How to Clean a Kitchen

A clean kitchen promotes a healthy and hygienic living environment for the entire family. Cleaning is considered an integral part of the cooking process. It is not just limited to the ingredients such as washing fresh produce but also maintaining equipment and gadgets, cleaning countertops, stove and other nooks and crannies of the kitchen. Follow these steps to ensure a clean kitchen:

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Washcloths
• Broom
• Cleansers
• Scrubbers
• Vacuum
• Trashcan
• Sponges
• Dish soap
• Basket
• Mop

1. Collect things that do not belong in the kitchen such as newspapers, magazines, toys, etc. and put it in a laundry bag or basket and put it out of the kitchen.

2. Grab all the cleaning supplies such as cleansers, gloves, washcloths, sponges, scrubbers, dish soap, broom, mop, vacuum, basket and trashcan.

3. Fill up your kitchen sink with water and mix a little dishwashing liquid in it. Put the dishes that are greasy and need cleaning to soak in warm, soapy water.

4. Start organizing everything while the dishes are soaking. Put things where they belong. The moment you cut down on clutter, you will notice that your kitchen look significantly cleaner. Ideally, make it a habit to put things in their original place right after using them to avoid wasting time organizing them later on.

5. Load the dishwasher. If you do not own a dishwasher, begin the dish-cleaning process by hand. If the dishes are too many, ask your family to help. Organize a wash, rinse, dry and store assembly line so that work can be shared.

6. Wipe the countertop, kitchen sink and stovetop. Use household de-greasing cleanser to clean the oil and grease stuck on stove. Form a habit to wipe sink and stovetop after every use to prevent grime buildup.

7. Wipe the cabinets and appliances. Use a cleanser to wipe fridge doors, microwave and other appliances that are in need of a little shine.

8. Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor. Mix required amount of liquid disinfectant with water and use it to mop the floor.

9. Take out the trash and wipe the trashcan.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash the dishes as soon as you can. Do not leave them sitting in a pile in the sink or in the dishwasher.
• Designate one Saturday every month as a pantry-cleaning day. Remove all food from your pantry, wipe it with a clean damp cloth, check whether the food is spoilt and also check the expiry date before replacing the items where they belong.
• Do not mix ammonia and bleach as they will create toxic fumes. Prefer to use good quality household cleansers available in the market. Dissolve 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water if you would rather make your own cleanser at home.

[starlet67]

on 4/21/2009 Great tips like soaking the dishes while you do other chores!5*