How to clean the kitchen in summer

Easy tasks to clean the kitchen in summer

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Full text transcription.

Summer time means warmer weather, longer days, and vacation time. Unfortunately, it can also mean more pests infesting our kitchens. It’s very common not to recognize the need for different cleaning routines between summer and winter, however, by adapting our chore routine to the different seasons, we can help avoid possible health risks associated with increased pest activity. From flies to ants to cockroaches, there are many unwanted visitors to our kitchens that increase their activity in warmer weather.

Here’s our easy to follow tips and tricks for cleaning the kitchen in summer.

1. Pay Special Attention to Food

While it’s advisable to pay close attention to expiration dates and ensure our food is in good condition at any time of the year, in summer we need to be extra vigilant. We recommend discarding anything past it’s use-by date and ensuring perishable foods are kept refrigerated. Also make sure to wash your fruits and vegetables carefully, even before storing them.

When it comes to preparing meals, there are a few easy to follow tips that will help reduce the risks of food poisoning. Don’t remove food from the refrigerator too far in advance of using it in your cooking. Ensure surfaces – counter tops, chopping boards, as well as utensils, are clean, and do not use the same surfaces for both raw and cooked foods without cleaning them between uses.

Finally, when cooking, remember to ensure your food reaches at least a minimum of 65 degrees. This ensures any bacteria present in the food are destroyed. Leftovers should be cooled before refrigerating, and ensure any food left over is stored in an airtight container.

Finally, lets not forget the dustbin. It’s not only important to regularly empty the bin, doing it daily during the summer months is recommended, it’s also important to regularly clean the bin out between uses. Using a little bleach once a week to clean out the bin cannot only help reduce odors, but also reduce the presence of insects.

2. Beware of Moisture

During the summer months we often pay less attention to areas of potential moisture buildup in the kitchen, perhaps because we assume things generally dry faster in the heat. However, bacteria and insect activity is also more prevalent in the warmer months, so it’s imperative we remain vigilant.

Flies particularly find wet sinks appealing for laying their eggs, and bacteria grows at faster rates. You can avoid potential dangers from these pests by ensuring you dry out your sink after use, wash cloths and dish towels perhaps more often than the winter months, and ensure any drain clogs or pipe issues are dealt with immediately. This will also help avoid any odor issues that can arise from blocked pipes and drains.

3. Cleaning Appliances

You’ve probably heard of “Spring Cleaning”, and for good reason. It’s a once a year event in which everything is cleaned, thoroughly. By including your appliances in this big once a year clean, you can help reduce the risk of bacteria and germ buildup which can lead to illness and infection. Whether you do this clean in spring or summer, here are some things to remember:

• Firstly, ensure your workspace is clean ad dry before you start on your appliances; this is a crucial step that is often overlooked.
• We recommend using a combination of warm water infused with a detergent for best results, or, infused with vinegar if you are looking for a more natural (yet effective) method.
• Remember to pay special attention to your washing machine and dryer, as these can accumulate buildups of lime.

4. Clean Cabinets, Healthy Kitchen

Summer is a time for ants. Whether flour, sugar or even cookie crumbs, these little morsels are irresistible to ants. One of the easiest ways to avoid an ant infestation is to ensure the kitchen and pantry cabinets are cleaned and free of crumbs and debris.

To clean your cabinets inside and out, remove all items from them and wipe down with a mix of water infused with a little ammonia. Allow the cabinets to dry completely before restocking them. If you find there are fatty buildups in the cabinets, a stronger cleaner may be required. Fatty buildups can also lead to unwanted kitchen odors, so we do recommend ensuring the cabinets are cleaned thoroughly.

5. To Open or Not To Open

While not a major cleaning concern specifically related to summer, should we open our kitchen windows, or close them? If they are left open, windows can become gateways for flies and other unwanted visitors to enter our homes. If left closed, perhaps the kitchen is not ventilated and becomes stuffy and uncomfortable. What to do?

The easiest solution is to fit windows with screens to prevent the entrance of flies and other insects, while still allowing the ventilation of the kitchen space. If screens are not practical for your particular situation, we recommend keeping the windows closed as much as possible to avoid flies and other insects contaminating your kitchen.

We hope you have found this information interesting and useful. At Maid Cleaning Nashville we are experts in the cleaning business. Don’t have time to implement these ideas yourself? Maid Cleaning Nashville would be happy to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with a complete array of cleaning solutions. Book Online Now!

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