okay so my baby and i were diagnosed with Celiac 3 months ago --we are off gluten,yeast,beans, soy, dairy,sulfites...and still only feel well every couple days...but it is obviously CC---we are absolutely getting ALL the gluten out of our house this weekend. my husband and older child do not have this but we have to stop having cc. Okay so i need a clear list of what to get rid of?? i got new non-stick pans, a couple new spoons, etc. would you get rid of the knife block and just boil the knifes-?would you get rid of the microwave? i am overwhelmed but i need to be clear with my friends that are coming to help me detail the kitchen....would you put down all new shelf paper??-- get a new grill? my husband is a Pastor so we dont have alot of money but i just need to know how to budget this? thanks!!!--get a new broom, mop?dish towels?

Take a deep breath and go space by space. Understand too that for those who have alot of damage to the villi and other problems from going a long time without a diagnosis or treatment, it can take quite a long time to heal.

I use the shelf liner that is foam and not sticky so a good wipedown of it and the shelves and then putting it back would be sufficient. If it is the sticky contact kind with you may want to replace it. Make sure to start from the top down so that you're not re-contaminating the shelves that you've done. Soap and water are sufficient. No need for bleach as gluten is not something that can be killed like bacteria.

If you have a deep fryer, you'll need to get a new one. Get yourself a cheap toaster(I finally broke down and got one for $7. I don't use it very often so it should last long enough ) or use the broiler in the oven for your toast if it is clean.

Spices, especially baking ones, from pre-gluten-free may be contaminated if you dipped measuring spoons in flour and then into the spices. We keep separate containers for things like marg. and mark one gluten-free.

I don't use a knife block but I'm wondering if it would be sufficient to get a baby bottle brush, one of those skinny ones and scrubb really good inside the slots in the knife block. Does it have crumbs inside? Maybe others can give advice about this. The knives should be fine, just scrub with something that has bristles around the place where the handle meets the blade.

You may want to clean or get a new can opener. I scrubbed mine really well with something that has bristles and haven't had a problem.

Your old dish towels don't need to be replaced. It becomes a problem when gluten covered hands touch them and then you touch them. If people were compliant, you could label one gluten-free and then let the others use the other one and wash them frequently. Hanging them in sepatate, strategic spots might help too.

Take Care

Heres a general rule of thumb (so to speak) if its "porous" replace it

Plastic, wood, cast iron, stoneware all should be replaced.... (dont forget the rolling pin, pastry sheet and measuring cups too)

Also its recommended to replace nonstick/teflon if its scratched...

I personally went to almost all stainless, the price was a bit higher to start but I have found it is holding up much better than my old teflon pans so in the long run I feel I am saving money.

I replaced my cast iron but only the "must haves"

I just started replacing my stoneware.... didnt realize I would miss it as much as I did!

I also got all stainless utensils (spoons, whisks and spatulas)

Also another great thought which I did was everything I took out of the house didnt go to waste I donated it to the local food pantry, while they generally only deal with food our local one also has a few shelves for old but still useable kitchen items I just loaded the stuff into a box and dropped it off, just because I can't use it doesn't mean some other family wont love it!

thanks soooo much!! yes i am trying to take a deep breath and just slowly get everything organized--tonight i got all the plastic containers out of our house and i will wait to buy more until everthing is cleaned out--i think i will have a garage sale and then give away the rest. THANKS AGAIN!!!

Don't forget a new colandar. You may be able to eat gluten free pasta made from rice or corn, (Tinkyada is great) but all of those tiny holes in your old colandar contain gluten that is going to stick no matter how many times you wash it.

I heard the glue in envelopes, stamps, charcoal may have wheat in them.

I would definitely get rid of the wooden knife block.

Stainless steel is the best, I think. I have had a few of my stainless steel pans for 44 years now & they are perfectly fine. Buy just one at a time & get the best you can afford. I like the all stainless steel handle - because then it can also go in the oven.

I love the pyrex bowls with plastic lids that you can get at WalMart - great for freezing a meal or leftovers. Also, I like the round pyrex baking dishes for cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave & a lot of other uses also.

Just get rid of everything that you need to, then you can replace items slowly. You can drain veggies etc using a stainless steel slotted spoon over the pan edge, & get a new colander when you can.
Wash all your dish towels & the pot holders. Your cookbook will be contaminated so beware of that - not that I got rid of mine - but I never take it to the kitchen counter & I wash my hands if I open it.

You will need a new chopping board - I think that is the most important thing. Get a wooden one for veggies & nuts & those plastic ones for meat. I never put meat on my wooden board - well unless it is cooked.

toss your old cookie sheets, no way to ever get those things "clean". & get yourself one new cast iron skillet. They are wonderful for things like bacon - I love bacon

Do not let people bring gluten items into your house & do not be shy about asking them to wash their hands when they get there.

& I would get a new bar b que grill. Do not even open your flour canister - just take it to the trash. Throw out your sugar & wash the container. It is probably CC from baking... The silver ware drawers always have bread crumbs in them.

I like garage sale or donate to the local women's shelter. I love to do kitchen clean out - have fun !!! & wow, you are getting "help" !!

My daughters teacher had them look at their report cards and then put them in an envelope and lick them. She was very sick from it. I told her not to lick anymore things like that.

yes i licked an envelope 3 weeks ago and felt HORRIBLE for the whole next day---thank you sooo much for all the help we are doing so much better---i am having to take deep breaths and just do this slowly with two small kids but my husband was great and went out and bought a ton of new things to replace the others--thanks again!!!