THERE are areas of the home we never forget to clean when it comes to doing the household chores.
Scrubbing the toilet and doing the laundry become second nature.
But cleaning gurus say there are items in the home that get overlooked – and they could be spreading deadly germs.
Mark McShane, food hygiene expert at Food Hygiene
Certificate is warning UK households that the humble tea towel may be spreading harmful bacteria.
This could include E. coli and Salmonella, particularly during the summer when BBQs and outdoor cooking are on the rise.
Mark says: “Cross-contamination is one of the most common causes of food poisoning at home.
“And one of the easiest ways it happens is via tea towels.
“People dry their hands after touching raw meat, then use the same towel to dry plates, cutlery, or even children’s cups.”
The expert says that studies by food safety bodies have found that nearly nine in 10 UK homes reuse the same tea towel multiple times a day.
Meanwhile, between 30 and 50 per cent of tested kitchen towels contained E. coli or other faecal bacteria.
Bacteria can survive on damp towels for up to 48 hours, especially in warm kitchens.
Mark shared the most common hygiene mistakes people make with tea towels.
HIGH AND DRY
The expert says people are often guilty of drying their hands after touching raw meat, then drying dishes.
Make sure you always wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw meat.
ALL FOR ONE
Mark says many folk fall into the trap of using one towel for everything.
They use the same towel or cloth on their hands, worktops, dishes and spills.
It’s much safer to keep cloths for these jobs separate and label them if needed.
ROLL UP
Many people are guilty of leaving damp towels bunched up.
This is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. After using a cloth hang it up so it dries properly.
DAY TO DAY
In many households, people use the same dishtowels for days on end.
The towels should be being replaced daily, if not more often, especially during hot weather or heavy cooking days.
Wash them at 60°C minimum to kill off bacteria.
Mark added: “Food poisoning doesn’t always come from undercooked food – sometimes it comes from clean-looking cutlery dried with the wrong towel.
“A simple switch in habits can prevent weeks of illness.”
