Your kitchen plays a crucial role in keeping you and your family safe from foodborne illnesses. The products you use every day have specific purposes, whether you are cleaning kitchen counters or equipment like cutting boards.
Knowing what different household cleaning chemicals are designed to do — and how to use them correctly — can help make cleaning your kitchen a breeze.
Detergents
By breaking down and loosening food residue and grime, detergents help remove bacteria and make rinsing more effective.
Degreasers
Designed to tackle tough oils, fats and grease that can build up on stovetops, cookware and kitchen surfaces, degreasers help keep food-contact surfaces clean to the eye and to the touch.
Sanitizers
Using a sanitizer helps eliminate bacteria or reduce it to safe levels on food-contact surfaces, such as cutting boards, countertops and sinks. After surfaces are properly cleaned, sanitizers provide an extra layer of protection against harmful germs.
Disinfectants
They reduce the spread of germs and viruses on frequently touched surfaces like refrigerator handles, light switches and countertops. Disinfectants are also important for cleaning up after someone in your household has been sick.
Stain removers
These help remove discoloration from kitchen surfaces and tools. For example, stain removers can brighten white cutting boards that have become stained over time, helping to keep them clean and well-maintained.
Delimers
Using a delimer helps remove calcium deposits and limescale caused by hard water. Mineral buildups can form on items like coffee makers, dishwashers and sinks. Delimers help keep household equipment clean and working properly.
Using chemicals at home
No matter which product you’re using, it’s important to
- follow label instructions carefully
- use the product only for its intended purpose and
- store cleaning chemicals safely away from food and food supplies.
Taking a few extra moments to use and store cleaning products correctly helps protect your household and makes your kitchen a safe place to prepare meals.
