Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — how often do you clean your kitchen? A 2024 survey found people clean once a week, but some parts should be cleaned daily, like your kitchen sink. In fact, kitchen sinks carry 100 thousand more bacteria than bathroom sinks.
The kitchen is the heart of many homes and it’s a hotspot for bacteria. Germs linger on surfaces, utensils and even in the air. One of the most contaminated places?
“Plastic cutting boards can tend to absorb a lot of those bacteria and keep the bacteria in the plastic,” said Megan Ware, Registered Dietitian.
A study found that half of the cutting boards had bacteria on them, including e-coli and salmonella. Experts recommend wooden cutting boards that are naturally antimicrobial.
And the counter you’re cutting on needs cleaning too! For every square inch, there are 488 bacteria colonies. For a normal 30 square foot counter, that’s over two million! Depending on your type of counter-top, use dish soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach and hot water to clean then wipe away with a dry cloth.
And maybe it’s time to clean up your sponge!
“Think about how many surfaces that sponge has been on and i would say it’s probably time to replace that sponge,” said Ware.
The USDA found that microwaving a sponge is the most effective method of killing bacteria, killing 99.9 percent of bacteria.
Finally, a 2024 study found that uncleaned microwaves carried the bacteria which can cause sepsis. You can clean your microwave with heated up vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice mixed with water. Just remember, when it comes to your kitchen, what you can’t see, could make you sick.
And if you’re using a dishwasher — experts say think twice before loading plastic. Dishwashers have been linked to dementia due to their spread of microplastics from plastic items placed inside. A 2025 study found that one cycle with plastic items can release almost one million microplastics, so handwash these items instead.
Contributors to this news report include: Marcy Wilder, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.
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Sources:
https://talker.news/2024/03/25/which-state-spends-the-most-time-cleaning-their-home/
https://www.today.com/home/kitchen-cleaning-checklist-rcna73776
https://summitjanitorial.com/2024/12/20/cleaning-facts/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14757313/how-stay-safe-kitchen-sickness-illness.html
https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-clean-a-cutting-board/
https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-clean-countertops/9ba683603be9fa5395fab9048272ecf
https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2007/best-ways-to-clean-kitchen-sponges/
