The kitchen is often referred to as the “heart of the home.” And for good reason. It truly is the epicenter of the household. It’s where we cook, gather, eat and connect with family. But it is also a magnet for all things yuck. Stuff that is greasy, smelly, sticky and squishy. Second only to the bathroom, the kitchen is one of the hardest areas to keep clean.
WHY A CLEAN KITCHEN MATTERS
Did you ever hear the advice “make your bed every morning”? This wisdom lends itself to the fact that the chaos that surrounds us creates chaos in ourselves. Or, in other words, a clear space equals a clear mind. I believe the same holds true for the kitchen. A tidy kitchen allows us to “breath” a little more freely.
It can even help with our waistline. In 2013, a University of Minnesota study reported that people in a tidy, orderly room were three times more likely than people in a messy, cluttered room to choose an apple over chocolate as a snack. Now that is food for thought.
KITCHEN CLEANING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ARDOUS
You may feel overwhelmed when you think of constantly having to keep up the kitchen. But it doesn’t have to be that way. While the big tasks like deep cleaning the fridge or oven can take some time, there are many little tasks you can do that will lead to big results. You just need 10 minutes a day to have a kitchen you can be proud to show off.
Here are 10 secrets to keeping a kitchen clean:
1. POWER OF STEAM
One way to really take your cleaning to the next level is to invest in a steam cleaner. A steam cleaner offers maximum cleaning power without the harsh chemicals. It also works well on grease and the sticky stuff.
2. BYE BYE GUNK!
This may seem silly but never underestimate the power of a toothpick. A toothpick and a piece of paper towel can be your best friend for scraping out the food that accumulates around the edges of a glass stovetop. It can also be used on the rubber closing of the fridge and the inside of the microwave.
3. CLEAN A MICROWAVE QUICKLY
One quick trick for cleaning is to spray white vinegar into the inside of the microwave. Run microwave for 30 seconds and then wipe down the inside.
4. DON’T FORGET THE TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR
The top of the refrigerator can be a magnet for more than you think. Tiny food particles in the air can actually fly high and then land there. That’s why this area gets so dirty. Combat the dust by placing a piece of plastic wrap on the top of your fridge. Change out every month for a spot-free finish.
5. THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL
The garbage disposal is one spot in the kitchen that I loathe. It also seems to be so stinky. Tackle odors by pouring baking soda down the garbage disposal.
6. SMELLY GARBAGE SOLUTION
Want an inexpensive and natural way to keep garage odors at bay? Try dipping a cotton ball in your favorite essential oil and then placing it at the bottom of the can. This will give you at least a couple days of pleasant odors… instead of the yucky ones.
7. TACKLE GRIME IN THE SINK
There’s nothing worse than a sink that has a layer of slime on it. Keep the gunk and the funk at bay with olive oil. Apply a layer of olive oil to your sink to keep water and food stains from creeping in.
8. CLEAN THE COFFEEMAKER
In my opinion, the coffeemaker is one of the toughest areas of the kitchen to keep clean. To easily clean your coffeemaker, add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to the pot, fill with water and run as usual. Run through again using only water. Safe for regular and K-cup style makers, this trick not only cleans your coffeemaker but leads to better-tasting cup of coffee.
9. REGULAR KITCHEN DUSTING
How often do you dust the kitchen? It may seem silly to be running the Swiffer in there but doing so can greatly reduce the dirt. Dusting the kitchen once a week helps keep find food particles and other debris from collecting on appliances, countertops and hardware.
10. NIGHTLY RESET
There are few things better than waking up to nice, clean kitchen. Setting the kitchen “back to zero” at nighttime can make all the difference. What does “back to zero” mean? It can mean something different for everyone but the idea is to do the 2-3 things to make it look tidy for you. For me this means wiping the counters, changing the garbage bag and emptying the sink.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Keeping up this area of the home doesn’t have to be a tough job. These kitchen cleaning tricks can help you keep up without giving up precious time. I always try to do the least amount possible when it comes to household chores. There is more to life, right? By following these kitchen hacks, you can have a tidy kitchen all the time with minimal effort.
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