When people are ready to get the spring cleaning put behind them, they can often take shortcuts to save time, energy or other resources. This can lead to cross contamination if the cleaner is not careful. Cross contamination is when germs are carried from one surface to another. This is usually an undesirable result and sometimes it can even cause health concerns. A good example is the transfer of bacteria from raw foods to food preparation surfaces or even to serving dishes. This can be done simply by putting the dish on a surface where the raw meat was sitting or cleaning the food preparation surface with a sponge that was used to wipe down the cutting board. As simple as that, the diner is consuming germs carried in raw meat. Another way it can be bad is transfer of germs from the bathroom to the kitchen. This can be done by using the same cleaning materials in both rooms while cleaning. So how do we protect ourselves from cross contamination through our cleaning practices?
Start with the most common area where cross contamination can cause problems--the kitchen. In the kitchen, first and foremost be sure you are washing your hands regularly and thoroughly. This should be done before and after any type of cleaning, switching between working with raw and cooked foods, before doing anything in this room after using the bathroom, and after handling dirty dishes. Speaking of dishes, do not use dishes that were used to prepare food as serving dishes. This includes pots, pans plates, bowls, and utensils. The chance that anything from the raw food may still be on the surface means it should not be used until after it has been cleaned and dried completely. All food processing equipment needs to be cleaned between uses since bacteria and viruses can live on surfaces between meals and potentially transfer to other foods. While cooking, clean up any spills immediately and sanitize the area before using it for any more food preparation. Food preparation areas such as counters should also be sanitized after each meal prep is finished. Be sure to check regularly that foods are properly stored and are being disposed of by the recommended disposal date for that type of food. Leftovers are a great way to save money, but if they have been sitting in your refrigerator for a week, it is time to be tossed and the dish thoroughly cleaned. While checking for expired foods, be sure to sanitize any shelves or drawers (in the refrigerator AND cabinets/pantry) where food has leaked right away.
Key mistakes to watch out for when cleaning include making sure you are not using a contaminated cleaning cloth, sponge, mop or other tool on another surface. For example, do not clean the sink where you brush your teeth with a cloth that was just used to clean your toilet. While this example definitely paints a picture, people make this mistake all the time in other areas too. The most common example is using a sponge that has been used to clean everything in the kitchen to clean dishes. Have you ever used the sponge you use to wash dishes in your sink to wipe off the counter where you were preparing raw food?
Use the right cleaner for the right job. There is no cleaner that is the best at everything. The most general cleaners may be good for general surfaces, but would you want to trust that the best cleaner for your hands is bleach? Should you wash your kitchen sink with toilet bowl cleaner? Glass cleaner may get spots off glass windows and mirrors, but it will not sanitize drinking glasses. Not only can using the wrong cleaner have toxic results, it also will not remove what you intended because it is not being used in the environment in which it was designed to work. Speaking of using the right cleaners, use them in the correct amounts and according to directions on the label. Incorrect potency or use can also be dangerous.
There is a right order to cleaning. In most cases, clean top to bottom, back to front and least germy to most. In the kitchen, this means cleaning food serving stations before food preparation areas, for example. In the bathroom, this means vanity and sink first, bath and shower next, toilet next (believe it or not). In almost all cases, clean the floor last.
We are left with less common issues that can also lead to contamination which arise while cleaning the main living areas of the home. While we are discussing these areas last, they should be cleaned before the kitchen which should definitely be done before the bathrooms. The other option is to clean them at different times so you are not carrying germs on yourself to other areas of the home.
Be sure you have cleaning tools and supplies for the rest of the home that are not used in the kitchen or bathrooms. Those two rooms should have their own supplies anyway. Start in the bedrooms and work your way to the common living areas. There are 2 reasons for this recommendation. First if all, people are most sensitive to dust when they are sleeping so you don’t want to carry dust from other areas into the bedrooms. The second reason is that bedrooms are usually contained environments that are primarily only contaminated by the person living in that room. Common areas are exposed to everyone living in the home AND everyone who visits there. If anyone has been feeling ill, clean that room last. Once you are finished cleaning your home, clean the cleaning tools. This includes cloths, sponges, mops, etc., but it also includes laundry machines, dishwashers, vacuums, mop buckets, garbage cans, etc. Just because they are used to clean your home does not mean they stay clean themselves. Cleaning between uses will help avoid cross contamination, especially if you tend to use or store these items in other rooms.
Finally, don’t forget to wipe down high touch surfaces with disinfectant. Such items include light switches, door knobs, faucet handles (sinks, toilets and shower/baths), appliance handles, tables, counters, and electronics (especially remotes and phones/tablets).
Twice per year, you should deep clean all your upholstery and floors to remove dust, dander, spilled items such as food crumbs, and dirt. Furniture and floors catch everything and are great sources of cross contamination. Cleaning methods such as vacuuming and mopping are great at removing surface dirt, but they do not reach all the areas where germs and allergens can become trapped and be stirred up during household use. ServiceMaster of Gwinnett and ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens have specialized cleaning systems for each type of upholstery and flooring surface to thoroughly remove the dirt and debris, deodorize the surface and keep your furniture and floors looking their best and extending their life.
