"There's more fecal bacteria in your kitchen sink than there is in a toilet after you flush it," said microbiologist Charles Gerba, known as "Dr. Germ." But if you flush with the toilet lid up, you can be spreading fecal material more than six feet.
Kitchen sink
"Kitchen sinks are full of germs," said Gerba. "Think about it, everything is slopped into it. You cut raw meat then rinse off the cutting board in the sink. There's more fecal bacteria in a sink than there is in a flushed toilet!
Out of sight may be out of mind, but lurking down the various plug holes in your home is a myriad of germs. According to research carried out by the Global Hygiene Council , kitchen sinks have over 17,000 bacteria per square inch while a further 13,000 can be found around the handles of the tap.
According to the National Sanitation Foundation, your kitchen sink is the germiest place in your house (and in case you're wondering, the germiest item is the kitchen sponge). This is true even if your sink doesn't look dirty.
Just like bathtubs and showers get residue buildup from washing our bodies, your kitchen sink gets dirty from washing dishes, pots, and pans. Grease, food particles, and other stuff that comes off your plates and utensils create a dirty film on your sink—and a germ-infested breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
Think the toilet is the dirtiest spot in the house? You'd be wrong. "There's more fecal bacteria in your kitchen sink than there is in a toilet after you flush it," said microbiologist Charles Gerba, known as "Dr. Germ."
'The easiest kitchen sink material to maintain is going to be one made of stainless steel, copper, cast iron or enamel because they will not support microbial growth as they are not cellulose material,' says Darren Hudema, director of training and technical services at PuroClean.
Hygiene expert, Lisa Yakas, has revealed to Bon Appétit that we should be disinfecting our kitchen sink at least once a week. If you have been handling raw meat or scrubbing dirty potatoes in the sink, however, you'll need to up your cleaning game and get scrubbing immediately.
1. Kitchen Sponge/Dish Rag. The item most frequently used to clean dishes and countertops was actually the germiest place found in most homes. Sponges and dish rags can pick up bacteria during the cleaning process, and, if not properly sanitized between uses, can be a prime spot for germ growth.
Kitchen rags, towels and sponges are notorious for bacterial contamination. The sink drain, sink and countertops are also frequently contaminated. Cutting boards, coffee filters, the dishwasher and fridge seals are also top locations for contamination.
If you're looking to disinfect your kitchen sink, vinegar is also your answer. White vinegar can kill bacteria without presenting the same risks as chemical cleaners. To clean your sink with vinegar, mix up a solution of equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Stainless steel has long been a material of choice for its hygienic properties, resistance to stains, rust, and corrosion, and affordability. But it is not the only metal on the market; copper and brass sinks can be used to make a design statement.
Cleaning removes dirt and residue but disinfecting kills germs. It's important to keep this in mind when handling your sink. Using soapy water and a sponge will quickly clear your sink; however, in time, it'll gather lots of bacteria, and it'll start to smell bad. Time to disinfect!
Cleaning gets rid of grease, food particles and dirt, and it can lift a lot of bacteria buildup. But it isn't enough to kill off all stubborn germs, and it might spread them around further. Properly disinfecting your sink is the only way to guarantee you vanquish all viruses and bad bacteria.
Maybe not. But note that what makes your kitchen hygienic is not whether you brush your teeth there or not. It's a matter of how clean you keep it. So if you keep a lot of dirty dishes, but you don't brush your teeth in your kitchen sink, it's still very unhygienic.
The key to disinfecting your sink and faucet is to carefully read the directions of your cleaning agent. (FYI, his favorite for this use is Clorox multi-surface cleaner with bleach). A lot of people aren't aware that many cleaning products need to sit for 10-15 minutes in order to kill the germs and viruses.
Even if they look clean, sinks can get really gross — Tetro says the bathroom sink accumulates fecal matter (from washing your hands after you use the bathroom). Also, bacteria from food, like E. Coli and Salmonella, can contaminate the kitchen sink, especially if you've been handling raw meat.
1. Kitchen hygiene 101: wash hands. Making sure your hands are clean is at the top of the kitchen hygiene rules list. It's easy for bacteria to be transferred, so wash your hands throughout prepping and cooking food.
Stainless steel sinks are very low maintenance; they are corrosion and rust resistant, and as long as they are cared for properly and wiped down after every use, they should not stain. Find out more about how to clean a stainless steel sink by reading our guide with handy tips and tricks from our experts.
Giving your sink a wipe after use will prevent germs and grime from building up. Use a damp cloth with a washing up liquid solution or an anti-bacterial spray. Always clean your sink after preparing raw foods and rinse away liquids like tea which might stain lighter coloured sinks.
By far the most popular material for kitchen sinks, stainless steel sinks are resistant to heat and stains and are available in a variety of types, styles and sizes. I recommend going for a brushed or satin finish rather than a mirror finish — water marks and scratches will be less noticeable.