Beginner’s Guide to Cleaning Part 4: How to Clean Your Kitchen

 

Welcome back to the Beginner’s Guide to Cleaning! After getting your hands dirty last week and tackling some of the most visible areas in your home—your living spaces—hopefully you are feeling inspired and motivated to keep going until the rest of your home shines as well. I know I am! (And if this is your first week, you might want to start at Part 1 here to get caught up!)

Today we are going to tackle another room that gets daily use….and abuse. I don’t know about you but while I don’t always mind doing the dishes and wiping down the counters so that my kitchen looks clean, I absolutely dread the thought of deep cleaning. Sometimes I would just prefer that all those closed cabinets just stay closed. No one needs to look behind there anyway right?

But a clean kitchen is not only a joy to look at, it is a joy to work in too. And considering just how much work we really do there—preparing 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, doesn’t it seem like a good use of time to make your kitchen space as clean & functional as possible?

Kitchen counters, with all that flat surface space, can easily become collection zones for everything from school work to mail to shoes, keys, clothing, toys, and any number of items that have somehow lost their way. After clearing your surfaces, vow to make your kitchen a “clutter free zone” instead using the permanent collection zone you set up last week to gather the items that need to be put away.

Once again I will walk you through the steps for cleaning the surfaces most commonly found in this zone, giving detailed instructions for how to clean each one. If you are a seasoned kitchen-scrubber, much of it may be review—feel free to skip to the end of the post, or add your own tips & tricks in the comments below! At the end of the post you will get a printable checklist to use as you tackle your kitchen.

Step 1: Pre-clean & declutter

Supplies needed:  A large basket or individual baskets for each family member

How-To: Pick up any items lying around the kichen, including any clutter that has collected on counters or the kitchen table, then wipe down surfaces to remove any sticky residue or crumbs. Place items in appropriate baskets for each family, or collect items in a single basket to be put away. (A great task for kids!)  Hopefully after last week’s task you have already created a permanent collection zone in your home, but if you haven’t, be sure to do so now—either at the front entrance, near the stairs, or in a corner of the kitchen or living room. Use your basket or baskets to collect any items that would normally get left lying around.

Step 2: Clean the oven

Supplies needed:  rags, dish soap (if oven is self cleaning); baking soda, water, spray bottle, vinegar, dish soap, windshield chipper or sturdy plastic spatula, rags (if oven is not self-cleaning)

How-To: a.) Self Cleaning Oven:  Remove oven racks & soak in soapy water solution, then scrub clean and let dry. Open windows to air out kitchen while oven is cleaning. Turn on self-cleaning mode on oven. Be sure the door locks! This cycle will take anywhere from 2-6 hours. When oven has cooled completely and door unlocks, wipe out any ashes & wipe down oven with wet rag. Return racks to oven. b.) Non Self-Cleaning Oven:  Remove oven racks & soak in soapy water solution, then scrub clean & let dry. Mix ½ cup baking soda with 3cups warm water, then liberally spray solution on sides, top & bottom of oven. Let set for 1-2 hours, then check to see if charred areas have loosened. If not, reapply spray and let set longer. Chip away charred areas with chipper or spatula, then spray with ½ water/ ½ vinegar solution. Wipe clean with wet rags.

Step 3: Clean the refrigerator

Supplies needed:  all purpose cleaner, rags, dish soap, stainless steel polish, large cooler, garbage bag, small box baking soda

How-To:  Fill sink with hot soapy water. Empty contents of refrigerator & freezer. Use cooler for frozen items. Toss any items that have expired, smell bad, or don’t look quite right. Remove all drawers, shelves, and ice trays and wash in soapy water solution. Spray inner sides, doors, top and bottom of refrigerator with all-purpose cleaner, then wipe down with wet rag. Replace shelves & drawers. Return food to refrigerator & freezer. Wipe down outer front, top, and sides of refrigerator with rag, then polish stainless steel if necessary by rubbing with polish then buffing clean with a dry rag.

Step 4: Clean the stovetop

Supplies needed:  dish soap, all purpose cleaner, baking soda, sponge or rags, stainless steel polish or glass cleaner.

How-To: a.) Electric Stovetop: Remove heating coils and reflector bowls from stove. Soak bowls in hot soapy water to loosen and remove caked on gunk and scrub coils clean with hot soapy water. Wipe down stovetop with wet rag, then sprinkle with baking soda. Scrub well with sponge or rag. Towel dry. Lift stovetop and clean underneath. Return reflector bowls and heating coils. Wipe down knobs. Polish any stainless steel, if necessary. b.) Gas Stovetop: Remove heating grates and soak in hot soapy water to loosen and remove caked on gunk and scrub clean with hot soapy water. Wipe down stovetop with wet rag, then sprinkle with baking soda. Scrub well with sponge or rag. Towel dry. Wipe down knobs. Polish any stainless steel, if necessary. c.) Glass Stovetop:  Wipe down stovetop with wet rag, then sprinkle with baking soda. Scrub well with non-abrasive sponge or rag, using plastic scraper to remove any caked on gunk. Towel dry. Spray with glass or counter cleaner and buff until shiny. Wipe down knobs. Polish any stainless steel, if necessary.

Step 5: Clean the microwave

Supplies needed:  water, vinegar, bowl, sponge or rag, dish soap, glass cleaner, stainless steel polish.

How-To: Fill bowl with ½ water, ½ vinegar solution. Microwave on high for 7-10 minutes, allowing water to boil for several minutes so that steam forms and softens any debris or residue. Remove bowl and try; wipe sides, bottom, and top of microwave clean with wet sponge or rag. Wash tray in soapy water solution. Wipe down front of microwave with glass cleaner & polish stainless steel, if necessary.

Step 6: Clean the dishwasher

Supplies needed:  cup or bowl, vinegar, baking soda

How-To: Remove bottom rack & check drain to make sure there are no blockages or loose pieces. Sprinkle bottom of dishwasher with baking soda, then return lower rack. Fill a cup or bowl with vinegar and place on top rack of empty dishwasher. Run dishwasher on the hottest water cycle. The combination of the vinegar and water will clean, sanitize, and brighten your entire dishwasher. Wipe down front of dishwasher & polish stainless steel, if necessary.

 

Step 7: Clean the cabinets

Supplies needed:  all purpose cleaner, sponge or rag, dish soap

How-To: To keep from being totally overwhelmed, only clean out one cabinet at a time. Start by emptying cabinet of all contents. Toss any food items that are expired or no longer look/smell/taste edible. If cleaning a non-food cabinet, remove any appliances, dishes, or tools that are broken or that you no longer use & either toss them or fill a box for donation. Once cabinets are empty, wipe down all shelves with all purpose cleaner and wet rag, followed by a dry rag. Return items to cabinet. Wipe down door fronts with wet rag or Magic Eraser to remove fingerprints and dirt.

Step 8: Clean the counters & countertop appliances

Supplies needed:  dish soap, all purpose cleaner, sponge or rag, glass cleaner or counter spray

How-To: Fill sink with hot soapy water. Empty toaster tray & shake out crumbs. Wipe down all countertop appliances, then clear counters. Spray countertops with all-purpose cleaner and wipe clean. For granite countertops, finish with glass cleaner or countertop spray to get extra shine. (I love the smell of the Mrs. Meyer’s spray but glass cleaner works just as well!)

Step 9: Clean the sink

Supplies needed:  baking soda, vinegar, hot water, whole lemon, sponge or wet rag, old towel

How-To: Clear sink and rinse clean with water. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over wet surface of sink and use sponge or wet rag to scrub sides and bottom of sink, as well as faucet and caulk seal around rim of sink (if necessary). Let sit for a few minutes. Pour ½ cup baking soda down garbage disposal, followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Boil 4 cups of water, then pour water down disposal to rinse baking soda and vinegar. Cut lemon in half and place in disposal, then run disposal until lemons have been crushed and washed away. Rinse sink and faucet thoroughly, then buff dry with an old towel.

Step 10: Clean the floors

Supplies needed:  broom & dustpan, dust mop all purpose cleaner, wet mop

How-To: Before beginning, move as much furniture from the floor as possible. Starting at one end of the room, carefully sweep loose dirt and hair towards the center of floor. Methodically make your way around the room, sweeping all dirt towards the center into one pile. Sweep into dustpan and throw away. Next, do a sweep of the floor with your dust mop to remove any remaining dust or hair. Spot clean any sticky or dirty spots, or mop entire floor with wet mop and let dry.

Of course now that you know just what to do, it is time to get to work!  To stay on task, use this handy printable checklist to help walk you through all the steps:

Part Four Assignment

Just to review, here is your fourth assignment:

• Set aside a good chunk of time—again at least 2-4 hours—sometime this week to work on deep cleaning your kitchen.

• Clear the clutter in your kitchen and declare a clutter free zone. Make it a goal to keep nothing on your counters except the kitchen appliances you use on a regular basis. Work on training your family to use the “collection zone” you set up last week.

• Follow the Living Space Cleaning Checklist to get your living area shining from top to bottom. If possible, open up the windows to let in some fresh air as well!

The LWSL Beginner’s Guide to Cleaning:

Part 1: Getting Started

Part 2: Cleaning Supply 101

Part 3: How to Clean Your Living Space

Part 4: How to Clean Your Kitchen

Part 5: How to Clean Your Bathroom

Part 6: How to Clean Your Bedroom

Part 7: Laundry 101

Part 8: Home Maintenance & Seasonal Cleaning

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Did I miss anything? What are your biggest challenges to keeping your kitchen clean?