Kitchen cleaning is a chore that many homeowners would prefer to keep quick and painless, but it’s important to make sure it’s done properly to ensure the ongoing health and safety of your family. In this article, we list the three kitchen cleaning mistakes that are making your kitchen dirtier as well as jeopardising the safety of the food you cook.
- Overlooking appliances and kitchen accessories
You may be rigorously scrubbing the counters and mopping the floors, but how well are you cleaning the items in your kitchen that get used the most? We’re talking about your oven, your microwave, your fridge, your toaster, and your coffee grinder – but also chopping boards, braai grills, baking trays and kettles.
Neglecting to deep clean these household items every so often can make them a breeding ground for bacteria and grime build up which is then transferred onto any subsequent meals you cook there – affecting not only the taste, but also the overall quality.
- Spraying cleaner directly onto the surface
Unless the kitchen surfaces are extremely dirty or you’re dealing with stubborn marks that are hard to get rid of, we advise that you don’t apply cleaning solution directly to the surface. Instead, spray or squirt the cleaner onto a microfiber cloth before wiping down kitchen countertops or appliances.
This ensures that no residue or harmful chemicals left behind after cleaning, while reducing the amount of solution needed to clean.
- Stacking your dishwasher wrong
We’ve all been there before, playing dishwasher Tetris to fit in as many dishes, cups and cutlery as we can, only to come back to dishes that are still dirty after the cycle ends. This is a classic dishwasher mistake that can be fixed by making a few small changes to your stacking routine.
- Place utensils in different directions or facing away from each other for an overall clean.
- Don’t put everything in the dishwasher – some kitchen tools are better left hand-washed to remove dirt more effectively and to preserve them for longer. These include grinders, cast iron skillets, knives with wooden handles, graters and peelers, etc.
- Don’t overfill the dishwasher. Every dishwasher has a maximum load limit, and going over this limit will significantly lower the cleaning power it provides.
- Rinse your dishes. While this may seem counterproductive, dishes with excessive food scraps or dishes that have been sitting for a while may need to be pre-rinsed to loosen food particles that the dishwasher may miss.
Are you guilty of any of these kitchen cleaning faux pas? Trust the Cleaning Specialists to give your kitchen a deep cleaning treatment for a healthier, safer home.
Click here for a house cleaning quote today! 
