These unsuspected places in your kitchen are full of bacteria!

We cook many foods there, we store food and leftovers, we use many accessories… For all these reasons, and to avoid contaminating our food, it is advisable to keep a clean and healthy kitchen on a daily basis. But did you know that many nooks and crannies that we don’t think about can be covered in bacteria? This bleak reality is revealed to us by Olivier Boutou, food safety expert with Afnor. Fortunately, there are solutions to reduce contamination.

In the refrigerator

It is the most important element of the kitchen for preserving food. As such, the refrigerator must be cleaned regularly to eliminate organic residues and throw away anything that needs to be. Cleaning which can be done with a sponge and soapy water. But for Olivier Boutou, this is not enough. Monthly disinfection is required to eliminate micro-organisms. “The ideal is to use a chlorine-based product. Simply dilute it in water and use a clean sponge. Once everything is disinfected, rinse everything, then wipe it with a single-use paper or a clean cloth to ensure that there is no product residue. he recommends in Madame Figaro.

But bacteria also happily nestle in the seals, which should not be forgotten. These must therefore be cleaned and disinfected regularly. See changed if they no longer perform their function.

In the microwave

After a few uses of the microwave, it is strewn with grease splashes and encrusted dirt. For the expert, you must regularly clean and disinfect your microwave, according to the recommendations found in the original instructions. When cleaning, you must also remember to unplug the appliance, but also to rinse all the elements properly so that no residue of cleaning products remains.

In the dishwasher

The dishwasher, although it is designed to wash, also contains many bacteria and sometimes remains humid for several hours. It should then be dismantled to clean each part individually and use suitable products. Regenerating salt and rinse aid are not too much! Finally, the expert also recommends rinsing your dirty dishes before placing them in the dishwasher in order to avoid food waste. It is also recommended to dry your dishes when they come out of the machine before putting them away.

In the kitchen hood

We rarely think about cleaning our hood, yet grease is deposited and becomes encrusted there for a long time. Fortunately, some filters are removable and can go straight into the dishwasher. Otherwise, you must use a degreasing product and scrub once a month.

On the cutting boards

Cutting boards should be cleaned with the greatest care. However, it is common for us to use one board for several foods. A mistake for Olivier Boutou who explains that you do not cut meat on the same board as an earthy vegetable, or raw meat on the same board as cooked meat. The idea is therefore to clean and dry the boards thoroughly between each use.

In sponges and cloths

Essential in the kitchen, tea towels have a big disadvantage: they quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria (notably with high concentrations of Escherichia coli.). In addition, we often use them indiscriminately to wipe the dishes, the work surface or even to take a dish out of the oven. To avoid making mistakes again, the expert recommends a color code: tea towels of a certain color for the hands, another color for the dishes. Finally, you should change the product very regularly and wash your tea towels at 60 degrees.

On the sponge side, it’s not much better: a 2022 study revealed that more than 10,000 bacteria coexist in our sponges. The best way to deal with it is to change them very regularly.

In gourds and bottles

Finally, many families have recently opted for glass flasks and bottles to reduce their waste. This is good, but according to the expert, these elements are far from being hygienic, because not only do we often drink directly from the bottle, but we get into the habit of refilling them one after the other in the same day without cleaning them prior. “Although the latter are not particularly dangerous, it is essential to wash the bottles correctly, paying particular attention to the cork and the cracks where black mold can lodge.”. Bottle brushes can also help you with this task.