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How to keep the kitchen floor clean

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The kitchen floor - a germ trap

The kitchen floor is potentially one of the dirtiest places in the house. Not only are there foodspills, but it carries a lot of traffic from humans and pets. Once grease and dirt get a foothold on your floor, so could germs, viruses, mould, mildew and bacteria.

Because of this, it is essential to choose the flooring carefully – linoleum and washable tiles are preferable. Carpets should not be installed in kitchens, as they become bacteria traps once food spills on them. Salmonella and Escherichia coli (E.coli) are bacteria very commonly found in kitchens. So are Listeria and Campylobacter, all of which thrive in undercooked meats.

Dirty kitchen floors will also attract cockroaches, so if you're fighting this battle, it is a good idea to keep the floors scrupulously clean.

How to keep the kitchen floor clean

Mopping the kitchen floor is probably not at the top of your favourite activities. Make yourself a cup of tea, switch on the radio and get going, because this is an important job.

How you clean it, depends on the floor covering. Generally, it is a good idea to wash the kitchen floor between two and four times per week. If you have small children, a daily wash could be necessary. Start out by sweeping the floor to get rid of crumbs, hair (both animal and human) and any other debris. Move furniture out of the way of necessary.

Fill a bucket with hot water and disinfectant floor cleaner and get a decent mop or floor cleaning tool. Dip in the mop and go over the floor in straight lines. (Do not use too much water, though.) In this way you will not wash the same section twice and skip others. Remember to rinse the mop, otherwise you will merely be slopping the dirt around. It is a good idea to use anti-bacterial liquid when cleaning your floors, as this will kill germs lurking there. There are products on the market that are specifically designed to clean floor tiles - use them, as they can save you time and effort.

Rinse the floor after washing. Make sure no one walks on it until it is dry, otherwise you will have to start again.

Handy hint:
A small paintbrush, dipped in detergent could help you get into those nooks and crannies and corners where brooms and mops can't reach.

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