Five Filthy Places in Your Kitchen

Have you ever wondered what’s cooking up in your kitchen when you’re not around?

The answer may be alarming.


A study conducted by the National Science Foundation found some of the dirtiest nooks and crannies in your kitchen may not be in the places you most expected. Read on to learn they found the most alarming amounts of E. coli and salmonella and listeria.

5. The Blender

In between the metal blade assembly and the gasket of the blender (the small, circular rubber material that sits on the outside of the blade edge) are a ton of germs. What most people don’t know is that in order to properly clean your blender, it is important to disassemble all parts of the blender, including these smaller pieces, and allow them to dry completely before putting them back together.

blender

This action will prevent against harmful germs and the spread of bacteria like E. coli.

4. Your Vegetable Drawer

There are nearly 10 million cases of food poisoning each year in the U.S. and one in five of these outbreaks occur in one’s home. Of the total number of these outbreaks, nearly half of these cases are a result of leafy vegetables and other plant products.

Many people don’t think to clean the place that they store their veggies in addition to the vegetables that they are cooking. The vegetable compartment in your refrigerator is home to nasty illnesses like E. coli and salmonella. Be sure to clean out this compartment almost as routinely as you clean your produce.

3. Rubber Spatula

The rubber spatula was found to be home to many germs – mostly as a result of food that gets stuck between the detachable handle and scraper. If you own a rubber spatula, check and see if these two items detach; If they’re dishwasher-safe, run them through the dishwasher and allow them to dry completely before reassembling.

rubber spatulas

If hand-washing these materials, wash in warm, soapy water, rinse and dry completely before reassembling. These small crevices are where old food particles get caught and can often come back to spread germs and sickness later.

2. Water and Ice Dispensers

The constant moisture of the water and ice dispensers in your kitchen and refrigerator make it the perfect place for yeast and mold to grow. This can be a nightmare for those with allergies.

Look over the cleaning instructions for your refrigerator – most cleaning practices involve shutting off the machine and running a stream of white vinegar through the faucet to clean out any old or living bacteria. This should be done once or twice a year while you should clean out your ice tray with soap and water monthly.

1. Knife Block

It’s important to make sure your knives are completely clean and dry before putting them back into the knife block. Ocasionally clean out your knife block with a solution of warm water and 5.25-percent household bleach. This will prevent germs or infectious bacteria from growing.

knife block

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.