HOW TO PROPERLY DISINFECT YOUR KITCHEN?

The kitchen is a room where hygiene must be flawless, given that food is prepared and handled there. It is therefore vital to prevent the proliferation of microbes, bacteria and viruses of all kinds, which can contaminate not only kitchen surfaces, but also the food itself.

Just like every other room in the house, the kitchen needs to be disinfected too, to make it a healthy and perfectly hygienic place to prepare meals. For the same reasons, it is also necessary to take precautions to avoid contact between disinfectants and food and kitchen utensils.

But how to disinfect the kitchen?

What areas in the kitchen need to be disinfected?

As a general rule, the entire kitchen should benefit from rigorous hygiene; however, certain “key” areas need to be disinfected more rigorously, as bacteria tend to grow more quickly there.

To create a healthy, sanitized environment in these areas, it is necessary to use specific disinfectant products.

This includes the worktop, which is in direct contact with food and utensils, where germs tend to spread more easily. To clean and disinfect the worktop on a daily basis, use a multi-purpose disinfectant cleaner that contains both cleaning and degreasing agents to remove encrusted oily and greasy residues. Soap paste is also effective for this purpose, especially on tiled or porcelain worktops.

Cooktops also need to be washed and disinfected, as they harbour countless germs due to food residues that may have adhered to them during cooking. Here again, you’ll need a degreasing cleaner to thoroughly clean the plates. To do this, spray the product onto the surface, leave to act and then wipe off with a clean, damp sponge.

Next comes the sink, an area that is always damp from frequent dishwashing, and where food debris can lead to the proliferation of bacteria. To clean and disinfect it, you can use a degreasing dishwasher.

Household appliances also need to be cleaned regularly, especially refrigerators, coffee machines, mixers, ovens and so on. It’s best to use a food-safe product, such as dishwashing liquid, to clean them properly.

Last but not least, don’t forget to use a household descaling agent to clean metal parts in the kitchen, such as faucets.

What about natural solutions for disinfecting the kitchen?

Many websites and natural solutions enthusiasts suggest cleaning the kitchen with DIY products made from natural ingredients.

The products most often used are baking soda, black soap, lemon juice, white vinegar and so on. In fact, they are ideal for cleaning the kitchen, as they effectively remove dirt, but their effectiveness for disinfecting remains somewhat limited.

In fact, these products do not eliminate microbes and bacteria, let alone viruses, and when we know that the latter easily contaminate kitchen surfaces, natural solutions are not indicated for disinfection.

To get rid of germs effectively, it is best to turn to products that provide 2 actions, such as disinfectant cleansers, degreasing cleansers, etc.

Bleach: can it be used in the kitchen?

Bleach is a product made from a mixture of caustic soda and chlorine. It is therefore particularly acidic, corrosive and toxic. That’s why you need to take precautions for its use.

It’s important to note that bleach should only be used on surfaces that have been cleaned beforehand, and should always be rinsed afterwards.

When it comes to the kitchen, bleach is not recommended for disinfecting surfaces directly in contact with food, such as worktops, appliances, hotplates, utensils, etc.

Fortunately, bleach-free surface disinfectants are now available for degreasing and shining all washable surfaces. This is the case, for example, with the IMPEC disinfectant floor and surface cleaner.