Without a doubt, kitchens are among the germiest areas in our homes. Raw meat, raw fish, fruits, and vegetables can all carry harmful bacteria and viruses, which can lead to some nasty illnesses if we’re not careful. Especially in Austin, Texas where many people buy and cook with fresh meat and produce on a daily basis. We have been doing professional home cleaning, Austin Texas for almost fifteen years, and we have cleaned up every kind of kitchen mess you can think of. Here’s a list of germs commonly found in modern American kitchens:
Salmonella – These bacteria can come from raw meat, raw produce, dairy products, and contaminated spices. Illness from salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain, and more serious complications can occur in very young children, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems.
Campylobacter jejuni – These bacteria are one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the United States. Children under five years old and people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-nine are the most susceptible. Contamination can come from vegetables, unchlorinated water, raw milk, and raw meat.
Escherichia coli – Commonly known as E. coli, some of these bacteria are helpful and live inside our bodies, helping us digest our food. But there are six categories of E. coli that can make people very sick, causing diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and even damage to kidneys and blood cells. E. coli is most commonly found in raw hamburger and other meats. These bacteria can be spread through contaminated food and water or by coming in contact with an infected person.
Listeria monocytogenes – These bacteria are most often found in soft cheeses and raw meat, although it can also exist on produce. Symptoms of listeria infections include muscle aches, fever, and gastrointestinal problems, and in rare cases it can cause death or miscarriage.
Staphylococcus aureus – Commonly known as staph, these bacteria cause wound infections, food poisoning, pneumonia, and toxic shock. It thrives in wet environments but can survive in dry conditions. Foods that need to be refrigerated but are allowed to warm up are common places for staph to develop – including that little bit of chicken salad left on a dirty plate by the sink. Someone who already has staph may transfer it by coughing, sneezing, or touching staph-related sores.
Clearly, it’s very important to keep your kitchen surfaces, sinks, and large and small appliances clean and disinfect them frequently. At It’s Cleaning Time, professional home cleaning, Austin Texas, our regular maid services include basic cleaning of kitchen surfaces, sinks, and the outsides of appliances, and we also offer more intensive kitchen-cleaning services that include cleaning inside certain appliances and disinfection. We want you and your family to live in a clean, healthy home, so give us a call and let us show you what we can do!
