Cleaning:
Wash your hands - Washing your hands thoroughly and frequently is the number one way to reduce the risk of infection and illness, including foodborne illness. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food, using the bathroom, handling pets, collecting trash, smoking, changing diapers, etc. For hand washing instructions click here.
Clean & sanitize your tools - To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, clean and sanitize all work surfaces and utensils including counter tops, cutting boards, knives, spoons, etc., with hot soapy water after each food is prepared. For added safety, use a mild bleach solution (15 ml bleach to 4L water) to sanitize cutting boards and work surfaces.
Keep your cloths clean - Disposable paper towels are the safest way to wipe kitchen surfaces. If you use dishcloths or sponges, wash them frequently in your washing machine and store them in a sanitizing solution between washings. Kitchen hand towels and dish towels should never be used to wipe your hands while preparing food, and should be washed frequently in the washing machine.
Wash fresh produce thoroughly - Just before preparing, wash fresh fruits and vegetables (even the ones that you will peel) under cold running water for several minutes.