Things You'll Need:
- Mop and bucket and cleaner
- Scrubbie
- Baking Soda
- Tea tree oil mixed with water in a spray bottle (works better then any icky cleaner out there and is all natural)
- Broom
- A gallon of cool colored paint
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Step 1
First thing you need to do is keep your dishes clean. I know this can be hard, as I have lived in a house where the dishes only got washed when everything was dirty. But I have learned, that nothing makes your house look dirtier then dirty dishes piled in the sink. Get into a routine to wash them everyday. And put them away. That alone will make your kitchen shine!
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Step 2
Get rid of all your "plastic" dishware and cups. Now, a few are ok, especially if they are for the kids. But to have every plate and cup be plastic, that makes it look like you really can't afford anything. Maybe you can't, (like me haha), but you can "pretend" you can. Go to the salvation army and goodwill and pick out some fancy looking cups. Then start collecting your dishes and bowls. No, they don't have to match exactly, but having them be the same theme or color will look really cool, and even give your kitchen an "artsy" look.
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Step 3
Find a gallon of remarkable paint and paint your walls. That works for any and every room in your house. Not to mention while you are covering up things so you can paint, you can trash all your excess junk as you go. Paint a color that makes a common theme or color in your dishes. That will look even more "artsy".
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Step 4
Keep the front of your fridge free of tons of magnets. I have this problem, and it looks trashy so don't do it.
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Step 5
Then make sure every other or every few days wash up that stove and mop that floor. I take boiling water from my kettle (again, something you can find at Goodwill) and pour it on the stove (not tons and not if you have pilot lights) to get up the grease and scrub with a bit of baking soda on a scrubbie. If you have pilot lights just minus the water, because baking soda will do the trick.
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Step 6
Take out that garbage!!! Nothing, I repeat, nothing looks nastier then an overflowing garbage!! And not to mention stinkier. And take it out every time it gets full. Don't wait!
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Step 7
Make sure your shelves and cabinets are organized (not necessarily alphabetized) and all expired food thrown out. I have a cabinet for baking stuff (honey, flour, measuring cups, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, etc), one area for pasta and sauces, one for cans (my mom alphabetizes hers, I thinks she's nuts!), one shelf for spices, one cabinet for all breakfast foods (cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, etc), one cabinet for things like Ramen noodles (ah yes, the king of poor people food! Like me!) and rice, and an area for my ingredients for potato soup (we make that a lot, ask me for the recipe!). And a place for my coffee stuff, hot chocolate, instant coffee, etc. That's all, you don't have to be precise, but when you know where everything is, it makes cooking so easier. And think, the next time your mom opens your cabinets, you won't feel embarrassed!
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Step 8
Lastly, clean out that fridge once a week, too! Just toss the expired stuff, give it a good wipedown if needed, and you're good. And so far, that's it! I mean you could do a million things, but why break your back for something so easy? You make look at your dirty crud filled kitchen and think "How can I do this?" Do it Flylady style! Just set your timer for 15 mins. and go! As fast as you can, then do 15 mins later in the day or tomorrow. Eventually it'll get clean, and look like a million bucks. Then keep it that way by staying on top of anything that happens. Just remember, it takes 30 days to turn in a "chore" into a new habit, so keep it up for a month and you're set! After 30 days, start a new room in my series "How to Make Your House Look Like a Million Bucks". Good luck!
