How to start your kitchens' spring cleaning and think green while doing it

It's not always easy getting into the groove of spring cleaning. But once you start its almost too hard to stop and why not be green while doing it. Its an achievement you're sure to be proud of.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• garbage bags/recycling bags
• broom and dustpan
• dusting cloths
• environmentally friendly cleaning supplies

1. kitchen So you've chosen to start spring cleaning your kitchen! This is where it can get a bit hairy. Suggestion: start with the most difficult task, getting rid of old mail and paper.
2. Get you bags ready! and remember to recycle. Make piles, start with old mail, newspapers and scrap paper - we all know the kitchen is probably where all those papers pile up. Remember you can reuse your newspapers by cleaning with them or using them for projects with your kids. Once you've tackled this part of the job, you'll realize how much cleaner and more organized your home will look. Go through all your cabinets and draws re-organize and clean each one.
3. Kitchen Foods: We all know how quickly our cabinets get re-arranged when cooking. Get all your canned goods together in one area, dry foods, cereals etc. if you're feeling really creative, start labeling the inside of your cabinets so your family members remember to put them in their correct places.
4. Pots and Pans: Have any pots and pans you no longer use? Donate any extras to your local church or salvation army.
5. Spices: keep all your spices in one spot, a great idea is yo put them all in a basket, this way when you need more than one spice you can pull the basket out and have everything at hand and put it all away together where they belong.
6. Let the real cleaning begin! Now that you've organized everything its time to really start the cleaning. I always clean the high stuff first, tables, counters above the cabinets. This way anything falling on the floor will be cleaned up with the mopping. If you're really into being green, clean with water and vinegar, it cuts grease, and is environmentally safe. Normally what I will do is have a spray bottle with half vinegar and half water, and another with half water and half soap. The water and dish washing soap will cut the smell of the vinegar.
7. Windows: Remember the newspaper you found? Clean your windows with newspaper and vinegar and water. Your windows are sure to shine.
8. You've now sprayed your counters down. Next spray your walls with soap and water, you'll be surprised how much dirt and dust settles on the walls. Now its time to polish the wood in your kitchen. Another environmentally safe way to polish is to use1 part white vinegar to 1 part vegetable oil. Cleans and polishes your wood safely.
9. Fridge time!: We all know how much fun cleaning the fridge out is. Go through all the items on the door, throw out anything expired, or better yet if its glass or plastic clean it out and either re-use or recycle.
   Clean the door with vinegar and water, and do the same for all the shelves and drawers.
10. So how does it look? Is it clean and sparkling? Once you've gotten into the groove you'll realize how simple and easy this task ends up being.
    Congratulations you've finished your spring kitchen cleaning.