When it comes to cleaning the kitchen, sometimes we’re talking about an all-out, hours-long cleaning spree. Because that’s what it takes to clear away all that gunk, grime, and crumbs that have gathered over time in your kitchen.
Other times, you only need a couple of minutes. Truly, now, wouldn’t you prefer cleaning less and watching more TV? Then let’s make a list with a bunch of useful mini-tasks that will make a difference!
Whether we’re talking about scrubbing the sink between errands or just clearing away fingerprints, some cleaning tasks will save us from weekends of tiring deep cleaning.
You can easily tackle any of these habits while you’re waiting for your water to boil or chatting on the phone with your friend.
Clear the gunk around the sink.
If you don’t have a pan scraper already, then you can get one from here! Trust me, it will be worth the investment. Buy a set and keep two or three for scraping burnt-on food off pots and pans, then use one for cleaning around the kitchen.
The next time you have five minutes to spare, just grab the pan scraper and remove the gunk that might have inevitably collected around the edge of the kitchen sink and faucet (make sure you don’t scrape away the caulk at the same time).
That pointed edge of the bamboo pan scraper will efficiently remove weeks’ worth of grime in only one swipe. You can put this under the “gross but satisfying” kitchen cleaning tasks.
Remove scuff marks.
When you’re extremely busy, it’s much easier to overlook scuff marks, sauce splatters, or fingerprints that might have gathered on the walls around your kitchen. After all, who drinks his or her coffee while cleaning those things?
Well, when you have some time on your hands, you could reach for a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and take five minutes for an inspection. Just check the area around the stovetop, because that’s generally the first spot for splatters.
Then, make sure you look at the doorframes, especially those where the children might dust their fingerprints full of Cheetos. Then, have a look at the front of your kitchen cabinets, especially if you have white ones, and you’ll see all the smudges around the knobs and door handles.
Wipe under the refrigerator.
The front edge of the refrigerator, especially where the appliances meet the floor, tends to collect a lot of dirt, crumbs, hair, and fur, as well as debris that gets stuck into the crevice.
If you want a rapid clean, vacuum along the edge using the nozzle attachment of your vacuum. Then, take a damp cloth to wipe along the area.
If you also have a pet who sheds a lot of fur, make sure you collect it. Besides, if you or your kids spill anything next to the fridge, don’t forget about those stains!
Disinfect the vegetable crisper.
There’s a 2021 study conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that shows how the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator is by far the germiest spot “in town”.
So yeah, you should take five minutes to clear out the crisper drawer, toss out, or even compost any old food scraps. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any residue. Then, take a disinfecting wipe to kill the leftover Salmonella, Listeria, and any mold that might still be lurking there.
Clean the can opener.
Would you guess what’s number four on the NSF’s list of germiest spots in the kitchen? Well, yeah, it’s no one else other than the can opener. While the wide majority of people wouldn’t expect to find that this kitchen tool has traces of Salmonella, E. coli, yeast, and mold, the tests showed otherwise.
To properly disinfect the can opener, spritz it with a solution of 1 teaspoon bleach mixed into 1 quart of warm water. Then, let it sit for a while, rinse, and wash the dishwashing liquid with warm water. Rinse again, then dry completely to prevent rust.
Make the hardware shine.
This apparently difficult task is, in fact, extremely easy. First, you have two goals: remove the germs on cabinet pulls and handles and make sure they shine. Start by wiping down each knob or handle with a disinfecting wipe.
Let the solution air-dry, so you can let the wipe work its germ-fighting magic. Unless your hardware has aluminum or even copper, you could shine each knob with a clean cloth and a bit of distilled white vinegar. This will automatically remove fingerprints and water marks, and that’s how you make your hardware shine.
Wash your towels
I know that technically, this is supposed to take longer than your typical laundry cycle. However, throwing your dirty kitchen and dish towels in the wash might only take a couple of minutes.
If you also have a washable kitchen rug, you could easily throw that in there, too. Moreover, if you have backup towels on hand, just hang those up instead of the dirty ones. Swap with fresher, cleaner towels to make your kitchen look cleaner. In fact, it will be cleaner.
Wipe down your countertops.
Even if your countertops look clean, as in, there aren’t any big pieces of food or crumbs left behind, there must be some grime and food buildup that you can’t see.
Use your favorite store-bought cleaner (hypoallergenic, if needed) and a clean cloth, and give your countertops a rapid but thorough scrub.
“Close” the kitchen each night in a clean manner.
If you have restaurant experience, then you know what I mean. At the end of each night, the restaurant staff is obliged to leave the kitchen as is. Well, why wouldn’t you bring this practice into your home, too?
Every night, you could wipe down the surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner, sweep the floors, load the dishwasher, and sanitize the sink. If you do it on a daily basis, it will only take around 10 minutes, and you won’t have to deep clean it as often.
Keep your appliances off the counter.
Even if it makes sense to keep your commonly used appliances on your counter—for instance, your coffee maker and toaster—too many things laying around your kitchen will look cluttered, and you’ll just have more to clean.
Our recommendation would be to keep your countertops as clutter-free as you can to make the area easier to wipe down.
Don’t let the dishes pile up.
In theory, this goes without saying, but we’re going to mention it anyway: never let your dirty items hit the sink, especially if the dishwasher has free space.
Clean the fridge before you buy new groceries.
You might not see the sore spots in your fridge as often as your counters, but trust me, it would be worth your time. Before going grocery shopping, scan the fridge shelves to get rid of anything that’s old, wilted, or expired, and wipe down the spills before bringing new groceries.
This way, your groceries will stay in a tidy, clean environment, and you can make an easier inventory of what you already have and avoid buying multiple things you don’t need.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend reading: Here Are 7 Things Your Dry Cleaner Won’t Tell You
One Response
Great! It all makes sense