My Panic Room

Ah the smell of morning coffee. There is nothing like my morning ritual. Wake up, stumble down the hallway in my sleeping garb, hair all awry and sticking up (much like the way SF men pain stakingly style theirs each morning before they go out for the day) the feeling of plush carpeting on my bare feet as I make my way to the source of the coffee aroma. I know instantly when I reach the kitchen because of the slightly shocking feeling of the cold from the hardwood flooring.

However this day the shock suddenly turns to horror. Some foreign object begins to penetrate the pads of my feet, much like the way pebbles do at the beach. I look down only to realize that feeling is caused from what appears to be the familiar sight of small micro grains of whole wheat bread.

I shouldn't be surprised. This is a common occurrence in my household. You see these grains made their way to the floor from an act of cleaning. (all with good intentions of course) Each morning the center island is turned into a sandwich production counter. Two slices of bread are slapped down on the counter, with no barrier between them and the counter surface. The production begins with a smattering of mayonaise, then some meat and perhaps cheese, and in some instances the marble cutting board across from the island is used to slice tomatoes only to have the seeds left remaining to be found at a later time. Once the sandwhich is finished the clean up begins. Within reach is a soggy sponge that will soon be passed across the surface of the the sandwich production station with the intent to make it sparkle. What really happens is that the crumbs are ever so gently sent plummeting to the hardwood below only to be cleaned up with the soles of my feet. (Thankfully the tomatoes seeds and their juices remain in place on the marble cutting board and don't make their way to the confines of the floor.)

My kitchen is my "PANIC ROOM". It is the place I go to in order to escape the outside world and feel safe. Nothing should violate this space, especially not a crumb. Cleaning a kitchen is essential. Let me tell you about a few ways you can make your "PANIC ROOM" into the safe haven it should be.

Sponges - they are a breeding ground for germs. They do have their place in the kitchen. Ideally the shouldn't be used to clean up the counters and then used to wash dishes. However, realizing this isn't a reality it is important to change your sponge often or to minimize the germs run it through the dishwasher or zap it in the microwave for two minutes. Remember no sponge is 100% germ free.

Drip pans - these are the little metal devises under the burners of the stove. They are meant to catch any small drips that occur when you are cooking. They too need to be treated like a pan. Each time you cook not only wash the pan you were using but take the time and clean the drip pan. Remove them, scrub them if necessary, put them through the dishwasher and make them shine. It will eventually become a ritual and you will be happy you did it!

Stove top - yes the drip pans catch some of your overflow, but what happens when you make that "coca cola cake" and the batter over flows and disappears (more about this cake in another blog)? You think that little drip pan will catch it all? No you need to lift up that stove top and realize the overflow goes underneath. Yes that is where you will find the bits of pasta from the last tenant in the apartment or the grease from your bacon breakfast and that residue of starch from the overflowing Thanksgiving potatoes. Take the time and give it a good cleaning and periodically check back, you will never know what you may find.

Handles - ah yes have you ever taken a look at your refrigerator door handle, really take a look at it. Yes that is chicken juice and barbecue sauce and who knows what else. Disenfect often. Handles to cabinets, stoves, microwaves and refrigerators need to be disenfected.

Ovens - if you are fortunate to have a self cleaning oven you have your work cut out for you. One night before you go to bed put it on self clean and in the morning all the work is done. If you don't have a self cleaning oven, get yourself a maid.

Paper towels - they are your kitchen friend. Yes I know there is the whole "green" kitchen things but hey they help to eliminate the spread of germs. I would rather have a trash can filled with paper towels than spread salmonella to myself or my guests. How often have you seen someone use a cloth kitchen towel to wipe their hands and then 10 minutes later they are using the same towel to dry dishes. When in doubt use paper towel!

These are just a few of my thoughts on how you can make your own little "PANIC ROOM" the safe haven it should be. For more information: http://www.echominnesota.org/pdf/resource/HomeKitchenHazard.pdf