HOW TO CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN (AND KEEP IT CLEAN)

The biggest deterrent to cooking for me has always been having to do work BEFORE I can cook. Grocery shopping, meal planning, or the dreaded dirty kitchen. I have found that doing a little each day works best for me so I never have to do a lot. Then my kitchen is ready to go (mostly) whenever I need to use it. I break my cleaning into a series of daily, weekly/biweekly, and semiannually tasks. This is least painful method I have found to maintaining a clean AND tidy kitchen.

supplies

I like products and items that can serve more than one purpose so I don’t have to worry about buying too many things. I also don’t use anything super harsh because when you clean often, stains rarely get bad enough to need it.

• Multipurpose soap and/or dish soap (I use something like Dr. Bronner’s because I can dilute it in a spray bottle for a surface spray, use it to mop, use it as a soak for tough things, you get the picture)
• Glass cleaner (I use this for glass but also stainless steel)
• Sponges
• Rags and paper towels
• Stiff brush
• Broom and dustpan
• Mop or swiffer
• Gloves (optional but I hate getting my hands dirty)
• Scraper (either a plastic or a metal one for tough stains)
• Bleach or antibacterial cleaner (used in rare cases for really tough messes, surfaces that touched raw meat, etc.)

daily tasks

I do most all of these in the evening, right before I go to bed. The only exception is putting clean dishes away. I will try to do that earlier in the day so they don’t get in my way.

FOOD: Package up any leftovers, reseal all partially used items, and put everything back in its respective cabinet or shelf. During this step, toss all dishes in the sink and put away anything else you got out to cook, like counter appliances that don’t need a wipe.

DISHES: Put the clean ones away, wash all the dirty ones in the sink, start the dishwasher if necessary.

COUNTERS: Using a multipurpose spray or a bit of dish soap, lightly coat the counters, sink, cooktop, and any appliances that are dirty. Then use a rag and a little elbow grease to clean and buff the surfaces. If there is a particularly annoying stain, let some soap soak on it for a few minutes and come back to it at the end.

FLOORS: You should always clean top down (not just in the kitchen), so sweep or vacuum the floors last. This will catch anything the fell during the cooking or cleaning process.

TRASH: If necessary, take out the trash. It’s best to do it at night so you don’t have to worry about remembering in the morning and no smell will build up.

weekly/biweekly tasks

These tasks by no means need to be done every day, but doing them a few times a month will keep the kitchen feeling and looking clean while reducing the overall workload.

FOOD INVENTORY: Browse the fridge for old leftovers, things out of date, and any spills or leaks. Do the same for the pantry and consolidate items if you can.

WIPE DOWN: Take the time to move everything on the counter to clean underneath it. Wipe the face of all the cabinets. Wash the windows. Dust off anything that sits out (counter appliances, salt and pepper shaker, decorations).

APPLIANCE CARE: Scrape any food out of the oven and toaster. Scrub the fingerprints off the fridge, oven, and dishwasher. Run a self cleaning pod through the dishwasher and garbage disposal. Clean the microwave.

DISINFECT: Using a cleaning wipe, or disinfecting spray, sanitize all the high touch surfaces in your kitchen. Think the faucet, light switches, cabinet hardware, buttons and handles on appliances, etc.

MOP: This one is my least favorite but it must be done. Make sure to sweep or vacuum first and mop yourself out of the room if at all possible so you don’t step all over your hard work before it dries.

WASH: Throw all the dirty hand towels, used rags, mop pads, and rugs in the washer and dryer. I keep a basket in the corner of my kitchen and as towels get dirty, I toss them in there until it gets full. Go ahead and change the sponge too.

semiannual tasks

These are things that should be done, but it won’t be the end of the world if you put it off. They make your kitchen feel more put together and presentable, and who doesn’t want that?

DEEP CLEAN: Empty and scrub the refrigerator and pantry. Check and organize all the food as you put it back in. Clean the inside of the oven and the door. Wash the things you never wash (ice cube trays, olive oil pourer, kettle, fruit bowl, etc.).

DETAILING: Wash the baseboards. Tighten any loose cabinet handles. Organize the tupperware stash and get rid of any rouge containers or lids.

There are so many strategies to cleaning your home. This is the one that has worked best for me, so I feel I can recommend it in good conscience. This may be too much or too little cleaning to feel realistic to you, so adjust as needed. Let me know what cleaning methods you swear by down below!