What Is Table Washing?
Sanitation is one key to healthy living. While you may keep your table clutter free and do your best to dress it up for company, it may not actually be clean. Like clothes, humans, pets and cars, tables need a good scrubbing down. Table washing is a simple process that only requires basic, household items. Proper washing can prevent food-borne illness and make your table even more inviting. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Potential Problems
-
Dirty tables not only look uninviting but may also contain harmful, illness-causing microbes. Food-borne illnesses stem from four primary sources: bacteria, botulism, viruses and chemical toxins. Depending on how you use your table, the surface may be crawling with a variety of harmful microbes. A bacterium such as salmonella is one of the most common sources of food-borne illness and is commonly found in raw eggs and chicken. Old potatoes with "eyes" may carry chemical toxins and dirt may carry botulism. Food-borne illnesses are serious, and some are life threatening.
Washing Solution
-
Soap and water and a simple bleach solution are two products to keep table surfaces clean and sanitary. While commercial cleaners are also available, they may contain dyes and other irritants that could harm sensitive skin. Warm soap and water helps remove soil and debris, and the bleach solution sanitizes the surface. Bleach is relatively inexpensive, and the ratio of bleach to water in sanitizing solutions is small: FamilyManagement.com suggests using 1 tbsp. of bleach for every 1 gallon of cool water.
-
Technique
-
Washing the table is a fairly simple chore. In addition to soap, water and a bleach sanitizing solution, you need clean rags and fresh water for rinses. Particularly heinous stains may require a scrub brush. The process itself should not take more than a few minutes time. Simply lather a rag with soapy water, and scrub the surface of the table in a circular motion, taking care to scrub the entire surface area. After rinsing the surface with a clean rag and fresh water, dry it. Sanitize the surface with the bleach solution, wait two minutes and rinse with fresh water.
Other Issues
-
Table washing is basic sanitation. In addition, take other measures to keep your friends and family healthy. Adequately clean all bowls, plates and utensils. Disposable or washable placemats also help to reduce the amount of soil and debris on the table surface. Wash the table between uses.
-
