Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : April 3, 2015 3:45 PM IST
The kitchen is the one place in the house that most of us are sticklers about keeping clean. You probably regularly wash the counter top and wipe it down with your kitchen cloth. But have you ever wondered that the very cloth you use to wipe down spilled foods, a wet counter top and in some cases even mop up spills in the kitchen sink, could very well be the dirtiest thing in your kitchen?
In a study scientists found that the kitchen cloth was the most bacteria-infested article in one's home. In some cases, even dirtier than the toilet bowl. The study found that 100% of kitchen cloth in India are heavily contaminated and were found to be the dirtiest item in Indian households andcould also harbor dangerous, multi-drug resistant bacteria.Read more about the study.
Just washing your kitchen cloth might not be enough. With the advent of the super absorbent kitchen cloth, the risk of further contamination is rife owing to the fact that it's porous nature is perfect for bacterial growth. Apart from that, using strong detergent agents can leave your kitchen loaded with unwanted and in some cases, even harmful chemicals, that are not only bad for the environment {2}, but are also known to cause considerable damage to the skin of the person handling it.{1}
So, ditch those chemical cleaning agents, here are some organic and safe ways to rid your kitchen cloth of bacteria and chemical free.
Tip#: Lemon and vinegar: Both lemon and vinegar are not only flavoring agents but very effective organic cleaning agents as well. Lemon has astringent, bleaching and anti-bacterial properties, while vinegar has deodorising and anti fungal properties that make them both excellent organic cleaning agents. All you need to do is take a tablespoon of salt and add it to an equal mixture of vinegar and lemon. Soak your kitchen cloth in this solution for a few hours. While the cloth is soaking, scrub it a bit at regular intervals to get rid of any stains and to allow the mixture to seep into the pores of the cloth. After a few hours remove the cloth from the solution and rinse it well under fresh water. You could use warm water to get rid of any residual matter. Now dry the cloth well and your kitchen cloth is ready to be used again. You can choose to do this once in two days or as often as you choose.
Tip#2: Boil away the dirt: Boiling water is the best way to kill bacteria and get out the dirt too. Baking soda is another agent that works as well as vinegar and lemon while being safe for use in your home. Take about two to three spoonfuls of baking soda and add it to a pot of water. Now place your kitchen cloth in the vessel and allow it to boil. Leave the cloth in till the water comes to a rolling boil and allow the cloth to stay in the boiling solution for a few minutes. Now allow the water to cool and take out the cloth. Rinse out the cloth and dry.
Tip #3: Microwave to the rescue: Your microwave is a very handy instrument. Not only does it help heat and cook food, but it is a very effective bactericidal agent as well. The heat and microwaves that are used to heat your food are also very effective in sterilizing a dirty kitchen cloth. All you need to do is, soak the cloth in a solution of vinegar and water for a few minutes. Scrub the cloth and put it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on high heat. This method can be done every day. If you feel you don't have time to soak the cloth in vinegar before you pop the cloth in the microwave, you could also wash it with your regular dish washing liquid and then place it in the microwave.
A word of caution: Please use adequate safety measures when handling hot materials. These are home remedies, and if you are allergic to any one of the products please avoid using them.
References:
{1} Influence of repeated washing with soap and synthetic detergents on pH and resident flora of the skin of forehead and forearm. Results of a cross-over trial in health probationers.
{2} Health Effects of Detergents in Water -Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal
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