Cleaning the kitchen

Most kitchens are the centre of the house. It can also be one of the most messy and disorganized areas in the entire house.

The basics of kitchen cleaning are:-

Cleaning Supplies

• Household sponges/cleaning rags
• Liquid dish detergent/degreaser
• Disinfectant cleaner/sanitizer
• Soft scrub
• Window cleaner

Stove

Keeping your stove or kitchen range shining clean is one of the biggest jobs in the kitchen. Most burner drip pans are removable. If they aren’t, move the elements out of the way, and spray the pans with a cleaner/degreaser. If they are removable, take them out and put them into the kitchen sink. Cover with water as warm as you can touch, or hot water and allow it to cool until you can put your hand it in comfortably. Add a liquid dish detergent and allow the pans to soak to soften the burnt on grease and drips.

Turning your attention to the surface of the stove, remove the knobs and toss them into the sink with the drip pans. Then spray the stove top with a degreaser. Use a sponge and scrub the stubborn areas. Then re-spray with the window cleaner and buff to a shine with paper towels. Use a scrub brush on the knobs, rinse well, then dry and replace. The drip pans may need extra attention. If they have not soaked clean, then apply the liquid abrasive cleaner and scrub with a sponge. Rinse well, dry and replace.

Oven

If you do not have a self-cleaning oven, you’ll have to spray the inside of the oven with a heavy-duty degreaser/cleaner and apply some elbow grease. Use a scrubby with the cleaner and rub lightly to removed baked on food. Rinse well and dry with a clean cloth. Use window spray for the hood of the stove. Don’t forget to remove the filter and put it in the sink. Cover the filter with warm water and a cup of household cleaning ammonia. Soak it for a few moments, dash it up and down in the water, and it comes sparkling clean.

Dishwasher

Open the dishwasher and if it smells musty, sprinkle a cup of baking powder inside and run it through a short cycle. Using an all purpose cleaner, spray the outside and wipe down. Do the same to the trash compactor.

Make sure dishes are always washed and put away as soon as possible after using. If you don’t have time, give them a quick rinse and put them in the dishwasher. Don’t allow table scraps or vegetable trimmings to accumulate in the sink. Toss them into the trash and give the sink a quick wash and rinse itself. You may shine the faucet with a cleaner/degreaser or window spray.

Microwave

If there’s a microwave, wipe it inside and out. Take out the turntable, wash and dry it before replacing. Clean the inside of the microwave as food often splatters when heated. Usually all it needs is a scrubbing with the kitchen sponge dipped in hot soapy water. Wipe with a cloth dipped in clean water and dry.

Using a cloth dipped in hot soapy water, wipe the outside and the top of the refrigerator. Follow with the window spray, then wipe with paper towels to give a soft clean shine.

Kitchen Countertops

• Take everything off of the kitchen counters.
• Beginning at one end, wash, rinse and dry the entire counter
• If necessary, use a scrub dipped in hot soapy water to scrub stubborn spots.
• If your countertops look dull, try using a little furniture polish to make them shine.
• Return items to their places on the counter – try to cut down on the clutter!
• Be sure to clean the surfaces of the small appliances, finishing off with a spray of the window cleaner to make them shine.

Inspect around light switches and door knobs for smudges and fingerprints. Use a disinfectant cleaner or sanitizer on these areas and wipe clean.