Did you know that the average American spends only 68 minutes eating and drinking on a weekday? They do spend a bit more time -- 77 minutes to be exact -- on these activities during weekends and holidays.
Still, many of us spend even less time in the kitchen doing meal prep and clean up during weekdays - only 34 minutes! With so little time spent in the heart of the home, it's no wonder Americans spent $3,365 dining out in 2017. What's more, being in this room for only about 3% of your day may mean you're forgetting to keep it clean and sparkling. In short, this part of your home may already be accumulating dust and breeding germs! This isn’t the only reason you want a clean and organized kitchen though. Ready to learn why? Then be sure to keep reading as we’ll give you half a dozen reasons why! 1. Protection from Foodborne Illnesses Foods exposed to temperatures between 40 ° and 140 °F are a feast for bacteria. In such environments, known as the “Danger Zone”, they can multiply twice (or more) in as little as 20 minutes. These microorganisms are pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses. Foodborne illnesses are a serious hazard, making 48 million Americans sick every year. Even the minor symptoms they cause, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain, are bad enough. They can be more severe though, resulting in the need for emergency hospitalization. Dirt and debris, combined with the “Danger Zone”, puts you and your family at risk of such illnesses. Keeping these diseases at bay is a significant enough reason why you need to clean your kitchen every day. Also, for a home-based food business, clean kitchens are a legal and ethical necessity. You don't want to end up getting your customers sick due to eating contaminated food products. Plus, photos of you in your clean kitchen is a must when creating a restaurant website! 2. Prevents Unwanted House Guests from Entering Your Home One study found that 100% of participating homes had some type of arthropod in it. Arthropods are animals and insects that have a hardened exoskeleton and segmented body. If you're thinking spiders, you're right -- but that's only one species. While not all arthropods are dangerous, many of them are, including flies and roaches. Cockroaches alone can spread at least 33 types of bacteria and other parasitic worms. What's more, roaches live in over half of U.S. homes! While you can't completely get rid of all insects and bugs at home, you should keep the dangerous ones away. One of the best tips to do this is to clean the kitchen every day, especially the sink and countertops. Clear out leftover foods and used food containers, as the smell can attract these pests. 3. Key to a Fire-Proof Home Did you know that U.S. fire departments respond to one home fire every 88 seconds? Or that cooking is the culprit behind most of these fire incidents? A fire can start when there's grease build-up on the stove or because of food debris in the oven. If grease or food debris burn, they can send sparks to nearby combustibles. An ember can land, say on your paper towels, and start a small flame. From there, all it takes is 30 seconds for the tiny flame to become a major fire. As you can see, one of the major benefits of cleaning your kitchen is to reduce the risks of fires. It's best you wipe your appliances and surfaces after every use. 4. Faster and More Efficient Food Preparation Faster food preparation is another of the top advantages of cleaning your kitchen. With a clean and clutter-free kitchen, you can start preparing food for your loved ones right away. Since all your cooking tools are clean, they’re ready to use anytime you feel like whipping up a delish meal. This is also helpful for a food business, as it can boost your productivity and let you make more of your products. You can also make your site visitors trust you more by giving them a peek into your sparkling clean kitchen. 5. Helps Make Your Appliances Last Longer Gas ranges can last for up to 15 years, fridges up to 13 years, and microwave ovens up to 9 years. You can only expect them to last for this long with proper maintenance though. Whereas build-up of dust, debris, and other contaminants can cut their life short. Dirty appliances also have reduced performance and efficiency. For instance, clogged burners won’t produce the fire or heat they normally do. This can result in longer cooking times, which means they use more gas or electricity. 6. Find Cooking Tools and Supplies in a Flash A clean kitchen, whether in your own home or business, means you always know where things are. You know where the dry ingredients are and where you can find your baking or grilling tools. You don't have to rummage through cabinets every time you want to cook something. Keeping your kitchen organized also helps you better manage your inventory and supplies. You'll know right away if you still have ingredients for a family dinner or if you're running low on supplies. For a pro kitchen, a well-managed inventory keeps you from putting a "sold-out" mark on your menu items. 7. Reduced Reliance on Harsh Cleaning Chemicals A less obvious importance of maintaining a clean kitchen is that it can help you avoid using harsh chemicals. Think about it. If your kitchen is always clean, you have lower risks of dealing with pest infestation. This then means you're unlikely to use pesticides and insecticides. Also, not letting your kitchen get dirty means preventing grime and bacteria. This can then help you rely less on potent cleaning chemicals. A Clean Kitchen Is Key to a Healthier, Safer Home As you can see, there are so many dangers that lurk in a dirty and messy kitchen. The fact alone that it can be breeding ground for bacteria should be enough for you to keep it clean. Besides, seeing your kitchen all sparkly can motivate you to cook more meals at home. You'll shell out less money on take outs and deliveries and put the money in your savings account instead. You can then use your savings to start your very own home business finally! Speaking of home businesses, do you want to get your very own started and launched? If so, then be sure to check out this list of tips we have to become a successful entrepreneur!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |