You can clean as thoroughly and as diligently as possible, but despite that, shared kitchens often get gradually less hygienic over time. Sometimes it might even feel impossible to properly clean. Once moisture and mould get a foothold, they are stubborn and unwanted guests, attracting pests, letting bacteria thrive, and accelerating the deterioration of the kitchen.

Here is how to prevent the build-up of unhygienic spots in your kitchen.

Choose a sensible kitchen layout

The design of your kitchen plays an underappreciated part in keeping it clean. If the areas and functions of your kitchen are properly placed in relation to each other, you can prevent build-up of grime.

If any of the storage, washing & disposal, and preparation areas are too close, then you risk contamination and the swift accumulation of mess. Instead basic best practice in kitchen design includes a kitchen triangle, with hob, fridge, and sink at the triangle’s points.

You may have one already, but either way, you should make sure that if you are renovating your kitchen, the new design features the triangle, so that you make it as easy as possible to keep the space clean.

Watch out for sealant

Sealant is a notorious bacteria hotpot, specifically when it peels. In a semi-commercial environment like community group kitchen, that peeling is accelerated by heavy use. When moisture gathers in those gaps, bacteria thrives. So, what’s the alternative?

If you choose a suitable semi-commercial kitchen design, with a stainless steel worktop, you can eliminate the need for sealant:

• there is a folded rear upstand at the abutment of the wall and the worktop
• the sink is recessed, seamless-welded, and polished into the worktop

Steelplan Kitchens always recommends a stainless-steel worktop with a Zintec polyester powder-coated mild steel carcass, for maximum durability without the excessive cost and bland appearance of a commercial-style fully stainless-steel kitchen.

Prevent grouting grime

Groups sometime choose tiling for their kitchen wall, but while they might prefer it visually, the grout can also become a breeding ground for bacteria. It absorbs moisture and harbours germs. The best way to avoid issue with grouting is not to have it in the first place. Rather than tiles, consider whether a splashback of glass or PVC, or even metal splashback could be a better choice.

Our design experts can help you choose the material that fits best with your kitchen, so that as well as functional, your splashback can be visually complementary to your design and the character of the kitchen.

Beware of peeling wrap

Sometimes domestic-style kitchens made of materials like MDF use vinyl wrapping for doors and drawers, which tends to peel after a certain amount of use. Of course, a communal kitchen will see much heavier use than a kitchen in a home, so that peeling will tend to happen much sooner.

Once peeled, the vinyl exposes the MDF, which them has nothing protecting it from the stains and splashes of the kitchen. Once again, when it absorbs that moisture, it becomes very unhygienic very quickly.

Mild steel, on the other hand, does not peel, and Zintec polyester power coating lets you choose a colour to match your community’s character and complement the building, while keeping the carcass robust and wipe-clean.

Steelplan Kitchens are hygienic by design — get in touch with our team to discuss how to renovate your kitchen in a way that your community and guests will love, and that stays cleanable and durable for decades to come.

Call 0208 254 0090 or email [email protected] for a no-obligation discussion with our design experts and a free proposal for your renovation project.