The kitchen is actually the dirtiest room in the home (viaThe Spruce).
It also houses food leftovers and old food scraps that can grow pathogens.
First off, make it a habit to do a quick run-through of musts before you go to bed.
double-check no dishes remain in the sink overnight.
Put away any pantry items used in cooking that day and wipe down the counters.
Put out the garbage so raw food items don’t stay in your kitchen overnight.
If you want to go a step further, employ the clean-as-you-go method (viaThe Kitchn).
You’ll be glad you did when it comes time for that last check before bed.
Similarly, while stoves reach intensely high temperatures, they also can harbor pathogens.
Microbiologist, Philip Tierno Jr., Ph.D, says “Stoves tend to be somewhat neglected.
Dishwashers are another big offender, as bacteria often get trapped in the seal.
With microwaves, food can splatter along the sides and top and stay there until the next use.
Dirty microwaves can make you sick, so aim toclean your microwave once a week.
Loose scraps left on the counter enable bacteria to spread.
Then simply throw it out when meal prep is done.
Another lifesaver is a spoon rest.
This goes far beyond the visual display that having too many things on your counters simply looks cluttered.
There is a far more practical reason.
In addition, these items gather dust.
This advice also goes for cutting boards, mugs, knives, and storage containers (viaApartment Therapy).
when you land the basic necessary staples, you don’t need to keep buying anymore.
Having overfilled cabinets will only prevent you from quickly reaching what you need when you grab a cleaner.
Once products reach their expiration date, they may be less effective and they also may damage surfaces.
