15: Cleaning and Disinfecting Kitchen

Q: How can I clean and disinfect kitchen?

💁Tracy: 

Cleaning
You must choose a kitchenware cleaner to clean dishes, cups or cutting boards. Glass cleaners, metal cleaners, and most bathroom cleaners are not suitable for cleaning the kitchen.

If you use dish detergent, dilute it with a small amount of water for better results. Some scrubbing agents also have a disinfecting function. After applying degreasing or scrubbing agents, wait for 5-10 minutes before cleaning.

Disinfection
Physical Disinfection:

• High temperature: Steaming and boiling water disinfection is simple and effective. You can put kitchenware in boiling water for 1 minute. Alternatively, you can use a disinfection cabinet and follow the manual instruction.

• 254nm UVC household ultraviolet lamp: The required irradiation time is determined by the power of the lamp and other parameters. Please follow the user’s manual to select appropriate radiation time.

Please note: Do not enter the room during UV disinfection, as it can cause damage to eyes and skin.

• Ozone generator.

Please note: Ozone can cause damage to the human respiratory system, and irritates the mucous membranes and trachea of the respiratory tract. Keep the area closed during ozone disinfection. Ventilate for at least 60 minutes after use before anybody can enter the area. Ozone generation is prohibited in some states, but the laws of each state are different.  Permission must be confirmed before use ozone.

Chemical Disinfection:

• Kitchenware can be disinfected with chlorine and alcohol, see Tool Box for details

Tips and Precautions for Kitchen Cleaning and Disinfection:

• Start cleaning from the dirtiest place, back to the stovetop, and then the tabletop; it is best to use the dishwasher to wash the dishes.

• After washing and disinfecting the cutting board, put it in a well ventilated place

• Discard chipped or cracked cookware, as cracks can be hard to disinfect.

• Pay more attention to cleaning and disinfecting the corners of the floor and tabletops.
• Do not mix various disinfectants, a neutralization reaction may occur and reduce the effect. Please select a suitable disinfectant and follow the instructions.

• Do not use food containers to hold disinfectants to avoid potential misuse of containers for food.
• Wear gloves when cleaning to reduce skin irritation.

• Be careful. Turn off the fire when cleaning to avoid burning. If the cleaner gets in your eyes accidentally, rinse immediately with tap water and seek medical treatment if necessary.

• The elderly, the sick and the disabled should leave the kitchen before cleaning.

Tracy’s Toolbox Items effective in sanitization commonly found at home: ü  Rubbing alcohol (70% -75% alcohol). If you can only buy higher concentrations, you must dilute to 70% -75% to achieve the best results. ü  Bleach (hydrogen peroxide or chlorine disinfectant). Disinfectants written "bleach" usually kill coronavirus. ü  Hot water or disinfection cabinet at above 133 ° F for more than half an hour. ü  Dish soup to clean vegetables and fruits. ü  Disinfecting wipes. For example, alcohol prep pads, something that has "kills viruses" written on it, or other disinfecting wipes with phrases similar to "combating the flu” written on it. ü  Other types of disinfectants. They will have "kills viruses" written on them or other disinfecting liquids/sprays for combating the flu.

Reference

[1] Card, Crozier, Dhawan, et al, UV Sterilization of Personal Protective Equipment with Idle Laboratory Biosafety Cabinets During the COVID-19 Pandemic; https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.25.20043489v2

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html

Writing: Vicki Cheng, Mingdi Yang, Jingyi Xi; Translation: Chaoyu Xie; Proofreading: Xiao Luo, Suzheng Jiang, Helen Shih; Artwork: Henry Yuanheng Hu

Covid-19: Tracy's Guide for Families Official Website

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