7 Things you Need to Know when Spring Cleaning Your Kitchen
7 Things you Need to Know when Spring Cleaning Your Kitchen
The warmer weather is nearing, which makes people itch to spring clean their homes. Nothing feels as satisfying as deep cleaning your home. The kitchen is where food is prepared. Thus, this part of the home needs spring cleaning the most.
Thinking about spring cleaning can be a fairytale. However, going through the list of tasks to do can be difficult and unrealistic, especially if you do not know how to start with your kitchen spring cleaning.
Importance of spring cleaning the kitchen
The main reason for spring cleaning the kitchen is that it helps improve the health of the people living in the home. People prepare food in the kitchen. Dirty appliances can have small crumbs and oil splatters that can cause bacteria and molds. Thus, it is important to keep this area clean to prevent contamination and spoilage of food.
Spring cleaning also helps you de-stress because more clutter means more stress. A study by the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin provides that women were stressed because of the clutter in their homes. The clutter affects their mood and does not make them finish any work because of the clutter.
A clean kitchen also improves eating habits. A disorganized pantry prevents you from cooking food and eating properly. A disorganized kitchen also pushes you to order unhealthy takeout food, rather than cooking healthy meals in your kitchen.
Make sure you prepared the tools needed for cleaning
You can never clean your kitchen if you do not have the proper cleaning materials. It is important to stock up on cleaning materials. The following are the materials you will need for cleaning:
- Mop
- Broom
- Clean rags
- Rubber gloves
- Glass cleaner
- Baking soda
- Bleach
- Other cleaning solutions
- Degreaser
- A toothbrush or any brush for scrubbing
- Bags or boxes for the clutter
- Bins for sorting things to put away and things to keep
Start with the basics
The easiest to clean in the kitchen are the plates. Wash the dishes and dry them afterward. Next, get rid of clutter in the kitchen. Sort things using a “keep” bin and a “put away” bin. If things do not belong to either of the two, then throw them away.
Always remember to clean from top to bottom so that dust will accumulate to the dirty floor, not on the floor that you already cleaned. Dust the ceiling, windows, cabinets, and lastly, floor.
Cleaning the sink
The sink is one of the dirtiest parts of your kitchen because all raw meats and dirty plates, pots, and pans are placed. Bacteria and molds can develop in this area because of the moisture acquired in every usage.
First, fill your sink with hot water and pour a cup of bleach. Leave such for one hour. Drain water and bleach after one hour. Then, clean the sink using a mix of water and baking soda. Lastly, rinse well and wipe until dry.
Cleaning countertops
Clear the countertops before wiping anything on it. Cleaning countertops is crucial because different materials used as countertops require different ways of cleaning. Materials for countertops are wood, marble, and granite.
Use a water and vinegar solution for wooden countertops. Scrape off food scraps gently using a spatula or pastry scraper. Use lemon and salt to remove stains on wooden countertops. After removing stains, clean it off with water and vinegar.
Use water and mild dish soap to clean marble and granite countertops. After, wipe using a microfiber towel. Avoid using acidic and abrasive cleaners because they might remove the sealer and scratch the stone. Remove stains using water and baking soda paste. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping off.
Cleaning the appliances
To clean refrigerators, first, remove expired food and condiments inside it. Wipe down the shelves, handle, top, and doors. Use a vacuum with a small nozzle to clean the outside and the coil of the refrigerator.
Clean the microwave by putting water and a small amount of vinegar in a bowl. Microwave the solution for three minutes. The steam from the heat of the microwave will soften the food crumbs inside. Wipe the inside and outside of the microwave. Remove the turntable and wash with dish soap.
Organization
Your kitchen needs an organization so that you can easily navigate inside it. It is an eyesore to see condiments shoved inside the pots and pans cabinet. Thus, the kitchen should be organized and with proper storage.
Invest in organizers. Tossing anything inside a top drawer will only pile things up and make it difficult to freely navigate your kitchen needs. If you have more budget to use, purchase a cabinet for extra storage. Search for kitchen cabinets online and discuss with the manufacturer what you want for your kitchen cabinets.
Takeaway
Every kitchen needs spring cleaning now and then. Not only does spring cleaning clean the kitchen physically, but also has benefits to you if you spring clean your kitchen. Clean your kitchen now and get it organized.
