Spring Clean Your Way to a Safer Kitchen

As the days get longer and the weather warms up, many people are preparing for the annual event of spring cleaning. When cleaning a kitchen, it's important to remember there's more to the task than just shiny floors and neatly arranged cupboards.

This is a great time to target harmful bacteria that can lurk on kitchen surfaces and even in your refrigerator. Salmonella, Staphyloccus, E. coli and Listeria are just some of the bacteria that may be hanging out in your kitchen. While you can't see or smell BAC! -- short for bacteria - they are everywhere and they especially like moist environments. A clean and dry kitchen helps Fight BAC! and protect you and your family from foodborne illness.

A truly clean kitchen relies on more than just looks - it also depends on keeping your kitchen clean, says [local food safety expert]. By following some key cleaning steps, you can help prevent bacteria from spreading throughout your kitchen.

Some spring cleaning tips you should practice year round to make your kitchen and your food safer include:

* Always clean surfaces thoroughly with hot soapy water. Sanitize your kitchen countertops with diluted chlorine bleach or a disinfectant kitchen cleaner. Use 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart of water. Be sure to dry with clean paper towels after each cleaning.

* Disinfect dishcloths often. Launder dishcloths frequently using the hot water cycle of the washing machine. Then be sure to dry them in the dryer. These items harbor bacteria and when wet, promote bacterial growth. Also, consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces. When done, throw away the towel.

* Rid your fridge of spills, bacteria, mold and mildew. Clean your refrigerator weekly to kill germs that could contaminate foods. To tackle bacteria, mold and mildew, clean interior refrigerator surfaces with hot soapy water. Rinse with damp cloth, dry with clean cloth. Manufacturers recommend against using chlorine bleach as it can damage seals, gaskets and linings.

* Clean your kitchen sink drain and disposal once or twice a week by pouring a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water down the drain. Food particles get trapped in the drain and disposal, creating the perfect environment for bacterial growth.

Fight BAC! is a national consumer education campaign sponsored by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a coalition of industry, government and consumer groups. The campaign is designed to teach consumers about the importance of food safety and reduce the incidence of foodborne illness.

About The Author:

Betty Jackson is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kitchens.com. Everything for your kitchen to make it look great and make cooking a whole lot easier.