Kitchen Safety: Keep Stoves and Ovens Clean

 The kitchen is the heart of a family home. This is the room where a family prepares food, shares food and gathers to talk about the day. This is a room where guests can gather, friends can play around the kitchen table, and parents can enjoy a quiet time at the end of the day. It is one of the leading destinations for home fires, accidents, or germs that cause foodborne illness. Every homeowner should be aware of kitchen safety issues.

Many housekeepers neglect the regular cleaning and maintenance of kitchen appliances, preferring to hide dirty burners or toasters, but allowing crumbs and greasy debris to accumulate on these surfaces. Others hate cleaning their ovens. Kitchen security is the most distant thing on their minds. However, food that is thrown or burned in the kitchen or oven is the main cause of fire in the kitchen. 

Leaks from the oven, microwave, or stove can quickly catch fire and spread quickly to curtains, towels, or walls. Fatty debris on the floors can cause people to slip and fall; Old spoiled food on counters and tables is a source of bacteria that contaminate new foods and utensils. If the toddler is crawling or walking on foot, looking for all the items of interest to see and tasting as they go, it is even more important to keep things clean in this central room. Kitchen cleanliness is a matter of kitchen safety, not just cleaning the house to attract neighbors.

A list of things to do regularly is the best way to get into the habit of maintaining the kitchen. Writing down every little task and the time it takes to complete it helps to build habits that keep the whole family safe and comfortable. Counters and sinks should be cleaned at least once a day, otherwise after every meal. In a microwave oven (try the Fuller Microwave Oven Cleaner), regular ovens or stove top spills should be cleaned quickly. 

Cutting boards should be washed with each use. To control fumes and debris from the kitchen, the entire kitchen should be washed at least once a week with a good degreaser. Kitchen filters and hoods are part of this repair, as well as trash and removal. Any equipment left on the counter should be cleaned regularly after each use or at least once a week. Make sure all kitchen surfaces are thoroughly cleaned at least once a month. (Try the Fuller Cooktop and Counter Cleaner.) The whole family should be made aware of the importance of these jobs and encouraged to clean up their role from the mess.

A good or easy-to-use stove or oven cleaner can make these essential tasks even more delicious. Which is the best oven cleaner? It should not be left overnight, but look for one that can work in a few hours. Many stove or oven cleaners produce less toxic fumes than older versions. Also, the new formulas will not work, but the charred food will be completely soaked and loosened. (Try Fuller Brushes or Spotless Oven Industrial Oven Cleaner.) 

Wipe off any food debris with a damp cloth or sponge and then spray in the cleaner. Allow the cleaner to sit anywhere for thirty minutes to several hours, depending on how dirty the area is or the product’s instructions. The soil should be softened so that it can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge. If you have severe burns on your food, follow your oven maker's instructions on what type of abrasives you can safely use, and do not damage your cooktop. If you leave the product on for a long time and it is dry, try running it with a damp cloth in place for a few minutes to soften the product and make it easier to remove.

There are products on the market that help prevent food from sticking to cooking surfaces, and these appliances prevent contamination that can be difficult to clean. Fuller Brush Oven Spray is a product that can save hours when cleaning the oven next time. After cleaning this product should be sprayed on the surface of the oven. Again, check with your oven maker to see if it matches your oven surface.

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