07/11/2016
Keeping the kitchen clean at your client’s house is vitally important to stop the spread of diseases and infections. However, it sometimes seems easier said than done! Often you will arrive at a placement where the kitchen has not had a good clean in months or even years! Every carer’s nightmare kitchen! Grime and grease has built up, cupboards are filthy, not to mention the state of the floors! You are faced with the arduous task of producing a decent meal in very unpleasant surroundings. After you’ve put on your happy, smiling face and managed to get a meal on the table, it is time to take a good look at the place you are going to spend quite a lot of time in.
There are some quick fixes that you can start with.
Clean the rubbish bin
You should aim to wash and then disinfect it at least once a week. Not only will this stop any bad smells, but also inhibit the growth of bacteria. If possible, replace the bin with one that has a lid. This will keep smells in and flies out. Aim to empty the bin daily.
Clean surfaces which are touched
Any surface that people touch should be wiped down. Areas such as door handles, control buttons and knobs on the cooker, fridge handles, and light switches. This is an easy way that germs are spread so try to wipe down daily.
Wash those floors
A quick sweep after every meal will keep dust and debris off the floor and out of corners. Any spills should be mopped up immediately as these are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria.
Wash your dishcloths
The first thing you should do when you get into the kitchen at a new placement, is to throw all the drying cloths and towels into the washing machine. Get rid of sponges as they are full of bacteria. You just never know how long those towels have been hanging there and how many times they have been used. Take clean ones right away.
If possible you should try to set aside just 10 minutes each day to do a chore in the kitchen. For some carers this will realistically be all the spare time they can find, but if you are organised you can accomplish a far bit of cleaning in that time.
Here’s a seven-day kitchen cleaning plan which means that things are spread out over a week and you don’t need to do it all at once.
Day 1: Check food and dispose of out of date stuff.
Day 2: Clean the fridge, inside and out.
Day 3: Clean food cupboards or pantry.
Day 4: Clean stove top, surfaces and the floor
Day 5: Wipe down walls and clean the rubbish bin.
Day 6: Clean the sink and also the cupboard under the sink.
Day 7: Wipe down the dishwasher, toaster, oven front and microwave.
By breaking up the kitchen cleaning you will not feel so overwhelmed by a dirty kitchen which you feel should be cleaned at once. Take it bit by bit, you won’t need so much time then and at the end of a week, the kitchen will be a whole lot better than when you arrived.
This list may work very well in an average sized kitchen, but if you have a huge place, it will take longer and you may have to take two days on some of the tasks. The end result will be a place where you can happily cook delicious meals for your client and yourself!
