People often talk about the things they should have in their kitchens, but they don’t speak enough about the things they should avoid. Certain items shouldn’t be found in a food preparation area due to safety concerns, hygiene considerations, or potential damage.
Are there any common kitchen items that you should avoid keeping in your kitchen, and why?
What Should You Not Store in Your Kitchen?
Hygiene, safety, and food quality are some reasons why you should avoid keeping certain items in your kitchen. Among the things you may want to remove from your kitchen are:
Medications
Generally, medications should not be stored in the kitchen, especially if there are children or pets present. A space with high humidity and temperature fluctuations can affect the stability and potency of medications, as well as increase the risk of accidental ingestion.
Harsh cleaning chemicals
The storage of cleaning chemicals in the kitchen might seem convenient, but such hazardous items should be kept in well-ventilated areas away from food and cooking utensils. The fumes produced by chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, and oven cleaners can contaminate food, pose health risks, and cause chemical reactions if accidentally mixed with other substances.
Pet food
Keeping pet food in the kitchen can attract pests. Keep it outside of the kitchen, where it’s away from food preparation and storage areas, in a designated area or storage container.
Non-food hazardous items
Do not store non-food items in the kitchen, such as tools or batteries. As well as posing safety risks, they can introduce contaminants to food preparation surfaces or accidentally mix with food ingredients. Electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets, or phones, may be exposed to moisture, heat, or food spills in the kitchen.
Moist sponges or dishcloths
Since sponges and dishcloths retain moisture, keeping them in the kitchen for a long time can facilitate bacteria and mould growth. In addition, they are difficult to sanitise. The best way to maintain good hygiene is to allow them to dry thoroughly between uses and replace them regularly. Additionally, you should store them in a well-ventilated area or use alternative cleaning tools like microfiber cloths or disposable wipes. Additionally, rags need to be washed frequently.
Lots of items
Avoid accumulating excessive amounts of clutter in your kitchen because it can make cleaning and organising the space more difficult. Furthermore, clutter creates ideal hiding spots for pests, harbours bacteria, and increases the risk of accidents. To keep the kitchen clean and functional, keep the countertops clear of unnecessary items.
Expired food
To prevent the growth of harmful bacteria or unpleasant odours in your kitchen, discard expired or spoiled food regularly. In addition to attracting pests, keeping expired or spoiled food can cause foodborne illnesses.
A lot of fruits in display bowls
While fruit looks pretty and can contribute to the aesthetics of your kitchen space, unless your family eats all the fruit you display, there is a risk that items will spoil or smell bad. Some pests are attracted to them, such as flies.
Silverware
Keep valuable silverware out of the kitchen. Silver tarnishes quickly and needs to be polished regularly. The simplest of things, such as strong cooking smells, can require it to be spruced up.
Faulty appliances
A malfunctioning coffee maker or toaster might cause you to put off repairs or leave the faulty device on the counter until you can afford to buy a new one. Even though it may seem harmless, you may end up with more than just a broken machine. It can send surges of electricity into your home’s electrical system, causing damage to other appliances and resulting in fires.
Maintaining a clean and organised kitchen not only improves hygiene and food safety but also makes cooking and meal preparation more efficient and enjoyable. Keep your kitchen clean by regularly inspecting it and removing any items that are unsafe or no longer useful. Taking advantage of professional cleaning services on a regular basis will allow you to avoid clutter and disorganisation in your kitchen.
Declutter Your Kitchen with These Storage Ideas
You can make your daily cooking and meal prep routines easier by organising your kitchen efficiently. Make sure that you keep only the necessary kitchen items and exactly what you need to prepare your daily meals.
- Declutter your kitchen first. Start by going through all your kitchen items and decluttering them. Things you no longer use or need, including expired foods, should be discarded or donated.
- Group similar items together. Organise all baking supplies in one area, pots and pans in another, and utensils in a drawer.
- Organise your kitchen by zones. Separate each zone based on its purpose. Set up separate areas for cooking, baking, food preparation, and dishwashing.
- Use drawer dividers and organisers to separate utensils, cutlery, and kitchen gadgets. It is much easier to find what you need this way.
- Maximise cabinet space by installing pull-out shelves or sliding trays in deep cabinets. Stacking shelves is also a great way to maximise vertical space.
- Clear the countertops. Minimise countertop clutter by keeping only the most essential appliances and utensils within easy reach on the counter.
Organise your kitchen regularly. In this way, you will be able to spot items in your kitchen that shouldn’t be there. Make adjustments to your kitchen’s organisation as needed to maintain a clutter-free kitchen, and always remove things that should not be there.
Read Also: Essential Tools and Resources
Takeaways
- Chemistry, tools, and electronics shouldn’t be kept in the kitchen;
- The presence of pet food in the kitchen can attract pests;
- Keeping sponges and dishcloths in the kitchen for a long time can facilitate the growth of bacteria and mould;
- Regularly organising your kitchen will allow you to spot items that should not be there.
