Next to the bathroom, the kitchen is probably the messiest area in the house, or at least the fastest to accumulate grime. It is easy to imagine why - grease, water, heat, all kinds of cooking ingredients going everywhere - it is practically a breeding ground for bacteria. It is a widely known fact that a good cook has flare - and that usually translates as "makes a mess". But it is also easy to understand why this is one of the most important areas of the house to keep spotless. Not only that - surface grime is only the tip of the iceberg. It is also important to kill any germs and bacteria that may accumulate, as well as prevent their spread. Just like you'd want a restaurant's kitchen to fulfill all "health and safety" regulations perfectly, so should the one at home. This article provides helpful tips, suggestions and ideas for keeping the kitchen perfectly clean and germ-free, whilst also avoiding the use of toxic chemicals and solutions - thus ensuring a perfectly safe environment for children and adults alike, where cooking can be more than just a chore; it can become a fun experience to be shared with the whole family.

Gather your supplies first. These should include rubber gloves, first and foremost. You can generally use all-purpose cleaner for most areas in the kitchen - tiles, counters, etc. You might want to get a stronger detergent, which dissolves grease and grime for the stove top and the insides of the oven and the microwave. All of these should be free from harmful chemicals. If you're not sure, check the label and contents. There are a number of websites online, listing both harmful chemicals in cleaning products and brands that do not use any. If you are unable to find non-toxic cleaning supplies, make sure to open a window or door, so as to minimize the amount of toxic fumes you end up breathing in.

When beginning to clean, the sink should be scrubbed first. It is a good idea to put some detergent (even dish washing liquid could do the trick and let it sit like that for a few minutes, while you work on the counters. This would ensure that all the bacteria that accumulates on the wet surface gets cleaned up. The same applies for the stove top - apply a grease-dissolving detergent, wait a few minutes for it to work and then begin wiping.

Cleaning up the counters is pretty straight forward - remove any crumbs, spray with all-purpose cleaner, wipe. Make sure you don't waste the cleaning liquid - you don't waste anything.

Cleaning up the floor should be last. Make the solution according to the package directions on the all-purpose cleaner. Once again, you don't need to use too much. This will not ensure a cleaner floor, only waste the cleaner. After cleaning the floor, do not forget to keep the windows open for at least half an hour. This will not only help let out any harmful vapors, it will also help the floor dry faster. The mop or floor wiper needs to be changed frequently - at least once a month, to avoid contamination. After all, bacteria gathers more easily on wet objects.

Following these simple suggestions, you  can keep your kitchen clean, bacteria free and safe for the entire family.