Ditch the Dishcloths

Tip of the Week

During food prep and service, there should be no use of dishcloths in your kitchen (other than in the dishwash area)

Dishcloths and tea towels used to clean worktops and food surfaces in the kitchen are risky as they spread bacteria and allergens around the kitchen causing cross contamination.

Once a cloth has been used to clean a surface, it is contaminated by any bacteria present.  The cloth is then rinsed and used again on another kitchen surface, spreading the bacteria from one surface to another.  It can also spread cross contamination of food allergens.

During food prep and service, cleaning should be a 2 stage cleaning process using blue roll and sanitiser:

  1. Spray surface with sanitiser and wipe with blue roll to clean
  2. Spray surface again with sanitiser and leave for recommended contact time to sanitise. Then wipe with clean blue roll.

Alert

Cloths and scourers can be used at the end of the daily shift or for deep cleaning.  There will not be a problem with cross contamination as any bacteria will already have been removed as part of your clean as you go procedures.

Weekly Food Fact

Did you know that a dishcloth used multiple times can have six times more bacteria than your toilet seat!