Says Sadhana Saldhana, microbiologist, "An unclean kitchen will be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, which can even cause food poisoning. Salmonella, Staphyloccus, E. coli and Listeria are just some of the bacteria that may be hanging out in your kitchen. While you can't see or smell bacteria -- they are everywhere, and they especially like moist environments. A clean and dry kitchen helps fight bacteria and protects you and your family from food borne illness." Hence, if you care about your family's health, cleaning the kitchen is essential for you.

Food hygiene
Common breeding grounds for bacteria are kitchen towels, brushes, cutting boards, kitchen sinks, door, drawer and refrigerator handles.  "Little things like pepper mills, bottles of oil, spice jars, can openers and the controls on your gas stove or ovens and salt shakers also become breeding grounds for bacteria. But the main culprit is of course, chicken and other poultry, eggs in and out of their shells, raw meats, dairy products, and yes even the fresh fruits and veggies you just bought from the market. If they are allowed to cross-contaminate other foods - especially cooked and ready-to-eat foods - they can make us ill. Good kitchen hygiene and good personal hygiene are important to help control the spread of harmful germs," says Mansi Kapur, Microbiology professor.

Wash your hands
The threat: Hands and food contaminate each other. As soon as they come into contact with a dirty object, your hands become carriers of millions of bacteria which can then get transferred to the food. Also, the number of germs on fingertips doubles after using the toilet. Yet up to half of all men and a quarter of women fail to wash their hands after they have been to the toilet! Also, don't brush or comb your hair when you are in the kitchen or near food. A hair follicle can harbour 50,000 germs. Do not cough, sneeze, spit or smoke near food and avoid touching your nose, teeth, ears and hair, or scratching when handling food.
The solution: When washing your hands, keep in mind that a quick rinse under the faucet won't do the trick. Wash your hands in soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
Handy hint: Dry your hands thoroughly, because if they are wet they will spread bacteria more easily.

Chopping Boards
The threat: It's very important to keep worktops and chopping boards clean because they touch the food you are going to eat. If they are not properly clean, bacteria could spread to food and make you ill.
The solution: Therefore, always wash worktops before you start preparing food. Says Saldhana, "I always wash worktops thoroughly after they have been touched by raw meat, including poultry or raw eggs.  Also, I never put ready-to-eat food, such as salad, bread or fruit, on a chopping board that has been touched by raw meat, unless I have washed it thoroughly first. It is a good idea to use two cutting boards - one only for meat, poultry and seafood and the other only for foods eaten fresh, like fruits, vegetables and breads."
Handy hint: Wash your chopping boards thoroughly with hot water and washing-up liquid. For extra protection, you can clean the board with a kitchen sanitiser.

Kitchen Towels
The threat: Your kitchen towels are a bacteria magnet. Sponges are one of the key pathways for bacteria, viruses, parasites and other germs to spread in the home.
The solution: Therefore, use separate cloths or sponges for separate tasks. If using them more than once, wash in hot water and soap then place in a suitable disinfectant, rinse thoroughly and allow air-drying. Frequently change kitchen towels - if they remain damp for long periods they are an excellent nursery for bacteria.
Handy hint: The best bet is to use paper towels that can be discarded after each use, to totally prevent cross-contamination.

The Utensils
The threat: It's important to keep knives, wooden spoons, spatulas, tongs, etc. clean to help stop bacteria spreading to food.
The solution: Also, wash as you go. Fill a separate waterproof tub with hot soapy water and drop in utensils as you use them. Air-dry dishes and utensils as air drying eliminates re-contamination by hands or towels.
Handy hint: Be sure dishes are fully dry before putting them away. Moisture trapped in a stack of dishes or pots can make a good environment for bacteria to grow.