How To Clean/clear Gluten Out? How Much Did You Do?

[mamaupupup]

Hi there,

We are a week out from going gluten free...and I'm starting the purging process. Would love to know what is necessary to do to have a gluten-free home! What is necessary? What is over the top?

Here's my list of things so far:

- Go through cupboards and fridge and clear out anything with gluten in it

- Toss/give away anything that we double dipped into (peanut butter, jelly, etc.)

- Wash out cabinets, fridge

- Give away and buy new cutting boards, wooden spoons, toaster, waffle maker, strainers

- Get gluten free dog food

Do I need to wash all the dishes? Counter surfaces? Disinfect?

Do I need to detail the cars/wash car seat covers?

Would love any/all input!

[Jestgar]

Assume you found mice in your kitchen. Clean everything you think the mice might have touched and peed on.

[dani nero]

Assume you found mice in your kitchen. Clean everything you think the mice might have touched and peed on.

Is it really that bad? o.O I rinsed all surfaces and items with warm water. Isn't that enough?

[Jestgar]

I set food on my counters, so I wanted them clean. I also super-cleaned all the drawers and their accumulation of crumbs.

[dani nero]

I set food on my counters, so I wanted them clean. I also super-cleaned all the drawers and their accumulation of crumbs.

I mean cleaning surfaces as if rats have been there... If a rat was in my kitchen I'd soak it in chlorine! I think its enough to just clean with water

[BabsV]

- Go through cupboards and fridge and clear out anything with gluten in it

- Toss/give away anything that we double dipped into (peanut butter, jelly, etc.)

- Wash out cabinets, fridge

- Give away and buy new cutting boards, wooden spoons, toaster, waffle maker, strainers

- Get gluten free dog food

I did what you've listed. I cleaned all surfaces with soap and water -- especially handles on cupboards. Cleaned the oven. I cleaned out all drawers and washed anything in the drawers that might have come into contact with a gluten containing ingredient. Wiped down the outside of jars of spices/herbs -- anything I might have used while cooking/baking with gluten ingredients I gave away and replaced due to the fact that I'm messy with prep and though I try not to 'double dip' I just couldn't remember if I'd done so while prepping dishes. Designated 2 shelves for gluten containing items (I am the only one gluten free in the house so we do have some 'regular' bread and some cookies) and took anything that might be 'contaminated' in the fridge and moved it to the lowest shelf. That is the gluten shelf and I don't have anything to do with it. I've got a couple shelves that are for gluten-free foods only -- up high so my daughter can't reach them (she's usually really good about the whole gluten thing but she's a kid and sometimes forgets!) I actually replaced my pots BUT I was planning on doing that anyway before my Celiac diagnosis. If you can give them a good scrub and they aren't scratched I think they're ok -- someone else would know better. I bought a few plastic storage containers for my gluten free food.

Gluten had made me so ill that I was ready to purge anything and everything if it meant I would start feeling better!

[mamaupupup]

Thanks everyone! What do you think about the wooden knife block? Vaccuum it out? Get a new one?

[Skylark]

I mean cleaning surfaces as if rats have been there... If a rat was in my kitchen I'd soak it in chlorine! I think its enough to just clean with water

LOL! I'd recommend a typical kitchen all-purpose cleaner rather than only water. Don't you use a little soap or spray on your counter?

Thanks everyone! What do you think about the wooden knife block? Vaccuum it out? Get a new one?

Do you ever put knives with crumbs on them in the knife block? I didn't worry about mine but I only ever put clean knives in it and I don't even keep bread knives in my knife block in the first place. If there is a good chance it's full of crumbs I'd consider replacing it.

[mamaupupup]

I thankfully haven't put the knife in the knife block after using it, but who knows if a babysitter, friend, or HUSBAND may have???!!! This is the kind of thing that is crazy-making

[Skylark]

I would just give the knife block a good shake then and see if anything falls out. Most people don't put a dirty knife back in a block.

[dani nero]

LOL! I'd recommend a typical kitchen all-purpose cleaner rather than only water. Don't you use a little soap or spray on your counter?

Yeah the counter has been soaped.. but the fridge shelves (as well as the things that were on them and washable) I only took out and rinsed with hot water. Was that not enough :-O

[captaincrab55]

I would just give the knife block a good shake then and see if anything falls out. Most people don't put a dirty knife back in a block.

Maybe flour got in the wood block?? When in doubt throw it out or give it away...

[mamaupupup]

Thanks! And here's another crazy-maker: the kitchen counter!!! I think I need to re-grout it. Seriously, our house if from the 1950's and we have the original tile still...I love it...but watching all the crumbs get stuck in the crevices today was a bit nerve-wracking! Might be time for a glass of red wine!

[UKGail]

I've cleaned my kitchen as best I can but there are still gluten crumbs stuck between the range and worktop, and I can never trust the handles or towels as I have gluten eaters in the house (albeit they are restricted to a modest amount of cold, packaged gluten products). I give the worktop a quick freshener before I use it, and then don't place things directly on the worktop or range unless they are sitting on a chopping board, plate or paper towel. It seems to work ok, as long as I do the cooking. At the weekend, when my husband and kids use the kitchen (they ususally buy gluten bread at the weekend and make sandwiches/rolls for lunch), I start to notice the difference until the kitchen has been cleaned up thoroughly.

I have my own new dedicated pans for strictly gluten free food, but I will now also eat food cooked with our old stainless steel pans now that they have been washed a number of times. I no longer cook gluten foods any more and I will often use these pans to prepare food for the family which I won't eat because it doesn't pass my strict no-food-with-possible-CC rules. I figure any trace CC will have been removed by the next time I use it.

Sadly I no longer use our well-loved enamelled creuset cooking pots as they are very scratched and I used to cook many casseroles using wheat flour.

I never touch the kitchen towels, unless it is fresh out of the drawer, otherwise I use paper towels.

I have to clean the silverware drawer regularly as it seems to breed crumbs of uncertain provenance!

I am OCD about cleaning the dishwasher filter every day, even though we have miminal gluten in the kitchen, and I rinse any suspect plates before loading them.

[mamaupupup]

Thanks! Dishwasher filter! Hadn't thought of that!!! Thank you!

[sreese68]

We snack on the sofa, so I had a helper vacuum every inch of it. And wiped down the remote control. We also detailed my car (kids eat in it).

Took whole house gluten-free two months after I went gluten-free. I asked a friend to help me clean out my kitchen, and she handled the gluten food. I still got glutened. Probably from flour poofing from the bag that she removed and took out.