Spring Cleaning: How to Deep Clean the Kitchen

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Spring is officially right around the corner and nothing is more satisfying than a clean and organized kitchen. A true deep clean might seem like a big task so we’ve broken it down day-by-day to make it easier. Having a plan of action will make everything go much easier. To prepare, quickly tidy up the kitchen by removing items from countertops and gathering cleaning supplies. 

Day One: Clean Appliances. 

  • Oven: Newer ovens have self-cleaning or continuous cleaning features. Older models will require some elbow grease and scrubbing. If you’d like to use fewer chemicals, spray the inside of the oven with water and apply a baking soda paste. Let it sit overnight and scrub with a sponge or steel wool.
  • Stove top: Remove the pot grates from the stove top and soak in hot soapy water. If you have an electric oven, you can remove/unplug the coils to make cleaning easier. Scrub down all surfaces and control knobs.
  • Microwave: Use a mixture of lemon and vinegar to remove stubborn stains. Use glass cleaner for the outside door and keypad.
  • Refrigerator/Freezer: Before you dive into cleaning, take everything out of your refrigerator and freezer and throw expired and freezer burnt items. Sponges dipped in baking soda solution work great on refrigerator interiors and adding some vanilla extract will give it a nice deodorization. Leaving an open box of baking soda on a refrigerator shelf will famously control food odors as well.
  • Sink: Wipe down with hot soapy water. A disinfectant spray with bleach can help with stubborn stains. If you have a garbage disposal, pour baking soda with warm water or a lemon peel down to freshen the drain.
  • Dishwasher: Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your dishwasher to remove soap residue and build up that accumulates over time. Just run it empty with a cup of vinegar and ½ cup baking soda.

Day Two: Clean Surfaces.

  • Dust tops of cabinets
  • Wash walls and backsplash
  • Clean the cupboards: Spray the cupboard shelves/drawer, hinges/sliders, doors (inside and out) and then wipe clean with your microfiber cloth.  If you encounter a stain, sprinkle baking soda over the stain and scrub it out with a sponge.  Wipe clean and dry.
  • Wipe down handles and doorknobs
  • Clean counter tops

Day Three: Light Fixtures/Smoke Alarm.

  • Clean light fixtures
  • Replace burnt out bulbs as needed
  • Wipe down light switches
  • Replace smoke alarm batteries
  • Dust/clean ceiling fan

Day Four: Clean Windows and Flooring.  

  • Wash windows/window sills: Wash the outside and inside of the windows. Remove screens, rinse and replace.
  • Launder curtains: Clean according to manufacturer’s directions. 
  • Dust/wash blinds
  • Vacuum/mop floors
  • Clean/shake out area rugs
  • Dust/clean baseboards

Day Five: Organize Cupboards.

Go through your pantry and pull out all of the canned and boxed foods. Make sure you don’t have expired food taking up precious storage space. Lastly, if you have a kitchen junk door, empty the entire thing out and place the contents in a storage bin. Keep it on the counter for at least three months. Anything that you don’t use during that time can be thrown away or donated. 

We hope this task list will keep you from kicking and screaming next time you think about deep cleaning the kitchen. 

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Categories: DIY, Homeowner, Shorewest Tips

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