Spring Cleaning- The Kitchen

 

Spring Cleaning! What? But it is winter you say? Well I find it is better to start spring cleaning in the winter- since I am stuck in the house anyway. And the way I do it, I try to tackle something every weekend since I don't have much time during the week. That way by the time spring rolls around I am basically done with the inside and can focus on enjoying the outside when the nice weather comes.

I always start with the kitchen- it is the heart of the home.

First I make sure my kitchen table is empty and then I start going through my cabinets:
1. I take one cabinet at a time and take every thing out.
2.  Then wipe the inside and the outside clean.
3. Take stock of what is going back in- do I need it? Is this spot working for me? Toss anything I no longer need.
4. Check for BEST BY dates- is this item old or still good? Toss anything expired and make note of anything needing to be purchased.
5. Put items back in. Making any needed organizing adjustments needed.


Counter tops and the Sink:
1. Remove all items off of the counter tops.
2. Wipe counter tops clean.
3. Clean items and then place back on counter tops.
4. Scrub sink clean with dish soap.
5. Rinse clean and dry.

Then I start going through my refrigerator and freezer in the same fashion:
1. Empty the entire fridge. (if you haven't cleaned the fridge in a long time and think it will take a while you might want to have some coolers handy to keep food cold. But if you do this twice a year and clean any spills as they happen it won't take very long at all)
2. Wipe the inside clean.
3.Check for BEST BY dates- is this item old or still good? Toss anything expired and make note of anything needing to be purchased.
4. Put items back in. Making any needed organizing adjustments needed.
5. Do the same with the freezer.
6. Clean the outside of the refrigerator.
7. If your fridge dispenses water- change the water filter, or at least order the filter and put it in when it comes.
8. Pull out the fridge and vacuum and dust behind it.

The Stove:
1. If you have a self-cleaning oven,(lucky you) use that feature other wise do it by hand.

Next up Other appliances:
1. Wipe the outside of microwave clean.
2. Take a bowl and put 1 cup vinegar in in. Place in microwave for 2 minutes on high.
3. Wipe inside microwave clean.
4. Wipe clean coffee maker.
5. Run coffee pot through the dishwasher or wash by hand.
6. Clean teapot.
7. Clean any other appliances that you might have.

Next up, the pantry:
1. I take take every thing out.
2. Then wipe the inside clean.
3. Take stock of what is going back in- do I need it? Is this spot working for me? Toss anything I no longer need.
4. Check for BEST BY dates- is this item old or still good? Toss anything expired and make note of anything needing to be purchased.
5. Put items back in. Making any needed organizing adjustments needed.

Then the china cabinet:
1. Take everything out.
2. Then wipe inside clean.
3. Take stock of what is going back in- do I need it? Is this spot working for me? Toss anything I no longer need.
5. Wash items before putting back in- typically these items are used only a few times a year. If they have not been used in a while now is a good time to clean them. Run items through the dishwasher that are dishwasher safe and hand wash anything else.
6. Put items back in. Making any needed organizing adjustments needed.

Next Dust the Kitchen:
1. Get out your trusty duster (I use a swiffer 360 extender) and start dusting from the top down.
2. Dust all lighting fixtures and ceiling fans in kitchen. If anything needs it wipe clean.
3. Dust walls and pictures/art/decorations on the wall. If anything needs it wipe clean.
4. Dust furniture- Be sure to dust behind large pieces of furniture. Either move them away or stick the duster behind and do the best you can.
5. Wipe clean your kitchen table and chairs.

Next is the Floors:
1. Remove as much furniture from the room as possible- the might only be chairs and/or stools.
2. Vacuum or sweep the floors- which ever you prefer.
3. Mop, scrub or steam your floors. I use a steamer for my laminate floors.
4. Throw any throw rugs into the wash (if they can be washed) or take them outside and shake them out.

Trash can is next: (Clean the trash you say? Why yes. Do you know how yucky and smelly trash cans can get)
1. Take out any trash and then head outside with the trash can.
2. Take dish washing soap and squirt some in.
3. Scrub with either a sponge or scrubber (to be thrown out afterwards).
4. Rinse clean. (you may use a disinfectant of your choice to clean further if you wish)
5. Leave out to dry.
6. Or you may just wanna trash the trash can and get a new one if it is too disgusting to contemplate cleaning.

Now you are done! Make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy your spotless kitchen. You may wanna take a picture because if it is anything like my house... it won't stay that way long!!!!!!!

TIPS:
- Spices loose their potency after time. Replace anything that is over a year old.
-Command hooks are great to put inside cabinets to hang things.
-A white board or chalk board are great to have to write down items that need to be purchased as you are running low.

You may tackle this all in one weekend or do what I do and try to do at least one to two areas done each weekend.

My favorite items for cleaning the kitchen:
-Distilled White Vinegar
-Swiffer 360 Duster- http://www.swiffer.com/products/swiffer-360-dusters?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=swiffer%20360&utm_campaign=Swiffer_Search_Desktop_Brand+Awareness&utm_content=s3ulAOwB5_13704839477_e_swiffer%20360
-Shark Steam mop- http://www.sharkclean.com/products/shark-pro-steam-pocket-mop-s3601/cpc/ogve/ogvecpc.shtml?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=shark%20steam%20mop&utm_campaign=Offer5ES3601159FreeSteamPocketFSH2Pads



Here's how to use vinegar to clean your kitchen

Here's How to Clean your dishwasher