Kitchens...they’re where you make the magic happen – preparing, cooking and storing foods – but you and your food aren’t the only things hanging out in there, unfortunately. Kitchens are also a popular breeding ground for bacteria due to the moisture, food and hiding places.   Luckily, there are ways to limit germs by staying mindful of where they like to host their little germ parties.

Where do germs hide?

NSF International, the Public Health and Safety Organization, did a germ study in 2013, which analyzed 14 common kitchen items for the presence of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, yeast and mold. Their findings, which you can read here ranked the refrigerator water dispenser, rubber spatula, blender gasket, refrigerator vegetable and meat compartments, knife block and more among the germiest.

No need to steer clear of these places from now on, as there are ways to clean them and minimize risk. Here are the NSF’s tips for cleaning common germy kitchen items.

While you’re at it, take a look at this article, which goes over a few more germy spots in your kitchen: Naughty List of Germs – Kitchen Contenders. Good thing spring cleaning time is just about here!

If you're remodeling in the Chicago area and have questions regarding kitchen materials that can minimize bacteria growth, contact our team for answers.