Did you know that viruses can live up to two to three days on cardboards and plastic and stainless steel surfaces and objects most commonly seen in our kitchen? Are you also aware that you might possibly catch COVID-19 through touching contaminated surfaces and objects aside from person-to-person transmission?

Safety and cleanliness should start within our homes and one of its most dominant parts in the kitchen. The kitchen isn’t simply a room filled with cooking utensils and appliances for meal preparation, but it is also where family bonding usually takes place. Some have hobbies of cooking meals or baking desserts together with their family members; some stay in the kitchen to socialize, while some use it for their family business. In more ways than one, the kitchen is eventually a part of our daily routine, thus it is important to always keep it clean.

To reduce contamination in the kitchen, be it bacterial or viral, follow these cleaning tips and educate your family members:

BEFORE CLEANING:

• Select the appropriate disinfectant to minimize harmful effects to household members or damage to surfaces.
• When needed, wear personal protective equipment such as surgical mask, rubber gloves, waterproof apron, and eye cover to protect against chemicals.
• Keep foods away to minimize chemical contamination.
• Never mix two or more cleaning materials or disinfectants with one another.

DURING CLEANING:

• Clean surfaces and utensils with water and soap or detergent to eliminate visible dirt then followed by disinfection (alcohol of at least 70% or bleach).
• Prioritize polishing the most commonly touched surfaces and objects such as countertops, faucet handle, light switch plates, sink, gas stove knobs, drawer handles and refrigerator handle.
• Regularly sanitize your dishwashing sponges and cleaning cloths or towels used in a daily basis; replace if possible.
• Sterilize your dinner spoons, forks and knives often.
• Use a damp cloth when cleaning surfaces of kitchen appliances.

AFTER CLEANING:

• Open your fans and windows to easily dry out, ensure proper ventilation and prevent inhalation of the strong odor of disinfectant used.
• Store your disinfectants out of the reach of children and pets.
• Tightly close the lids of the container to avoid spilling.
• Properly wash your hands after use of any cleaning medium or disinfectants.

COVID-19 can rapidly spread, thus awareness of all members of the household should be done.  Mouthwatering meals prepared and served in a COVID-19-free kitchen will lead to a strong, healthy family and a happy tummy! (NKSLoyola)

WHO (2020). COVID 19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces in Non-Health Care Settings. Accessed from https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-cleaning-and-disinfecting-surfaces-in-non-health-care-settings#

Boston Public Health Commission (2020). Cleaning and Disinfection to Prevent COVID 19. Accessed from https://www.bphc.org/whatwedo/infectious-diseases/Infectious-Diseases-A-to-Z/Documents/Cleaning%20and%20Disinfecting%20for%20COVID%2019.pdf