Cleaning the Kitchen
- Wipe off the burners: Whether you have a gas or electric stove top, you’ll have to give your burners a clean now and then. Gas burners can be removed and washed by hand with warm water and soap. If you are one of the lucky people who have gas burners that can go into the dishwasher, throw them in there after you scrub off any excess food. For electric burners, use a damp sponge to wipe off debris.
- Wipe down the stove surface: Use a sponge and soap, or invest in some Clorox wipes to really break down those stains. In general, if grease of any kind spills on your stovetop, clean it up right away as it gets much more challenging to remove as it hardens.
- Remove the control knobs and wash them: Wash them in the sink using warm water and mild dish soap. Avoid using a soap that has any abrasives or ammonia in it, as these components will wash away the markings on the knobs.
- Wipe down the outside of the vent hood: Use a soapy cloth to clean the outside of the vent hood. Wash away the suds with a damp cloth and then wipe dry with a dry cloth. Once a month, remove the vent filters and soak them in warm, soapy water. Gently scrub to clean, and then let them dry thoroughly before putting them back.
- Give your oven a good cleaning: You should deep-clean your oven every few months or as soon as it starts to produce a lot of smoke while you are cooking something. An effective oven cleaning mixture is made up of ¼ cup salt, ¾ cup baking soda, and ¼ cup water. Cover any bare metal or clog openings with foil so that they do not get damaged by the mixture.
- Spread the mixture all over the inside of the oven and let it sit there overnight: Use a plastic spatula to wipe the mixture off. Wipe the oven clean with a rag. Replace the racks when they are dry.
- Remove all of the contents of the fridge: Sort through each item to make sure that it has not yet expired. Throw out any items that have gone bad. If possible, do this before going grocery shopping so that the old expired stuff can be thrown out, thus making space for new groceries.
- Make a mixture of two tablespoons baking soda and one quart water: Dip a sponge in the solution and then wipe down all of the surfaces of the fridge, making sure to really scrub out any sticky stains.
- Wipe the solution away with a damp cloth: Dip a clean rag in water and use it to wash away any residue left behind by the baking soda solution. Use a clean towel to dry each surface.
- Clean out your cabinets: Whether they contain food, kitchen supplies, or your secret stash of candy, you should clean your cabinets out every once in a while. Throw away expired items and wipe the bottom and sides of the cabinets down with a wet, soapy rag to remove dust, crumbs, etc.
- Clean the front of your cabinets: While this may seem like an odd thing to do, grime and grease can build up on the fronts of cabinets simply because of all the cooking you do in your kitchen. Wipe them down with a wet rag and dry them thoroughly so as to avoid any color distortion.
- Wipe down your counters with cleaning supplies: In general, you should do this every night after you are done cooking. Use a sponge and soapy water to wash your counters down. Wipe them dry with a clean rag or paper towels.
- Wipe the basin and the fixtures of the sink down: To avoid any mold growth or water stains, wash your sink’s basin with warm water and some dish soap on a sponge. Make sure to rinse along the edge of the basin as well. Clean the fixtures to remove any water stains.
- Clean around the faucet: To clean the hard to reach crannies of the faucet, use a toothbrush dipped in a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Buff out any water spots left behind with a dry cloth.
- Sweep/Vacuum your floor: Before you deep clean your floor, its best to gather up any little bits of dust, crumbs, garbage, etc. that might be on your floor. Use a broom and dustpan or a vacuum to rid your floor of any little specks of stuff.
- Mop your floor when necessary: This is particularly important to do when there has been a spill with sticky results. Use a mop and bucket of soapy water to give your floor a really good clean.
- Take out the trash: Last of all, take out the trash. The reason you should do this last is because while you are cleaning you will undoubtedly find things you will want to throw away. Wash out your trash can with soap and water. Take the trash out and replace the bag with a new one.
