Weekend Plans: Cleaning the Kitchen

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Today we are making a plan for kitchen cleaning – light, relaxed, and with pleasure. And as always, effective, while also caring for the environment and your wallet.

They say that there can only be one housekeeper on the kitchen. If you are that lucky person, it's up to you to keep the workspace clean and tidy. We will help with tips and life hacks that save time and energy.

1. Clean Up crumbs and small trash

Usually, before starting to wash kitchen furniture, you have to spend time cleaning up small trash (spilled flour, grains, coffee, etc.) that has accumulated in cabinets.

Now it's much easier – just use a portable 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner that cleans not only the floor but also any horizontal surfaces. Simply use the 2-in-1 vacuum to collect small debris, and in just a couple of minutes, you can move on to the next stage – washing the furniture.

2. Tiles, cabinet doors, countertops

Cleaning kitchen tiles can be done with baking soda. Simply apply a paste made of baking soda and water to a sponge and clean the surface from grease and stains. Then rinse with water. Kitchen cabinet doors can be easily cleaned of stains and smudges using a soap solution. For solid wood countertops, clean with baking soda or salt. Additionally, it's useful to coat the surface with special oil, such as linseed oil. For stone countertops, abrasive substances should not be used – a soap solution is suitable.

Tip from InMyRoom: before starting the cleaning, start defrosting the refrigerator. When washing the countertop, moisten it with a soap solution or special cleaning product. After some time, you can simply wipe the surface with a clean cloth – all dirt and grease will come off on their own.

3. Cleaning the refrigerator and sorting food

The refrigerator is defrosted – it's time to go through the products and throw out everything that has expired. Remove all containers and shelves. You can wash them with dishwasher detergent or any other soap solution. For old stains, use an ammonia solution (one part ammonia and five parts hot water). Be sure to dry all shelves and drawers before putting them back in the refrigerator.

Do not clean the inside of the refrigerator with aggressive chemicals containing chlorine and triclosan. Choose an effective and safe cleaning product – baking soda.

Tip from InMyRoom: to get rid of unpleasant odors in the refrigerator, place a cup with freshly ground coffee – depending on the coffee variety, replace it every two to three months.

4. Cleaning the oven and microwave

To start, check if your oven has a self-cleaning function: look up the model number online. The most hellish self-cleaning method is pyrolytic, where the oven heats up to such a temperature that all excess inside turns into ash. Be careful with your cat.

Another option is catalytic cleaning. Such ovens clean themselves in the literal sense of the word. Their inner walls are coated with a special layer, where grease and food particles burn off during cooking. Cleaning them is a pleasure – just wipe with a soap solution and dry with a clean cloth.

For regular ovens without self-cleaning functions, use baking soda. Pour water into a spray bottle and add four tablespoons of baking soda. Apply the solution generously to the walls and leave it for an hour.

With a microwave oven, it’s even easier. In a special microwave-safe container, mix 300 ml of water with the juice of one lemon. Place the container in the oven for 10 minutes at maximum power. Then carefully remove the dish and wipe the walls with a soft cloth. Cleanliness!

Tip from InMyRoom: before washing the oven, soak the racks and tray in hot water with a drop of dish soap. After cleaning the oven, the racks and tray can be easily rinsed with a regular sponge.

5. Fighting dust on the kitchen

Fighting dust is an essential part of any deep cleaning. The main spots where dust accumulates on the kitchen – the exhaust fan, open shelves, containers with grains and spices, light fixtures.

Equip yourself with a fresh cloth and a basin of water, and systematically clean all dust accumulation spots. Jars can be washed in soapy water since they often collect not just dust but also grease, which is hard to remove with plain water. If the cover of your exhaust fan is made of stainless steel, clean it with a damp cloth and then wash it with a vinegar solution – it will shine like new.

Tip from InMyRoom: it's helpful to have live plants on the kitchen – they are hardworking fighters against dust. You don’t need to buy flowers. You can combine pleasure with usefulness by planting aromatic herbs in pots – basil, thyme, or rosemary.

6. Washing and maintaining the sink in clean condition

The sink is not just a container for washing dishes. According to the FlyLady system, designed to help manage household chores as efficiently as possible, it's a cleanliness island that allows you not to give up during the fight against dirt and mess. And that’s the truth. More precisely, a clean sink in the morning and evening. By washing it today to a shine, try to maintain cleanliness throughout the week. Surprisingly, one clean sink can outshine daily mess on the kitchen.

Washing the sink is easy and fast. Fill it to the brim with hot water, add bleach and leave for one hour. Then drain the water and wash the sink with a gentle cleaning product – this can be vinegar, baking soda, or dish soap. Be sure to clean the faucet – for example, with the same vinegar: it removes spots and lime scale perfectly. Dry the sink and faucet with a clean cloth.

Tip from InMyRoom: for maintaining constant cleanliness on the kitchen, it's very convenient to have a cordless vacuum nearby. No more brooms and dustpans! These vacuums take up little space and are always ready to work.