Throughout history, the kitchen has been a place of warmth, food, and comfort. The hearth of the household, both figuratively and practically, is located in the kitchen for obvious reasons. The saying, heart, and homes, refers precisely to the fire that burns in the kitchen – or used to, as you’d probably struggle to find an open fire area in a modern kitchen nowadays. As long as you keep the fire burning, you keep the family united and healthy. Consequently, it comes as no surprise at all that the kitchen is the preferred home improvement project for homeowners.
In Roman mythology, the goddess Vesta was the divinity of the heart, looking after the fire in the kitchen and protecting the togetherness of the family. Nowadays, in the absence of Vesta, the focus has shifted to other elements, from the appliances to the cooking habits, as a way to carry on the traditional duty of care of the kitchen. But, modern kitchens have also become a place of dangers, where the health of your family is put at risk day after day. Are you aware of the risk factors in your kitchen?
#1. How clean is your countertop?
Ah, kitchen countertop! Don’t we all love them? They are the main point of attention in your kitchen even though they are often overlooked. Indeed, the choice of countertop needs to match a variety of factors. The question of style plays a significant role. It’s fair to say that, even if you haven’t realized it, you pay close attention to the final visual in your kitchen, and that includes the choice of your countertop. Additionally, the cost is a non-deniable factor in the selection. More often than not, homeowners who are working on a limited budget are happy to consider an elegant DIY project, such as created concrete blocks to be used as a countertop. But one crucial criterion gets easily overlooked, namely, the cleanliness of the top. Don’t just assume that all you need is a sponge to keep the area safe! On the contrary, different materials have different properties. Opting for materials such as granite for your countertop can dramatically reduce the presence of bacteria. Due to its lesser porous structure, granite is unlikely to harbor bacteria in the same way than other materials do.
#2. My beloved little sponge
If you’re the kind of person who keeps the kitchen clean with a sponge, it’s time to change your habits. Before the mid-1900s when the sponge was introduced into the kitchen, households used to clean their dishes using a mixture of sand, water, hands, and rags. But don’t be fooled into thinking that your approach is more hygienic. In reality, your sponge is a petri dish that holds a colony of bacteria. Even if you can’t see it, your sponge is super gross. According to studies, with 45 billion microbes per square centimeter, it’s dirtier than your toilet bowl. Ultimately, while you can apply some handy tips to keep the sponge as clean as possible, there’s no way around it: You need to replace your sponge every few weeks. If you choose a plant-based and compostable sponge, you can also ensure that your gross kitchen bacteria nest doesn’t affect the environment any further!
#3. The weird smell from the sink
Ew, what is that smell? Every kitchen encounters the nasty odor problem, especially if you tend to wash your dishes in the sink. Indeed, clogs can occur as a result of washing leftovers away with water instead of getting rid of them in the bin. Even small particles can accumulate down the pipes – and if you’ve looked under the sink, you’ve probably notice that the pipe bends sharply, creating the perfect space for dirt and bits of food to stay. Even though the pipe might not be fully clogged up, the presence of solid particles that are rotting together in the stagnant water can explain the unpleasant smell.
While it might be tempting to pour half a bottle of chemical products down your pipe, you might affect the solidity and structure of the material. Instead, it’s a good idea to get in touch with specialists such as Maplewood Plumbing & Sewer to get rid of the clog before harmful bacteria can develop. Ultimately, a moldy clog can lead to respiratory disease, even if it’s kept out of sight under the sink!
#4. The non-stick pan
Non-stick pans have been a revelation in the household! They’ve been described as the healthiest way to cook as they reduce the need for fat. However, not all non-stick coatings are entirely safe. Indeed, the surface on non-stick cookware consists of PFOA, a carcinogenic chemical that emits toxic fumes. The first step of action is to read the label carefully. If your pan is made out of PFOA, you might want to consider an alternative that won’t release fumes. You can find an extensive list of suggestions from the Mercola Health site. Ceramic cookware, for instance, offers a nontoxic approach that is durable and easy to clean. Stainless steel is designed with multiple layers to ensure even heating and give you full control of the cooking process.
#5. Oops, does it burn?
Nothing tastes as sweet as homemade donuts. As a cook, they’re always hugely exciting to make as you can watch them shape in yummy and fluffy balls as you throw them in the oil. However, the risk of deep-frying food is not new. You could accidentally start a fire while baking your favorite treat. Did you know that most of the kitchen fires happen when someone is burning fat and fails to pay attention to it? Even if you’re using an electric fryer, you need to be careful and reduce the presence of liquids around the area. Similarly, do make sure to keep the cord secure to avoid the risk of tripping. Someone tripping over the cord could lead to hot oil burns for the cook!
#6. Processed convenience that is out there to get you
At the end of a long and hectic day, cooking is the last thing you want to do. Thankfully, your freezer is filled with delicious and quick options. You could just throw a frozen pizza in the oven and avoid the hassles of food preps. Yes, you could. But really, you shouldn’t. Processed food, and especially chemically treated food – as opposed to mechanically processed ingredients that have been cut and peeled – endures the addition of sugar, fat and artificial flavors and colors. Processed food does everything quicker, from the preparation to the painful death, as they increase the risk of cancer by 10%.
#7. Keeping your medicines out of reach
When you’re under medical treatment, it’s crucial to store your medicine safely. Unfortunately, the definition of safety can vary. Medications that need to be stored in the fridge are accessible to children, which can lead to terrible consequences.
#8. All my cleaning products in one place
Keeping a clean household doesn’t happen overnight. You need to select cleaning products that are not only effective but also safe. Indeed, despite recurring advice from poisoning specialists, most households continue to store their chemical products under the kitchen sink. Ultimately, it’s not that you don’t want to keep them out of reach of children, it’s just incredibly tricky to find a better place. However, you can reduce risk with a child safety latch or even a padlock! Additionally, it’s often a good idea to consider homemade substitutes, such as using a combo of vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice to disinfect your cooking surface.
#9. I love homemade jam
With spring just around the corner, you’re probably planning delicious homemade jams and syrups. Could anything be more satisfying than a pot of freshly made blackberry jam to spread on your Sunday’s toast or blackberry syrup to add to your tea? But don’t get ahead of yourself and skip through the sterilizing steps. If your jar isn’t adequately prepared, your sweet treat is likely to turn into a mold nest. Thankfully, you can sterilize your jars directly in the dishwasher, running the pre-cleaned pots through the rinse cycle. If you’re short on time, you can microwave your wet jars for a few seconds instead.
#10. Big knives everywhere
Most kitchens have over 10 potentially harmful blades. Aside from prepping knives, the blades of your electric food processor and the mandoline lead to emergency hospital visits every day. Consequently, you should always make sure that your household is educated about how to handle blades and how dangerous they might be. Young children who know how sharp knives are, for instance, are less likely to injure themselves.
The kitchen is the heart of your home. But it is also a place where numerous dangers are lurking in plain sight, unnoticed from your family. Keep an eye open for hazardous appliances, cleaning products and habits, potentially risky food and plumbing issues before they threaten your health!
I hope this post has given you some tips on how to avoid possible problems and health risk to your family and ways to keep your kitchen safe, fun, and a happy place to enjoy your family meals.
I am so happy you stopped by today. See you soon!
