One of our local hospitals ran an article in our weekend paper regarding ways to stay healthy this winter. I won't try to put it all in one post, but here is the first installment. And have a happy New Year!
Kitchen sink--
Studies have shown that kitchen sinks are dirtier than most bathrooms. There are approximately 500,000 or more bacteria per square inch in the drain alone. Plus the sponge, the basin, and the faucet handles are also crawling with bacteria.
Ways to reduce the risk:
-Clean your kitchen counters and sink with antibacterial products after preparing or cleansing food, which carry lots of potential pathogens like salmonella, campylobacter, and E. coli.
-Wash your hands well with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds (long enough to sing, "Happy Birthday").
-Sanitize sponges by running them through the dishwasher's drying cycle, which will kill 99.9% of the bacteria. (If you don't have a dishwasher, microwaving the sponge for 1 minute on high can also sanitize it. Washing regularly in the laundry and drying it might help, but many sponges can't be run through a dryer.)
-As for the sink, clean it twice a week with a solution of one tablespoon chlorine bleach and one quart of water. Scrub the basin, and then pour the solution down the drain.
Tune in next time for my installment on Wet Laundry!
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