaning soap, a degreasing spray, or an anti-bacterial spray with a microfiber material is your finest guess for a hygienic floor.
Does vinegar clear counter tops?
White vinegar combined with equal elements water could make a very good home made cleaner in your counter tops, breaking down grease and killing any micro organism or mould spores. That being mentioned, it will possibly depart our kitchens smelling slightly bit like a plate of fish and chips, so it’s maybe smart to make use of a industrial, scented anti-bacterial spray as a substitute.
Cleansing a kitchen within the right order, in addition to understanding how usually you need to clear a kitchen, will provide you with peace of thoughts when cooking that your meals is protected, and of the very best high quality.
After cleansing the worktops, transfer on to different high-touch zones resembling cleansing a kitchen sink, and generally used home equipment such because the range and fridge to complete the job off.
