In a fact sheet put out by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, www.fightbac.org, they talk about sanitizing surfaces that children frequently touch such as tables, chairs, high chairs and toys.
In a fact sheet put out by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, The Partnership message states that dangerous germs such as, hepatitis and rotavirus can live on surfaces for several weeks. If someone touches these surfaces, germs can get on the person’s hands and then be transferred into the mouth, to other people, or to food. That’s why it’s so important to clean and sanitize frequently-touched surfaces.
Cleaning and sanitizing aren’t the same. Cleaning, removing dirt and debris, comes before sanitizing. A sanitizing solution is then used to kill germs. Here’s a “recipe” for a safe and effective sanitizing solution: combine 1 tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of water in a clean bucket.
According to the Partnership for Food Safety Education the best way of cleaning and santizing is as follows:
- Clean surfaces and high chair trays, sinks, kitchen counters, and large plastic or rubber toys, cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot water and soap and thoroughly rinse.
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Apply the sanitizing solution and allow to air dry.
- Wash high chair trays with hot water and soap after every use and dry thoroughly with a single use paper towel.
- Cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and small plastic toys can also be run through a dishwasher at 170 °F to disinfect them.
