Welcome to Week 2 of the Home-Ec 101 Spring Cleaning Event
This week, we are diving into a thorough cleaning of the kitchen. To streamline this process, I have created a comprehensive checklist. If you prefer a structured approach, I’ve made it available as a printable. (Full disclosure: I’m not a professional designer, so it’s purely functional. If you spot a typo, award yourself one internet, and if you manage to refrain from pointing it out, you’ve earned a dozen internets. It’s been quite a week!) Click here to access a detailed checklist for deep cleaning your kitchen.
Keep in mind that everyone has different abilities. Some may find it challenging to climb a step ladder due to balance issues or mobility constraints. Tackle what you can; there’s no competition here. The checklist is designed to help you track what you’ve accomplished and identify tasks you might need assistance with later.
Additionally, I understand that some of you are in areas where warm weather is still a distant hope. While we will do a quick clean of the floors today, we will revisit them later. Why? Because I know some of you are still dealing with snow, and the dirt and mud that comes with it. A late snowstorm could undo all your hard work, and that’s not what I want for you.
Finally, while there will be a quick fridge clean-out today, a deep clean of the fridge will be scheduled for another week in our spring cleaning challenge. I don’t want today’s tasks to consume your entire Saturday. Although the checklist is quite detailed, I have teenagers and have learned that if I want a job done to my standards, I must list each task. I had to condense my home’s list to fit on one page, but the kitchen’s list had to include each counter and appliance individually. I believe you can handle this, right?
Understanding that not all homes are the same, consider the following:
- If your pantry is part of your kitchen (including spices), we will address that section on a different day.
- If you have an eat-in kitchen without a dining room, save the thorough cleaning of your table for the dining room day, as we will tackle that later.
- For some of you, this may feel like a monumental task due to accumulated mess, while for others, despite the detailed instructions, it will be a breeze.
Ready? Set? Go!
Gather Your Tools and Helpers:
To clean the kitchen effectively, you will need:
- Rubber gloves, preferably with cuffs
- Degreaser or all-purpose cleaner (I recommend Pine-Sol for nostalgia and Method Pink Grapefruit for a convenient spray option)
- A bucket (or if you have a double sink, you can use one side for cleaning)
- Rags and a few paper towels
- A vacuum cleaner, hopefully with a soft brush attachment
- A broom
- A dustpan
- A mop
- Window cleaner
- Closed-toe shoes*
*Closed-toe shoes are not optional. You’re working in an environment with knives and glass, and we’re still in the midst of a pandemic. Do you really want to risk a trip to the ER right now? I think not.
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen
Make Room
Clear the Dirty Dishes
We begin with the dishes to create some space. If the dishwasher is clean, unload and load it. Wash and dry any remaining dishes, but don’t put them away yet; you’ll be retrieving them later, so let’s avoid creating extra work now.
Silverware and Utensil Drawer(s)
Remove the silverware and utensils, vacuum out any crumbs, and wipe down the drawer using an all-purpose spray or a diluted degreaser. A 50:50 vinegar and water solution works wonders if that’s your preference. Once cleaned, replace the contents.
Cupboards
Next, tackle the glassware cupboard. Empty it, wipe the shelves and doors with degreaser, and use glass cleaner on any glass panes (but not on the glassware itself). After that, put the glassware back in. Then, move on to the dishware cupboards: empty, wipe, and replace. If you have a lot of pots, skip ahead and clean the interior of the lower cupboard that holds those. The goal is to have everything clean and put away before we move on to the next step, which could cause more mess.
Top to Bottom / Dry to Wet
Start by removing any cobwebs from the upper corners. If you have been using the top of your cabinets for storage, clear that out now. (If you didn’t get to that last week, now’s your chance!) Dust thoroughly, beginning with vacuuming. Unfortunately, you may also need your degreaser because cooking creates floating grease particles that leave a sticky film for dust to cling to. Unload and wipe/vacuum the top of the refrigerator while standing on your counters or a sturdy stepladder.
Don’t forget to clean your light fixture(s).
The Refrigerator
Take one shelf or drawer at a time. Remove the items, discarding expired products and anything you know you won’t use. It’s okay to let go of that curry paste you never liked. Wipe down the walls and the shelf or drawer. If you have trouble removing a tricky shelf or drawer, search for a YouTube tutorial; someone has likely posted a solution. My Samsung refrigerator has the most frustrating shelf, and I found videos made by others who faced similar struggles after making a mess.
Next up is the microwave. This task becomes easier if you fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and add a quarter to half a cup of vinegar. Place the bowl in the microwave and set it for five minutes. Leave it for an additional five minutes before wiping it out. This method usually softens any stubborn splatters. You may need to repeat if it’s been a while since you last cleaned.
Now, let’s tackle the stove while the microwave works its magic. Today, we will only clean the outside; the inside will be saved for another day. If your smooth top is particularly dirty, you can address that now or save it for our later deep clean.
Work from Left to Right
Clear each counter space of accumulated clutter (congratulate yourself if you got a head start last week). Wipe down that section of the counter with your degreaser, as well as the backsplash or wall behind it. Then, clean the items you removed and return only those that belong. Politely ask anyone who left their things behind to come and collect them. Just kidding—encourage them to help you out instead!
Clean and shine the sink and faucet. Use window cleaner if you want that extra sparkle. Thoroughly wipe down the rest of your appliances and the windows and doors.
If you have a kitchen table and chairs, clean those as well. (We will revisit tables and chairs later, so think of this as a crumb removal rather than a deep clean and polish.)
Vacuum with the crevice tool under every cupboard and as far back as you can reach between and behind every appliance.
Sweep the floor.
Mop the floor.
Congratulations! You’ve completed the deep clean of your kitchen!
Bir yanıt yazın