How to Clean a Kitchen

Use a top-down approach when cleaning a kitchen. Start with the appliances, move to the counters and finish with the floors. Use appropriate cleaners to eliminate bacteria, cut through grease, remove baked on food and eliminate odors. Give a busy kitchen a weekly thorough cleaning; otherwise, tackle it once or twice a month.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper towels
• Sponges
• Oven cleaner
• All-purpose cleaner
• Anti-bacterial cleaner
• White vinegar
• Broom
• Bucket
• Mop
• Rubber gloves

1. Run the self-cleaning feature overnight to clean an oven. It heats up the kitchen and doesn't smell great. Remove the racks and rinse in the sink. Wipe all interior surfaces of the oven with damp paper towels to remove ash residue.

2. Place the burner grates or drip pans in the sink and spray with oven cleaner. Rinse and run them through the dishwasher. Remove the knobs and clean the entire surface of the stove with all-purpose cleaner. Don't forget to clean the hood of the stove.

3. Remove crumbs from inside the microwave. Place 1 to 2 cups of water in a microwave-safe container and heat until boiling. Allow the steam to penetrate tough reside and then wipe clean.

4. Run a small amount of vinegar through the dishwasher's cycle at least once a month to keep nozzle and sprayers clean from calcium deposits.

5. Clean the sink and faucet with baking soda and white vinegar. It doesn't scratch and cuts through grease.

6. Spray anti-bacterial cleaner on the counters and backsplash. Pour club soda on Formica counters to make them shine. Only clean granite with neutral cleaners or mild dishwashing soap.

7. Sweep and mop the floor being careful to catch crumbs hidden under the cabinet overhang, Make your own cleaner by mixing 1 cup white vinegar and 2 gallons of hot water in a bucket. Dip a yarn mop in the bucket, wring out excess water and scrub the floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove strong food odors from the kitchen air by boiling a medium pot of water and adding a cup of vinegar.
• Remove everything from the refrigerator a few times a year and give the inside a thorough cleaning. Discard expired items and put everything back in the refrigerator. Don't forget to pull the refrigerator out and clean the floor underneath.
• Wear eye protection and gloves while working with oven cleaner.