Microban Suggests Five Areas in the Kitchen to Keep Clean During the Holidays

A list of the top five kitchen hygiene hotspots that need to be kept clean over the holiday season has been compiled by antibacterial protection specialist Microban.

Most of these measures are commonsense but in the general Christmas run-up they can easily be forgotten," says Paul McDonnell, managing director of Microban Europe. "However, its worth taking time to ensure that everything is properly clean. It can make the difference between having a happy festive time and being unwell over Christmas.

The festive season presents a higher than usual risk from bacteria because:

- There is a higher percentage of home food preparation than at any other time of year with leftover food being served up once again
- Greater than usual amounts of food are stored in refrigerators - potentially at the wrong setting which means the possibility of bacteria multiplying is increased
- There is an accent on finger food and buffet style meals that can often be left unrefrigerated in warm, centrally heated homes for long periods of time
- Infrequently used kitchen equipment is dug out of cupboards for seasonal use

The top five holiday kitchen keep clean areas from Microban are:

1. Cleaning cloths -- these are the top hot spot for the growth of bacteria in the kitchen. Theres little point wiping down any other part of the kitchen unless your cloths are regularly washed.

2. Chopping boards, knives and other utensils make sure that chopping boards and utensils are cleaned thoroughly and that there is no contact between raw and cooked meat and fish.

3. Kitchen sink and taps are touched and used continually during food preparation. Wipe these down regularly with an antibacterial cleaner.

4. Microwave ovens and fridges can be difficult to clean as food can get trapped in the seams and joints of appliances. Ensure food is covered, not leaking and wipe down any spills or splashes straight away.

5. Trash cans some kitchen trash cans rarely or never get cleaned and are frequently touched during food preparation. With extra waste food generated, empty your bin regularly, as bacteria will quickly build up on discarded food scraps in a warm kitchen environment.