Gross Dish Washing Mistakes You're Making
By Sara Butler
Keeping your home clean is part of healthy living, but sometimes you can fall short and not even realize it! Kitchens are very dirty places, no matter how meticulous you are. According to the National Science Foundation, your kitchen is likely far more dirty than your bathroom – and you don’t prepare your meals in the bathroom! There are many potential problem areas of the kitchen, but one that can spread a lot of germs is your kitchen sink and the dishes you wash there. Here’s how you can fix these problem areas for a healthier kitchen!
Don’t Use Too Much Soap!
Your kitchen sink should not resemble a lavish bubble bath once it’s full. If it does, then you’re using way too much soap. How is this a problem? Well, using too much soap will leave residue behind on the things you wash, and that chemical-laden residue can end up on your food and ultimately in your mouth. The best course of action is to follow the manufacturer’s direction and use the least amount of soap you can.
Also, avoid using soap that claims to be anti-bacterial. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration banned the use of triclosan because it’s bad for your health and the environment. Pay attention to what’s in your soap too!
Use a Clean Sponge
If you knew what was lurking in your sponge, you may never use one again. Sponges are notoriously full of gross bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. The crevices that help remove stuck food also work as a great hiding place for bacteria you want nowhere near your dishes.
You can help to combat this by getting rid of the plastic sponge and using something made from natural materials that won’t harbor so much gross bacteria. You should always hang your dishrag up to dry in between uses and use a new one every day. Make sure when you wash them that you wash them in hot water and dry them in the dryer or hang them in the sun to dry.
A Dirty Sink
You probably would skip washing your dishes in the toilet, but if you don’t clean your sink regularly, that’s basically what you’re doing when you wash dishes in your sink. The National Health Service claims that there are 100,000 times the germs in your kitchen sink than in your toilet. It will pay to wash your sink daily with vinegar and baking soda.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
