Is Method food safe?

[PurpleCurtain]

I can't find details anywhere - but I've always used Method rhubarb to clean my whole kitchen including inside my microwave, by spraying the Method into it and then wiping after a couple of minutes, but I don't think I necessarily manage to wipe it all away.

My question is - is this safe/ is it generally food safe? Should I be waiting a certain amount of time before using the microwave?

I've never really thought about it before but just realised tonight I served up takeaway curry to myself and two guests, reheated - without lids on the bowls - in there immediately after cleaning it. Is this safe, in terms of fumes and chemicals etc when the microwave was then heated up?!

I don't think the Method anti bacterial sprays are good safe- the non antibac ones are.

I tend to leave 10 minutes or so.

You really don’t need anti-bac in your microwave!

@Temp023

You really don’t need anti-bac in your microwave!

So how else do I make sure that there isn't e.g. splatters of raw fish in there?

Clean it with soapy water. And cover food you're cooking so it doesn't spatter. It steams better, covered, too.

I would never spray anything chemical in to a microwave. What's wrong with hot water and a drop of washing up liquid...just water is often enough if you wipe out daily.

I think people are going OTT with anti-bac stuff. I never buy/use it. Just be clean. Water. Soap.

So how else do I make sure that there isn't e.g. splatters of raw fish in there?

The same way people cleaned things before the advent of antibac sprays - with detergent/soap/normal cleaning products. When you wash utensils or containers that have had raw meat or fish on them, it is fine to use normal washing-up liquid, so it's no different for surfaces and microwaves etc. Also, surely if the fish has been inside the microwave cooking, it will have been covered and even if any bits of it had escaped, they would be cooked not raw?

@lazylinguist

So how else do I make sure that there isn't e.g. splatters of raw fish in there?

The same way people cleaned things before the advent of antibac sprays - with detergent/soap/normal cleaning products. When you wash utensils or containers that have had raw meat or fish on them, it is fine to use normal washing-up liquid, so it's no different for surfaces and microwaves etc. Also, surely if the fish has been inside the microwave cooking, it will have been covered and even if any bits of it had escaped, they would be cooked not raw?

I think people forget that cleaning doesn't get "taught" - which is why I'm asking!

I have never known any family use anything other than anti bac, for all surfaces and all rooms in the house, so I'm really not sure what is meant by "normal cleaning products" as this IS my normal cleaning product...and I presume you don't mean I can clean with bar soap.

We use the microwave to defrost fish not cook it, so no I presume it wouldn't be cooked immediately. I personally try to cover things but can't attest for my full household, and as per my initial question sometimes I'm hurriedly re-heating piled high bowls of food! So I definitely thought that cleaning it was better than not cleaning it!

Method says it's non toxic so I always assumed that meant it was fine/ food safe - my husband uses it on chopping boards or surfaces for rolling dough on too. A bit concerned now about what on earth I'm supposed to use instead (particularly because I'm 30 weeks pregnant and so are a couple of my friends) and what harm this has caused us all over the years if not safe!

I was taught how to clean, both at home and at school! People used household soap to clean things before other products were available, things like Sunlight soap and carbolic soap were commonplace.

my husband uses it on chopping boards or surfaces for rolling dough on too

I also use it for surfaces that I roll dough on. Method's website states that it is safe to use on sealed chopping boards - there is no reason to think a work surface is any different. Just make sure you have wiped it properly off afterwards.

Anti-bacterial products aren't necessary. Many bacteria are completely harmless and exposure to them helps your immune system to develop and fight the harmful stuff.

I don't think you'll have done yourself any harm but I wouldn't strongly fragranced cleaners in food preparation areas.

I wipe ours with a sponge. If there is an odour or stubborn food stuck on I put half a lemon in a bowl of water and nuke for a minute or two. The steam generated makes the inside easy to wipe out and it smells lovely too.

OP. If you really haven't been taught (?) then reading on this forum will teach you. Looking on internet will answer your questions.

Look up "vinegar for cleaning" and "soap and water for cleaning" and that will help.

I would use soapy water so like washing up liquid in hot water type thing

@MotherOfGodWeeFella

Anti-bacterial products aren't necessary. Many bacteria are completely harmless and exposure to them helps your immune system to develop and fight the harmful stuff.

Glad to hear that someone else uses it too! By 'wiping it off', though - do you rinse it with a water spray separately or just wipe with a cloth/ kitchen roll. I get that it's a bit worse in a microwave mind you as any unwiped spray (mine's a built in combi microwave so quite feasible) then gets heated!

You've had a rough ride OP! I use Method on surfaces where I am kneading dough etc. I leave it for 5 minutes and then wipe down with a clean damp cloth.

Not sure about the microwave but I would expect Method will have a helpline or similar. They certainly won't berate you for your choice of cleaning products!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

I think you've misread my post you've quoted. I don't think we have a single anti-bacterial product in the house. Not even in times of Covid.

I have never known any family use anything other than anti bac, for all surfaces and all rooms in the house, so I'm really not sure what is meant by "normal cleaning products" as this IS my normal cleaning product...and I presume you don't mean I can clean with bar soap.

Well you could in theory use bar soap, but it's not in a very useful format for cleaning surfaces, floors or appliances.

If you look at most brands' ranges of cleaning products (including dilutable floor washing liquids, sprays, washing up liquids and even hand wash , you will find that some of them are antibac and some aren't.

For example I've currently got the Method Clementine kitchen spray. I really like the smell of the rhubarb one but don't buy it, as I prefer not to use antibac, because it's unnecessary, bad for the environment, and bad for our health. A quick Google will bring up plenty of articles explaining why.

“I have never known any family use anything other than anti bac, for all surfaces and all rooms in the house”

wow — I don’t think most of the families I know are like this. It seems misguided, definitely unnecessary in the average home.

Or do you mean “any family” as in, any members of your own family? (I’m not deliberately being pedantic — just in sure which way you meant it)

Anyway. I use a clean sponge squeezed through with Fairy liquid and hot water for most kitchen wiping.

I only tend to use antibacterial stuff when cleaning around toilets/high touch surfaces in that area.

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

I would never spray anything chemical in to a microwave. What's wrong with hot water and a drop of washing up liquid...just water is often enough if you wipe out daily.

Erm, isn't washing up liquid a chemical?

I use Method rhubarb antibacterial spray everywhere too as I love the smell. I've also started using Microban 24 hour anti bac multipurpose spray which is lovely. I bought it to clean our downstairs loo when my ds and his gf came for Easter when we could meet up in the garden, but they'd need to be able to use the loo. I won't buy it full price again but will keep an eye out for when it's on offer.

If you are worried about using it on food surfaces, then Dettol anti bac spray is food safe. I used to use it all the time on kitchen work surfaces and the dining table.

OP I use method in the kitchen. I always make sure I rinse it off with a wet cloth. My chopping boards aren't wiped down, they are washed ie put in the dishwasher but you can handwash (washing liquid and hot water) if you don't have a dishwasher.

By 'soap' people mean washing up liquid and hot water. I would wipe the inside of the microwave down with a damp cloth after use and I normally leave the door open for a while after using to make sure it's dry inside. You can also use vinegar and half a lemon to clean. Get a bowl, put in some water, vinegar and half a lemon and microwave for a minute or a couple of minutes, then wipe clean.
www.today.com/series/how-often-should-you/how-often-you-should-clean-your-microwave-right-way-do-t82811

I would be concerned about the perfume in Method products making food taste odd.

@ShortSilence

“I have never known any family use anything other than anti bac, for all surfaces and all rooms in the house”

wow — I don’t think most of the families I know are like this. It seems misguided, definitely unnecessary in the average home.

Or do you mean “any family” as in, any members of your own family? (I’m not deliberately being pedantic — just in sure which way you meant it)

Anyway. I use a clean sponge squeezed through with Fairy liquid and hot water for most kitchen wiping.

I only tend to use antibacterial stuff when cleaning around toilets/high touch surfaces in that area.

Thanks - yes I meant my own family, I was responding to a point about what I'd been "taught" to do/ use! I have no idea what the rest of the world does (as the thread shows!).

We have cats, which is I think part of the rationale for every surface requiring antibac! But I don't know, I've never previously had the time or inclination to question what I was doing!

We don't have any fairy liquid as I dont think we have anything that's not dishwasher safe... perhaps need to buy some.

@MotherOfGodWeeFella

I think you've misread my post you've quoted. I don't think we have a single anti-bacterial product in the house. Not even in times of Covid.

Apologies I quoted you rather than someone else. Slightly worried that you aren't considering the present times to be "in times of Covid" though!

You really don’t need anti-bac in your microwave!
It's absolutely fine. But just leave it for a while before using.

Yep, I have a cat too, but still don't use antibac. If you want further proof that soap/detergent and water is good enough, remember that during the pandemic hand gel etc has been widely used because it's handy when on the move, but we've been told all along that washing your hands with soap and water is actually better.