You can comfortably assume the kitchen to be the most frequented corner of the house. After all, you cook meals, clean dishes, eat, and do so many things. Sometimes, you can enter this room to wash your hands or collect serving dishes only. To be precise, there is always a reason to walk into this space. But do you know that it can also be one of the most accident-prone zones? Of course, no one thinks like that. Still, it is better to be safe than sorry. When you recognize potential dangers, you can work on eliminating them. So, any small or large kitchen will have sharp knives, hot metals, boiling liquids, and other such items within close reach.
While minor injuries don’t bother you much, you have to prevent major accidents from happening. It can be possible only when you are conscious of them and know the best ways to avoid or handle them. Here is a small guide to help you practice utmost safety in the kitchen for you and everyone else in the house.
Knives
Most people leave knives and other sharp tools on the countertop. If you don’t have kids, you can do the same thing. Otherwise, it is better to keep them somewhere else. Kids can manage to reach the countertops and get access to these. Then, you may think that only sharp knives are a problem, while dull or blunt knives can beat them in this. When you use a dull knife, you tend to apply more force to do your job. As a result, the risk of the knife slipping from your hand tends to be higher. With sharp knives, you don’t have to exert. Still, your knife can slip while cutting items like oranges, avocados, bread rolls, and bagels. So, you would want to be more attentive with them.
Apart from this, you would want to watch your washing habits. Apron kitchen basins can be a common feature in busy cooking zones. Like others, you may fill your sink with sudsy water and leave dirty dishware and cookware in it for soaking. Although it is an eco-friendly way of doing your dishes, you must not forget about the risks with knives. Please don’t leave them inside as you can end up slashing your hand while cleaning. You can treat them separately. When they are dry, you can store them in a knife block or drawer with sharp edges away from your body.
Slips and falls
The chances of slipping and falling in the kitchen can be high due to the frequent use of water and other liquids. A few drops of anything, even a food scrap, can make your floor slippery. That’s why you must keep the kitchen floor clean of liquid or food residues all the time. When you cook, few sizzling drops of oil can fall on the ground and make it greasy. It can be difficult to wipe the floor when you are working on the cooktop. Hence, it can be ideal to use non-slip kitchen mats where the risks of spillage are high.
Other than this, the risk of fall can be avoidable if you use only stable and firm surfaces to climb up to reach the overhead cupboards. Generally, people use anything that appears before them to get something from the higher shelves, especially when they are in a hurry, without even analyzing the situation. By the time they realize the mistake, it can be too late. And it can be hazardous if they attempt this near the cooktop with the flames turned on. Hence, be mindful of these scenarios. Always keep a step ladder or proper stool for higher sections. At the same time, arrange urgent items on lower shelves and drawers to eliminate the need to climb.
Fires
You have to practice caution in a place where you use a stove, grill, microwave, and oven. Overfilling the pan, putting flammable objects close to the stove, or overheating oil are some of the everyday things. But you don’t want these to turn into safety hazards. Hence, it is better to follow safe habits. For example, make sure all your appliances are off after your cooking work ends. Use decent size pans for cooking to avoid the risk of dripping oil directly into the stove. Keep your grill clean so that leftover particles don’t cause a fire. And if any such incident breaks out, you should have a fire extinguisher within easy reach. Experts advise against using water because of the presence of electronic items.
Food poisoning
It can be surprising, but raw meat, raw poultry, and eggs can be some of the common causes of infections. Why? Some food materials require proper handling to remain safe. For example, washing raw meats and poultry can be more dangerous than using them like that. Bacteria will die during the cooking process. Then, there are many other steps in between you have to take for the safe preparation. The countertop, sink, and other surfaces need thorough cleaning with hot soapy water. You have to wash your hands before and after handling them. The utensils you use for storing raw items also need proper cleaning before reuse. However, you can clean fresh produce under running water without worries.
Another important aspect of kitchen safety is having a robust regime in terms of pest control for London property. You may not know this, but cockroaches can also cause food poisoning. Not to mention other pests like flies and rodents, which can contaminate food with various diseases. Always store food well and keep all your food prep areas spotless. Finally, keep surfaces and floors free from crumbs, and empty bins regularly.
Things to consider
You bring many items to your kitchen that carry germs and bacteria. When you get them, make sure to keep them all in one place to avoid the spread. At the time of storing them, you would want to sanitize each item as required. And the countertop or table should also get total cleaning. Another good habit can be wearing only indoor footwear in the kitchen. Outdoor shoes spread dirt, dust, and germs on the floor. So, say no to them. Also, choose something with rubber soles to prevent accidents. If you don’t have one, you can walk barefoot too.
It is easy to ignore or overlook these common dangers in the kitchen, partly because of such habits or busy schedules. Still, you cannot afford to take the risk with your life and home. Your responsibility can be bigger if you have someone else also living under the same roof. Hence, be careful with your daily kitchen routine.
