How to Spring Clean the Kitchen

Kitchens are among the most difficult rooms in the house to clean. With their myriad loose parts, such as dishes and appliances, there are a lot of things that will need the attention of your dust cloth, sponge or broom. While it will probably take the better part of an afternoon to spring clean your kitchen, the end result is well worth it. Nothing beats a shiny, well-organized kitchen to set the right tone for a productive new year.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oven cleaner
• Glass cleaner

Make Your Kitchen Sparkle

1. Prepare for your spring cleaning by washing and putting away any dirty dishes. Remove appliances from the kitchen counters.

2. Dust the entire kitchen. This includes windows, window sills, door frames, cabinet tops and lighting fixtures. Don't forget the top of the refrigerator.

3. Examine the back splashes and remote corners of counters and cabinets for previously hidden food stains. If you find any, scrub them off using mild soap and water.

4. Wash down the kitchen counters. If your kitchen has a bar or an island, wash those as well.

5. Clean the interior of your oven. If the oven has an automatic-cleaning feature, use that. If not, use a commercial oven cleaner and a scouring pad. The object is to thoroughly remove any baked-on food matter inside the oven.

6. Remove the range coils from the top of your stove and clean them in warm, soapy water. Before replacing them, wipe down the entire surface of the stove with a damp cloth or paper towel.

7. Empty your kitchen cabinets. Set their contents aside in a safe place, and then dust every shelf inside the cabinets, using a damp cloth. Give the interior cabinet walls a wipe-down while you're in there. Once you're done, replace the contents.

8. Remove the contents of your kitchen pantry. Discard any food that's too old to eat or that will never be used. Replace the contents in a neat, organized manner that will allow you to easily see what you've got in there.

9. Clean out your refrigerator. Remove all the food, discarding anything that's gone bad. Wipe down the interior, including walls, shelves and storage bins. Do the same thing with the freezer. Replace whatever food you're keeping.

10. Use a glass cleaner to wash the panes on your kitchen windows.

11. Dust any window blinds you may have. If your kitchen windows have curtains, remove them for washing.

12. Sweep, and then mop your kitchen floor.

Tips & Warnings

• When you spring clean your refrigerator, don't leave perishable food out for too long. It might spoil. If food has been out of the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours, you should probably discard it.