It’s important to keep knives, wooden spoons, spatulas, tongs, and the like clean to help stop bacteria spreading to food. It’s especially important to wash them thoroughly after using them with raw food, because otherwise they could spread bacteria to other food.

If you have a dishwasher, this is a very effective way to clean knives and other utensils because dishwashers can wash at a very high temperature, which kills bacteria. Otherwise, wash them thoroughly with hot water and washing-up liquid.

Hands

It’s very easy for hands to spread bacteria all round the kitchen, because we touch so many things, from food to fridge handles, towels to can openers. So to keep your kitchen clean you need to keep your hands clean.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water at each of these times:

before starting to prepare food

after touching raw food such as meat, poultry, vegetables and eggs

after going to the toilet

after touching the bin

after touching pets

Dry your hands thoroughly, because if they are wet they will spread bacteria more easily. The safest option is to use disposable kitchen towels, otherwise use a towel that you only use for drying hands – not your apron or a tea towel.