The kitchen is often the heart of the home. It is where we prepare meals, gather with our family and friends and create lasting memories. Unfortunately for us, it is also a place that can quickly accumulate dirt, grease and grime.
Deep cleaning of the kitchen may be a daunting task, but we must regularly do it to ensure a healthy and hygienic living environment.
The good news is that many others have done this long before us, so we can learn from their experience!
Clean the Walls
Every professional will tell you that you should start from top to bottom, whatever you clean.
Kitchen walls are prone to collecting grease, steam, and other stains that can quickly make them dirty and unsightly. To properly clean them, follow these steps:
- Dust the walls – Start by carefully dusting the walls with a soft-bristled broom or a microfiber cloth. Remove all loose dirt and cobwebs.
- Use a cleaning solution – Mix warm water with mild dish soap to create a cleaning solution. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of warm water and vinegar.
- Apply the solution – Dip a soft sponge or soft cloth in the cleaning solution and gently scrub the walls, starting from the top.
- Pay attention to stains – Make sure you remove any stains you notice. For stubborn ones, you can apply baking soda, leave it for a few minutes and wipe it away with a damp cloth.
- Rinse and dry – Once you have removed all dust, cobwebs, grime and stains, rinse them thoroughly with clean water to remove any residue. After that, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe them down and leave them to dry.
Clean all Wall Items
As soon as you finish cleaning the walls, start cleaning everything hanging on them, such as air vents, window frames, doors, doorknobs and switch plates. If you store items on top of your kitchen cabinets, remove them and scrub them thoroughly. These items accumulate dust and grease. Place all your items in the sink and fill it with hot water. Dishwashing soap and hot water loosens dirt.
Clean Light Fixtures
When it comes to cleaning light fixtures, there are a couple of ways to do it.
If the type and model allow, you can use a soft cloth to clean the fixture while it is still on the ceiling/wall.
However, if that is not the case, switch it off and carefully disassemble it. Make sure you thoroughly remove the dust and any dead insects before you wipe the fixture down. Ensure that the fixture is completely dry before replaying it.
Clean the Inside of Drawers and Cabinets
Take out all items out of the cabinets and drawers. Inspect them carefully and remove anything you have not used in a while. The ones that you wish to keep, you have to dust and wipe. Clean the inside of the shelves and reorganise everything back where it was.
Clean Appliances
We can not have a deep clean of the kitchen without paying particular attention to the appliances.
Microwave
After wiping out any crumbs in the microwave, fill a cup with baking soda or one-half lemon juice and water and stir for 2-3 minutes. Next, place the cup in the microwave and turn it on at its highest temperature. When the time is up, remove the cup and wait until it is cool enough to remove it. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a damp cloth. Clean the microwave exterior with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth if stubborn stains are left. Use white vinegar or baking soda for stubborn stains.
Refrigerator
Cleaning the fridge isn’t anyone’s favourite chore, but trying and doing it at least once or twice a week is essential.
Make sure to turn off the refrigerator and take everything out. Go through the items and throw out all expired food while putting aside the fresh products. Remove the refrigerator shelves and drawers. If you are strong enough, pull your refrigerator out and wipe behind and underneath it with soapy water and a sponge. Wash the shelves and drawers and let them dry completely. Afterwards, reinstall the shelves, drawers, and food.
A tip you may find helpful: put a box of baking soda inside the refrigerator. Baking soda works as a natural deodoriser and will absorb any foul odours.
Dishwasher
Most dishwashers come with self-cleaning programs that are usually enough to do the job. What you would need to do is find your manual to locate the filter. Remove debris and food particles from it and wipe down the interior with a damp cloth. Place the filter back.
Once done, you can use another cloth to wipe down the dishwasher’s exterior.
Clean Small Appliances
Now that you have cleaned and wiped the bigger appliances, time to focus on the smaller ones. To ensure your safety at all times, make sure that all devices are unplugged before you reach inside or disassemble them.
Toaster
Cleaning your toaster begins with removing any crumbs, wiping down its interior and exterior, removing the racks and gently washing them with warm soapy water.
Coffee Maker
The best way to clean a coffee machine is with vinegar. Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into the tank, then run it. Ensure you run two or three cycles with fresh water before making a hot cup of coffee. That way, you can be sure that no vinegar remains in the tank.
Clean the Sink
Using backing soda and vinegar is the best way to clean the pipes and drain. To make your sink sparkling clean, fill it to the rim with hot water and add 1 cup of bleach. Let it sit for 1 hour, then rinse it with plain water and scrub it with a mild abrasive.
Sweep and Mop the Floor
Finally, you need to sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Collect any large debris and thoroughly vacuum it to remove all the dust and other fallen particles throughout the cleaning process.
Ensure you carefully remove any residue and cleaning solutions that may remain on the floor while cleaning the rest of the area.
Conclusion
Deep cleaning your kitchen is an important task that you must regularly manage to ensure the health and safety of your home, family and friends.
With how busy your schedule can get, it may become too hard to do the necessary cleaning as often as you should. In such situations, do not hesitate to contact a house cleaning company, who can handle the task for you while you enjoy some well-deserved rest.