Friday, December 21, 2012

Parenting Pointers: Keeping up with the Kitchen


The kitchen is one of those parts of the house that is never completely clean. No matter how hard you work to clear up the kitchen and wash and clean it, there is always a mess or a disaster waiting to happen! It does come with the territory, after all, you are working with all kinds of liquids and solids all day long and there is bound to be a spill here and a stain there. However, instead of letting the mess and the chaos get the better of you, follow our kitchen cleaning tips and tricks to stay on top of the situation!

Always keep some basic tools on hand. For the kitchen you will need a lot of wipes, rags and cloth pieces, different kinds of mild, non-toxic cleaning products for the different cleaning needs (for the counters, the floors, the utensils, the cabinets and so on), a bin for wet waste and another one for dry waste, big biodegradable disposal bags and some sponges and scrubs. 

Have a regular cleaning plan or schedule in place. The kitchen is used all through the day so you really must clean it on a daily basis. Can you imagine just how much of a mess will pile up if you don’t clean everyday? You should do some basic cleaning, sweeping and wiping daily, along with cleaning the utensils and dishes that have been used that day. More specific cleaning projects, such as cleaning the oven and shelves and jars thoroughly can be done on a weekly basis. 

Make it a point to clean in a systematic manner, moving from the furthest end of the kitchen to the one closest to its entrance. Or, if you have a large kitchen, you can work in a clockwise direction. It’s essential to have a strategy in place because otherwise you are only going to end up spreading the mess or redoing areas you have already cleaned while you miss other areas. 

For cleaning out cupboards and shelves begin by taking out all the jars and containers and other items placed inside these storage units so that you can clean them properly. A normal cloth wipe and a multipurpose cleaning solution will suffice for most cupboards and shelves. Make sure you wipe every surface clean and give it enough time to dry before rearranging the items. Also use an old toothbrush dipped in the cleaning solution to clean grooves, corners and fastenings. 

Cleaning the stove regularly helps prevent dirt build-up and damages in the long run. Most all-purpose cleaners can do a fairly good job of removing grime, greasiness and stains from the stove. Use a soft microfiber cloth sprayed with a cleaner to wipe the external surfaces of the stove thoroughly. Then remove all the detachable parts such as the grills and the knobs and clean these out properly and also clean their fixtures and frames before putting them back in. Also, reach behind and under the stove to clean it up properly. Spend a few moments extra scrubbing the burner because this is where most of the food spills, oils and greasiness will have collected. 

Kitchen countertops need to be cleaned daily because they get dirty so quickly. However don’t start spraying any all-purpose cleaner onto these, different materials and surfaces react to chemicals in their own unique ways. So, a cleaner that works well for glass countertops might actually ruin those made of marble. Only treat your countertops to cleaning agents that are specifically designed for the material. 

The kitchen floor should be cleaned properly every day. Spilled liquids and dropped foods stain the floorboards badly and they also pose some serious safety risks. So many accidents happen around the kitchen because of spilled water or an innocuous fruit peel causing someone to trip. Every time you are done using the kitchen, use a broom to first sweep through the entire kitchen and collect all the waste in a dustpan and carefully dispose it in the garbage bags. Then use a sponge or a wet mop to scrub and wipe the kitchen clean. Give the floor time to dry out completely before you walk over it again.

Nicole is a passionate  writer, devoted mum and adventurer. She enjoys writing about healthy lifestyle and easy  home organizing. You can read her publications at : http://www.0800housecleaning.co.uk/

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