For many people, the kitchen is the central room of the house. It’s the heart of the home, and for good reason; it’s where families share hours together, playing board games and enjoying dinners.

Unfortunately, the kitchen can also be one of the most dangerous areas in the home. From sharp knives to hot surfaces and grease fires, there’s no shortage of things that can go wrong in this room.

Even if you feel like you’re a pro in the kitchen, here are some kitchen safety tips that will help you be more cautious and careful in your favorite room of the house.

5 Ways to Stay Safe in the Kitchen

1. Quick Clean-Ups

One of the easiest ways to avoid any kitchen disasters is by cleaning up your messes as quickly as you can. It’s easy to ignore a few spills here and there as you cook, but letting those messes sit there could be the reason someone slips and falls.

When in doubt, clean up right away. If you’re home alone and know you have some flexibility, then by all means go at your own pace. But when there’s traffic and other activity still going on in the house, be sure to get everything cleaned up and put away as soon as you’re able.

2. Have a Fire Safety Plan

One of the crucial aspects of kitchen safety is a proper fire safety plan. Grease fires are all too common, but you can avoid these tragic accidents altogether ahead of time.

First, you’ll want to make sure your smoke detectors are working properly. You also want to have a fire extinguisher on hand and understand how to use it. That way, if disaster does strike, you’re ready and not fumbling around.

Everyone in your house needs to understand how fires start. They should know to keep clothes and hair away from heat and to be careful around a hot stove.

Your fire safety plan should also include an exit plan, a safe meetup zone, and who you’ll call when you need fire damage restoration. The quicker you can work towards recovery, the quicker you’ll be back in the kitchen again.

3. Keep Kids and Pets at a Safe Distance

Although your little ones may want to help out every step of the way as you make dinner, you’ll need to place some firm but loving boundaries. It’s great for children to lend a hand with meals, but you should be careful when choosing how you let them help.

You also don’t want your furry friends to be close by when dealing with hot water, steam, or grease. A doggy gate is a good idea to keep them at bay.

4. Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize

Even surfaces that you think are clean might have some not-so-friendly bacteria lurking on them. It’s always better to over-sanitize your kitchen then under-sanitize it. You don’t need anyone catching salmonella because your cutting board wasn’t thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between each use.

5. Put Everything in Its Place

In a well-run kitchen, there’s a place for everything. To maintain the safety of your kitchen, keep all used items in their proper place when not in use. That goes for things like knives, scissors, utensils, and more.

You won’t be worried about leaving something dangerous out when you’ve done your due diligence to ensure everything is properly put away.

Conclusion

As much fun as a kitchen can hold, it can also hold a lot of risks. Just as you control how yummy dinner comes out or the kinds of conversation you have at the table, you can also control the safety of your kitchen.

By employing the above tips, you can rest assured that the only thing you make in the kitchen is memories.