CULINARY SMARTS
Keeping an eco-friendly, germ-free kitchen.
Cooking is one of my favorite daily rituals. It's a great way to unwind and clear my head and there’s just nothing like the smell of fresh herbs, garlic, spices and all the other wonderful foods to help relax the mind and appease the palate. If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen like me, there are a few green tips you should always consider when using culinary cleaning products.
Many folks think of the bathroom as the breeding ground for germs, but most studies have found that kitchens are where the majority of household germs are really multiplying. One rule of thumb while in the kitchen, is to wash your hands often. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that hand hygiene is the foremost way to prevent the spread of germs that may make you and others sick.
Your counters and sink generate a wealth of germs. Your hands, food, utensils and rags come into contact with the countertops and sink, so remember to keep your dishrags and sponges clean. Most kitchen sponges and rags contain bacteria, often because they remain damp from the moment they get wet to the time you wash them. You don’t have to be so obsessive about cleaning your kitchen that it takes the fun out of cooking, but it’s important to make sure you wash your hands, countertops, knobs, cutting boards, and sink after you handle food to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.
Keeping your kitchen germ-free is the first step to a healthy kitchen. But it’s also important to conserve energy and use safe cleaning products. In most American households, dishwashers consume lots of energy. Most people are interested in saving money, especially with the current economy. The following are some green dishwashing tips that can save you time, money and help protect the planet.
• Only wash a full load. Make sure you've crammed as many dishes as possible in the dishwasher before starting a cycle. Running a fully-loaded dishwasher, without prerinsing, uses on average 35 percent less water than hand-washing.
• Buy eco-friendly dishwashing detergent. Mainstream detergents contain chlorine, phosphorus and antimicrobials, which are potentially dangerous to your health and the planet. Purchase liquid and powder that is natural, biodegradable and free of petroleum and phosphates. Powdered detergents are the best consumer choice because they are lighter and require less energy to ship.
• Air dry. Don’t use electric heat to dry the dishes. Simply open the door at the end of the washing cycle and let them air dry. This saves on your energy bill each month; 80 percent of the energy used by dishwashers goes toward heating the water.
• Use the short cycle. Most dishwashers are strong enough to clean your dishes on the short cycle. This will save money and energy while still serving its purpose.
• Throw out old dishwashers. Old dishwashers are energy hogs. Modern machines use far less water and energy than older models and you can recycle parts from older dishwashers.
• Solar heating is the way of the future. This system can provide the hot water you need for your dishwasher, save you money in the long run and protect the environment.
• Buy Energy Star. If you can’t afford to go solar, Energy Star appliances use 25 percent less energy.
References:
1. Rusin, P., Orosz-Coughlin, Gerba, C. (1998). Reduction of fecal coliform, coliform and hetertrophic plate bacteria in the household kitchen and bathroom by disinfection with hypochlorite cleaners. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 85:819-828.
2. Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID): June 6, 2008 http://www.cdc.gov/Handhygiene
Other Trusted Sources:
nodirtyenergy.org
