How to Clean Your Kitchen

If you’re like most of us, you give your kitchen a cursory cleaning at the end of the day, or whenever you do the dishes. That usually involved any items used in food prep or eating, a quick wipedown of the counters and stove, and maybe even sweeping the floor. That’s fine on a daily basis, but most of us really need to give our kitchens a deep clean. What does that mean? Really, really clean everything. Here are some hints.

• Clean the stove. Take off the grates of a gas stove or lift up the coils on an electric stove and completely clean the cooktop. If you have a smooth cooktop there are a few specialty products like Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend which you can dampen with a mixture of vinegar and water. You can also sprinkle the cooktop with Dawn dishwashing soap, cover that with baking soda, then dampen it with hydrogen peroxide. Whatever you do, let the damp cleanser sit on the surface for a bit before you scrub it with a kitchen brush, or a plastic scrubber, or a sponge with a scrubber back. Be sure you follow up with plain water so no residue is left.

• Microwaves need help, too. I put a glass bowl with some cut up lemon slices, then run it on the 100% for maybe 5 minutes, open and wipe with a damp paper towel. If there are still stuck on bits, I do it again. If I am low on paper towels, I use a microfiber cloth – I bought a package of them at the hardware store and they are good for all kinds of things.
• Ovens are my least favorite things to clean. I used to use Easy-Off, which smells terrible but gets the job done. Now, I have a self-cleaning oven so I run the cycle with the windows open. I bake a lot, so I clean regularly. I also try to bake things that are going to drip by placing them on something, like a cookie sheet.
• Dishwashers and disposals. There are things you can buy to get rid of musty smells. I use Affresh dishwasher cleaner, and I pour the lemons and water (from cleaning the microwave) down the disposal and run it with hot water for at least 3-4 minutes.

• Refrigerators. I have a stainless steel fridge, so I use Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend on a sponge, followed by a wipe with clear water. I take everything out and wipe the shelves, walls, and back. I wash the bins in warm water and Dawn and dry them with a soft cloth to prevent scratching. I also wipe the handles down every day with a sanitizing wipe.
• Counters, backsplash, and cabinets. They get sticky with grease and we don’t notice. The tops of my cabinets also attract grease and dust but because I don’t get on a ladder unless forced, I rarely see up there. I use Mrs. Meyer’s all-purpose cleaner which does a good job. That doesn’t mean that I don’t need to scrub sometimes, but not as much as I might otherwise. Then I put paper towels as a liner for the cabinet tops, so next time I can just remove them and have minimal cleaning to do.

• Floors. I have wet Swiffer pads which are easy to use and can be used on all of my non-carpeted floors. Plus, the lack of a heavy mop and pain-in-the-left-arm bucket makes it more likely that I will do the floor 3 or 4 times a week (remember, we have just 2 adults and 1 dog so you might need to do it more or less often.) I am conscious of the corners, and I slide out the stove and refrigerator and get back there, too. If I have stubborn spots or sticky goo, I use Mrs. Meyers and let it sit for a while. I have been known to use a butter knife to scrape up weird sticky messes.