Effective cleaning removes bacteria on hands, equipment and surfaces, helping to stop harmful bacteria from spreading onto food. You should regularly clean:
- hands
- worktops
- cloths
- utensils
Cleaning
Effective cleaning removes bacteria on hands, equipment and surfaces, helping to stop harmful bacteria from spreading onto food
Kitchen hygiene
Wash your hands
Keep yourself and your kitchen clean by washing and drying your hands thoroughly:
- before preparing food
- after touching raw food, especially meat, fish and poultry
- after going to the toilet
- after touching pets
Handwashing tips
Keep worktops clean
It’s important to keep worktops and chopping boards clean because they can easily transfer bacteria.
Remember to:
- always wash worktops before you start preparing food
- wipe up any spilt food straight away
- always wash worktops thoroughly after they have been touched by raw meat, including fish, poultry or raw eggs
- never put ready-to-eat food (such as salad, bread or fruit) on a worktop or chopping board that has been touched by raw meat, fish or poultry unless you have washed it thoroughly first
What does raw food mean?
Raw food is any food that will be cooked or reheated before eating, whereas ready-to-eat foods can be eaten without being heated up.
Cloths
Dirty, damp cloths and tea cloths are a breeding ground for bacteria. Make sure you keep them clean and let them dry before using them again. It’s important to regularly wash and change cloths and tea towels.
Keep different cloths for different jobs, this helps stop germs spreading around the home. Or you could use disposable kitchen towels to clean worktops and chopping boards.
Utensils
Keep knives, wooden spoons, spatulas, tongs, etc. clean to help stop bacteria spreading to food. It's especially important to wash them thoroughly in hot, soapy water after using them with raw meat, fish or poultry because otherwise they could spread bacteria to other food.
