Let’s start in the kitchen. That is one of the best areas to begin, especially if you live in a pigsty and even if you don‘t. However, the kitchen is a good place to start. This is especially true when you think it is time to get up off your butt and clean the whole house!
The amount of cleaning you have to do will depend of course, upon the condition of the kitchen. You do realize that the condition of your dwelling can and will influence you in numerous ways by means of various health issues. These could range from common household allergies to any number of home-related health dangers or risks. In order to live healthily and happily it is best to have a clean, clutter-free home environment, especially in the kitchen.
The kitchen is the hearth or heart of your home; it is your means of maintaining the nourishment that you, members of your family and friends require for enjoying good health and a general, all-round invigorating well-being. However, you should always either make up your mind that you will not stop until you are finished or write out a schedule that you know you will stick to, in order to complete your housekeeping mission. Of course, you should pace yourself, take a break now and again to rest, and refresh yourself when you are doing a major deep-down cleaning.
One of the first things to do when you begin cleaning house, is to declutter your surroundings. Declutter means just what it sounds like–to get rid of clutter. Getting rid of clutter means to cull through all those things you may have, and get rid of all the garbage, bits and bobs first. It may also mean getting rid of perfectly good stuff that you no longer use and is merely taking up precious space inside your kitchen.
Kitchen Declutter Tips
- Receptacle for Clutter
This can be a full-size garbage bag or a plastic grocery bag, depending upon what type of clutter you may be dealing with in your particular situation. Of course, if you are lucky enough to live in an area that provides a means of recycling, you should also recycle your clutter responsibly to do your part in reducing your carbon waste track from the planet. The point is, you need something to place your clutter in as you gather it up for disposal.
- Declutter One Area of the Kitchen at a Time
It is your kitchen, look around to observe the condition of the kitchen and then close in on the area that requires the most amount of clutter-removal attention. And then, actively work in that particular area of the kitchen before moving onto the next. Concentrate fully on getting out any type of unnecessary papers, plastics, cardboard and so on.
Your mission at this time is to remove and dispose of any type of garbage causing a stagnant energy in your personal, family and home environment. In this case, your kitchen. While you are decluttering, you will need to separate the bags or boxes by what you plan to throw out or recycle as well as those things you plan to give to others. When possible it is always best to take these bagged and boxed items out of your house. This way they are gone and done with and you will no longer have to worry about them. It also affords you more room for placing other items.
- Common Clutter Culprits
Mail is one of the leading offenders or causes of household clutter.
For instance, some families or individuals may designate an area of the kitchen for their mail. There are various things you may wish to consider to reduce and/or eliminate the amount of mail cluttering your home, whether you keep it in the kitchen or in some other area. Another thing you may want to consider is using email as a means of mail contact, rather than postal contact to help reduce the amount of paper you consume that comes from living, breathing trees.
Paper media is another common clutter culprit. For instance, any magazines, tabloids and books should be either recycled or properly stored and or on display and within reach when being useful. However, a disarray of such paper media can cause the havoc of clutter. Therefore, it is wise to properly cycle out such items or consider recycling them into new items or even placing them up for sale or up for bid in an online auction. Books and magazines, especially older editions, can do very well in an online auction.
Extra dishes, cooking utensils, pots and pans can be a clutter culprit in some homes. Do you have more than one of every wonderful kitchen item that’s ever been on the market? If so, do you use them regularly? If you do not use your extra kitchen items, you should consider recycling by sending them off to the thrift stores or giving to friends or family who can put them to good use. If your kitchen has extra items that are antique or collectible pieces, you might consider building or buying a bookcase or glass-front cabinet to set them up for display or simply pack them and then label the boxes you pack them in and store them away for safekeeping for future generations. Or then again, you may wish to offer them up in an online auction as well.
- Quick Fix Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Sweep & Mop
You will amaze yourself at how much of a difference just taking the broom and sweeping the floors or perhaps even vacuuming the floors can do for your kitchen. A clean floor is one of the most desirable issues of housekeeping. Taking the time to sweep the floors and even to mop them if they are non-carpeted areas, can improve the appearance of any area. Try it and see how well it works for you. You will definitely notice the difference, and when you do, you will feel so much better.
Note: Some people sweep the floors before beginning any other kitchen cleaning activity or task, while others may choose to sweep up last. Some individuals sweep before and afterwards. No particular protocol is right or wrong; choosing what is best for you and your time schedule depends upon you.
Wipe it Off!
When you want or need a quick fix, grab a clean damp cloth and wipe the counters. Do any dishes and allow them to dry or properly arrange any dishes in the dishwasher. If there are clean dishes in the dishwasher, place them in their pre-designated space. If you intend to rearrange your kitchen, store your clean dishes out of the way and load any dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Now your kitchen cabinet tops are clean and the dishes are dealt with for the moment.
You will do best to clean off the kitchen countertops before you begin to do anything else, while cleaning or deep down cleaning your kitchen. Having the countertops clean will help you feel better, because it will look much better, not to mention the fact that you now have more room to set things down while doing even deeper cleaning of the kitchen area if you so choose to do so.
- Packing the Kitchen
If you are packing and moving or just rearranging the various areas of your kitchen, you may want to consider a couple (or more) cardboard boxes to separate or pack up specific items around your kitchen. You will also want to consider getting a few old newspapers for packing or insulating any fragile items.
While you are packing dishes and other glass items, you may want to consider lining the bottom of boxes with newspaper, cardboard or even Styrofoam board. This will help buffer any fragile items, while moving or in transit and is a good idea, since accidents do happen. You may even consider lining the sides and the top of the box as well. It all depends upon, what you have to work with and the particular items you are packing.
When packing flat items like plates, wrap them and place a piece of newspaper or some bubble packing sheets between them as you place them in your packing box. You should do the same to protect any other type of glass item that will cozy into and next to another glass item such as bowls. While packing glasses, vases and such, consider wadding up some newspaper and then placing it inside the glass, vase or other and then wrapping the outside of the glass or vase. When you are packing cups or teapots with handles you should consider folding a piece of newspaper or cutting some bubble-wrap to fit and then wrap the handle, going through the hole and around. What you want to do is fully protect your items from being broken by accident and it is possible when you take the time to pack your fragile items carefully.
While packing any whatnots, doodads, knickknacks and figurines, you should take the time to carefully pack them as well. Keep in mind that while packing, some items will fare better while using bubble-wrap and brown or white wrapping paper than to use newspaper on them. Newsprint isn’t good for some things and can cause the items possible damage or an extensive cleaning job. Always determine the best packing materials for your specific needs. Another thing to consider when you are packing is that you can do it yourself or you can hire professionals to do it for you, according to your specific needs and moving budget.
- Deep-Down Kitchen Cleaning
After cleaning off the countertops and/or getting any packing done, you may want to consider cleaning out the kitchen cabinets. Pick one cabinet and begin working on it. Take everything out and place it in a predetermined area, to be packed, relocated or simply replace into the cabinet from which it came. Again, there is no right or wrong place to begin. If you plan to rearrange your kitchen, make sure that you clean out any specific cabinet that you plan to place other items in, for instance if you want to use a different cabinet for keeping your drinking glasses, plates, bowls and so on.
While clearing out the cabinet, declutter it as well. After you clean the cabinet out, take a clean damp cloth and wipe the cabinet down. Allow it to dry and then you can begin replacing your items (or relocated items) there. Repeat this process until you have all your kitchen cabinets completely cleaned and rearranged. While you are deep-cleaning your kitchen you should also include any kitchen drawers, nooks and crannies, microwave oven carts, open shelves, china cabinets and so on. Once you are finished cleaning out the cabinets, and then placing the items you wish to store in them you can close the doors and drawers with a peaceful feeling and a content expression on your face.
Next, you will begin cleaning the kitchen cabinet fronts on the outside. You may choose to use a wood cleaner or a standard kitchen cleaner depending on the materials of the design your cabinets. Alternately, if the kitchen isn’t caked in grease, you can simply wipe the outsides of them down with a clean damp cloth, you may want to use the sink and some warm soapy water. However, if you use soap you will want to rinse the residue off to leave the cabinets looking their best.
- The Dreaded Kitchen Chores
Many individuals truly dread cleaning the refrigerator and the stove and oven. However, if you take the time to do them right they do not take that long and it is essential to clean all the objects, items and even appliances when you are giving your kitchen a good thorough deep-down cleaning.
It’s a good idea to begin with the refrigerator, since while you are cleaning out the refrigerator you can cull out any empty packaging and any glasses, cups, plates and bowls that may seem to accumulate in the frig when there are children of any age in the home. Most often they place such items in the refrigerator with the intention of coming back to finish off the dish. However most often these containers are forgotten and get pushed towards the sides and back of the refrigerator. This can pose the risk of drinks or foodstuff being spilt into the refrigerator by accident–therefore creating another clean-up tasks which, as most mothers know, no one knows who made the mess and of course, it is nonetheless sitting there for her to clean.
Hence, it is a good rule not to keep such open items in the refrigerator. However, if they are there you should fish them out of the refrigerator along with all the other items inside it. Anything that needs to be discarded should be disposed of, and all the dirty dishes either left to soak off dried-on food or placed in the dishwasher with the other dirty dishes. When you have a full load of dishes go ahead and run the dishwasher or wash the "straggler" pieces by hand.
If you have good foodstuff or beverages, set them to the side to replace in the refrigerator after you finish cleaning and wiping it down. You may simply need to wipe out the refrigerator with a clean damp cloth or you may need to take the insides out and wash them in your sink or tub. Make sure to lay out a dry towel where you can stand or lay them to dry. Once you have all your refrigerator pieces clean and dry, re-install them and then replace the food items in the refrigerator. When you place any refrigerator drawers, you may want to consider placing a few paper towels in their bottoms, this will help soak up anything that may be spilled and it does make for easier future cleaning.
Not many people get thrilled while considering the cleaning of a stove or oven. However, one great tip about cleaning a stovetop is that if you do it while the spill is fresh and the stovetop is hot, most things will wipe right up without any problems–just be careful not to burn yourself. If you must wait, the dried or cooked-on mess will require much more time and effort into loosening it and scrubbing it off. Therefore, save time and effort if possible by wiping the stovetop after every mess, while the stovetop is hot.
Cleaning an oven is easier while it is warm, since it can help to loosen anything that is stuck, dried or burned-on in the oven. If you are working with a commercial oven cleaner, be sure to read the directions before you begin and practice any safety tips from the manufacturer. You should also follow their directions for cleaning. The best oven-cleaning tip I can personally give you is to buy a self-cleaning oven and then practice using it for super fast easy oven cleaning. Another great tip is placing a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of your oven, and then keep it there until itneeds replacement with a clean piece. The foil in the bottom will catch any leaking sauces and or boiled-over foods, preventing them from covering and burning onto the bottom of your oven.
While cleaning your refrigerator and oven, remember to wipe off the outsides of them as well, this includes the tops, sides and fronts.
To Help You Accomplish Your Kitchen Cleaning Mission, Make Some Lists
Begin with a list of the issues or things that you want to address in your housecleaning tasks. Perhaps, something like the following will be helpful as your kitchen cleaning to-do list. These are just guidelines; you should write out your own list according to your personal needs.
Kitchen Cleaning Supply List
- A helper if you need one or just get lucky
- Empty garbage or grocery bags for decluttering and trash
- Boxes & newspapers for packing
- Bubble-wrap packing sheets
- Permanent marker for marking packaged boxes
- Clean cloths
- Clean warm soapy water
- Broom
- Dust Pan
- Mop
- Mop bucket or clean sink to clean afterwards
- An old toothbrush can come in handy while cleaning hard to get up dirt and grime
Kitchen Cleaning To-Do List
- Countertops
- Floors
- Cabinets
- Refrigerator
- Oven
Note - Some individuals want and or need help with housecleaning, some want everyone else completely out of the way. It is always nice either to ask them if they would like help or just get up and pitch in where housekeeping is concerned. Remember, if you don’t throw it down, no one has to pick it up!
© 2009 Sara Valor
