Whether it’s stocking the fridge with fresh produce or
wiping down the counters to keep critters away, a home’s healthy lifestyle
depends on a clean, healthy kitchen. If you haven’t updated these essential
kitchen tools, however, they could be counter-intuitive to clean-up, and might
even be endangering your health. Take a look at this list and make sure your
kitchen safety is up to snuff.
Smelly Sponges
Even if it doesn’t smell yet, the porous and damp nature of
sponges makes them perfect homes for nasty bacteria you’ve worked so hard to
avoid. If you’re using an old sponge to wipe down your kitchen counters, guess
where all that bacteria goes? That’s right, everywhere. You can quickly
disinfect a sponge by rinsing with hot water and sticking it in the microwave
for 30 seconds, but you should still be replacing your sponges every two weeks,
at least.
Dirty Dish Towels
Everything about sponges applies to dish towels as well,
except towels have a greater surface area, all the better to soak up even more
yummy bacteria. You also normally use a dish towel both to clean up and wipe
your hands, which means lots of bacteria spreading. Wash dish towels as often as
possible, and replace them sooner rather than later.
Cut-up Cutting Boards
You might think little nicks and cuts on an old cutting
board are harmless, but they’re actually perfect venues for bacteria parties.
Worst of all, it’s really difficult to clean a razor-thin cut made by a very
sharp knife thoroughly. Regardless of their material make-up, cutting boards
should be replaced if they’re damaged and scarred. Good cutting boards are
fairly inexpensive, so a replacement is a small price to pay for safety.
Plastic Containers from the Past
You’ve probably heard of a little something called bisphenol
A, or BPA, a compound found in manufactured plastics that has been linked to a
long list of health problems that would make any physician shudder. If you’ve
had your plastic containers for a long time, this compound could be seeping
into your food and endangering your health. Luckily, companies are phasing BPA
out of production, so it’s easier nowadays to find BPA-free plastic products,
once you toss your old ones.
Nasty Nonstick
This is a relatively controversial issue, but research has
shown that heating nonstick pans to temperatures higher than 500 degrees
Fahrenheit possibly releases toxic fumes that can make you sick. They’re not
deadly, and normal cooking won’t necessitate a temperature that high, but
scratched nonstick surfaces are more likely to release fumes at a lower
temperature. If you’re cooking with scratched and outdated nonstick pots and
pans, it might be worthwhile to upgrade.
Grisly Grill Brushes
If you’re firing up the grill for a cookout, make sure to
check your grill brush bristles. If your brush is old, these bristles can
detach from the brush and attach to your food, posing a significant health
risk. Swallowing sharp, dirty bristles is bad news for your body. Grill brushes
should be replaced every two to three months, especially if you’re an
enthusiastic griller.
It’s never a bad time to track down and toss out the kitchen
tools that could be harming your health. Take the time for a quick update, and
you’ll have a happier, healthier, kitchen in no time.
