Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by LongIslandMaids

How to Clean and Sanitize Kitchen Utensils

Hello! I’m Alex and I work for Emily’s Maids of Dallas. Today we’re so excited to collaborate with Long Island Maids for this article with cleaning tips for you to enjoy!

Today, we’re going to talk about kitchen utensils. We all know how important it is to clean and sanitize every surface in our household, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, this can be a challenging, time-consuming task if you don’t do it the right way. Some of them have nooks and crannies that are hard to reach, or they might absorb food residues that need a lot of energy to remove.

And unless you hire a cleaning service in Dallas or Long Island, you’re on your own so better grab your tools and supplies after reading this guide!

Grab your tools and supplies and get ready to do some washing. Source: Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

The Importance of Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Kitchen Utensils

Before we start, let’s talk about what happens if you don’t clean and sanitize your kitchen utensils correctly. Research has shown that there are dozens of different types of bacteria around residential and commercial kitchens and that it takes a physical toll on people.

Another study conducted by the University of Georgia showed that produce that knives were able to transfer bacteria from contaminated produce to a clean one. And besides your usual kitchen utensils, other items such as your kitchen sponge can be contaminated with hundreds of bacteria which will remain on clean dishes and pots.

Even if they are free of bacteria, if you don’t remove every single piece of food or grease from your utensils, it can attract unwelcomed guests and we don’t want them anywhere near our kitchen or pantry.

Now that you know how important it is to clean and sanitize your kitchen utensils, let’s go through each category and see the best options for you.

Start By Grabbing Your Cleaning Supplies

For cleaning all your dishes, pots, and utensils, you’re going to need hot water, preferably that comes straight from the tap. This way, you will be able to wash everything as you go. Preferably, your sink should be able to be filled with hot water, so you can let some items soak for a while.

The second must-have is good dish soap. There are hundreds of options on the market so make an informed decision based on what’s important to you. Maybe you’re allergic to a strong scent, so you would choose a lightly scented or unscented option. Or, if you’re teaching your kids how to help you in the kitchen, get a kids-friendly product.

If the eco-friendly movement is important for you or your household, then do some research on environmentally conscious companies and look for their green, concentrated products for the kitchen. The same goes for your dishwasher soap if you do own a dishwasher.

Last but not least, you’re going to need one or two different sponges that are appropriate for the utensil you’re cleaning. Same as your soap, you have dozens of options to choose from, including plant-based sponges called loofahs. You also have silicone sponges which are soft and flexible.

You can use a brush instead of a sponge, which will protect your hands from soap and direct scrubbing.

Make sure to grab all your supplies before starting. Source: Monfocus / Pixabay

How to Clean Your Dishes

We all know that a mountain of dirty dishes at the end of the day is everyone’s worst nightmare. But don’t worry, just like everything else, it’s about working smarter and not harder.

Your first step would be to physically remove big chunks of leftover food. This will prevent issues with your sink drain and your dishwasher if you’re using one.

Once this step is completed, you can move on to the second step. Now, what you want to do is close the drain from your kitchen sink and start filling your sink with hot water with about 2 drops or 1 tbsp of concentrated dish soap. This will create slightly soapy hot water which will act on its own and soften up any grime or grease that is present in your dishes.

This reduces the time and energy you will spend on scrubbing, and lessen the chance of scratching your dishes by scrubbing too hard. Let them soak in water for around 15 to 30 minutes depending on how dirty they are.

Now, it’s time for scrubbing. Fill your sink’s second bowl (or an additional dishpan) halfway with hot water, and start scrubbing each item softly using a non-scratch scrubby. Start with the lightest soiled items and wash one at a time.

In order, you should start with glasses, cups, and flatware; next, we have dishes; and then pots, pans, and other cookware.

Cleaning your Stainless Steel Pots

As we mentioned above, you should leave your pots and pans at the end of your cleaning. They usually gather a lot of grime and food scraps, especially if you overcooked or burned the food by accident.

The steps for cleaning your steel pans and pots are quite simple. Just scrub them with a nonabrasive sponge and use hot, soapy water. If you have food bits at the bottom, use soapy water until you cover the residues, bring to a boil, and then scrape that off using a spatula or wooden spoon. Wooden utensils are a better option because they are thicker and therefore won’t cause scratching.

If the food is burnt or if it’s greasy and you think that it needs a deeper cleaning, you can follow the same steps as above but add one cup of vinegar instead of soapy water, and then 2 tablespoons of baking soda once you remove it from heat.

Then, scrap as we mentioned above using a wooden spoon. Remember to rinse with plenty of water and let dry! Your pans will look nice and clean afterward.

Remember to let dry after cleaning. Source: Hannah Smith / Unsplash

Washing your Cast-Iron Pans

Cast-iron skillets and pans are gorgeous and can last for decades, as long as you take good care of them. They can be a bit tricky because they are not washed with water and soap, like pretty much every other dish. That’s because humidity affects iron which is very sensitive to rust.

Instead, what you want to do is season your cast-iron pan or skillet. This means forming a thick layer of oil that bonds to the iron surface until it becomes a form of plastic that protects the metal. You should do this both for new skillets and pans, and also occasionally to maintain them.

The process of seasoning is quite easy. Just rub vegetable oil all over your clean cast-iron pan and buff well until it doesn’t look greasy. Put your pan in the oven upside down for 30 minutes and 450 °F. It might get a little smoky so make sure you have an open window nearby. Repeat 3 more times (remember it will be very hot when you take it out of the oven) and you will be good to go.

For regular cleaning, you can use kosher salt. Just sprinkle some salt on your pan and rub with a non-scratch scrubby. Rinse and dry immediately. You can use soap occasionally to clean your cast iron pan, just make sure you dry it immediately and then put it in the stove or oven for 5 minutes to make sure it is completely dry.

How to Clean Wooden Utensils

We talked about wooden utensils before and why they are better for scraping dirty pots than steel utensils. However, they do require a different approach. First, you can’t wash them in the dishwasher. Wood has natural oils in it which keep them looking “healthy”. If they go through a big change of humidity, they might break or splint.

If you live in humid areas, such as Dallas, you might notice the same thing happening to wooden and leather surfaces.

Because you can’t wash them in the dishwasher, the best route is to hand wash them with soapy water and then air dry. Make sure you do this as soon as you finish using them. If they split or look dry, you can moisturize them using mineral oil or linseed oil.

Wooden spoons shouldn’t be put in the dishwasher. Source: Tiko Giorgadze / Unsplash

Drying your Dishes and Utensils

It is really important to dry properly your dishes, pots and pans, and other utensils. If you have a double sink but little counter space, you can get yourself a drying rack to place on top of your second sink basin and dry all your items. Don’t worry about the size, just make sure they’re expandable so they are able to fit your sink perfectly.

It’s best to let your items air dry instead of drying with a cloth. If you use one, it will carry bacteria and move it around all your items. Preferably, your items should be near a window to allow airflow. If you use hot water when washing them, they will dry faster too.

Cleaning Your Kitchen Utensils By Hand vs Using the Dishwasher

This is a great question and it depends on how many dishes you have that need to be cleaned. Most modern dishwashers save water and time (besides energy, of course) when compared to washing by hand. This is true as long as you’re running a full dishwasher load.

However, if you do wash by hand, remember to follow our tips such as soaking your items first in hot water to save water at the end.

As you know, knives should be washed by hand if you don’t want to harm your dishwasher. And don’t forget about wooden utensils and cutting boards as well which are meant to be hand-washed only. Of course, delicate and sentimental items should not be washed in the dishwasher either.

Modern dishwashers are much more efficient than hand washing. Source: Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

Conclusion

Cleaning your dishes doesn’t have to be an extenuating, endless task. With these tips, you will finish in no time, and save energy and water. Remember to read the manufacturer’s instructions for each item for washing tips, especially if you’re using your dishwasher.

Thanks again to Long Island Maids for this collaboration. We’re so happy to help readers with our cleaning expertise, and remember: if you are in the Dallas or Long Island area, you can always hire a professional cleaning service.

Once again, I’m Alex from Emily’s Maids and hopefully, we’ll be back soon with more cleaning tips for Long Island Maids!