I love a clean kitchen. I mean I LOVE a clean kitchen. As a homeschooling mom of three, I’ve found that far more often than not, though, a clean kitchen seems more like a distant dream than reality. Our kitchen counter seems to be a catch all, and we just don’t have enough cabinet space in our new house. On the other hand weekends are spent doing so much else that cleaning the kitchen always takes a back seat. The result is a continuous buildup of grime and dirt that feels like it takes ages to get rid of. If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to labor in the kitchen at the end of the day. Here’s a simple guide to deep cleaning your kitchen..
And yes, that’s a stock kitchen photo, because I need to get red colored flavored water mix off my white counter. Sigh.
A Simple Guide to Deep Cleaning your Kitchen
Deep cleaning the kitchen every other month or so can help keep things fresh and more organized. My problem, though, with cleaning the kitchen is that I get overwhelmed and don’t really know where to start. There are so many things which require my attention. Should I start with the cabinets or the electrical appliances? Should I get rid of the dust on the walls or should I start by mopping the floor. I’ve learned that there if I just keep a checklist with me, I am less overwhelmed. Since I’m all about helping my readers, I thought you might need some help, too.
The following is a simple guide to deep cleaning your kitchen without feeling confused:
Deep Cleaning Checklist for the Kitchen
- Make sure all the dirty dishes and glasses are washed and put away in their respective places to get rid of the clutter
- Clean the counters and the kitchen island
- Get rid of all the items which do not belong in the kitchen, this means toys your kids brought in or that old book which has been lying on the counter top for ages
- Use a duster and get rid of all the cob webs on the wall. If possible get your hands on a big broom which can be elongated and which could help you get to those hard to reach places. Wipe off the dust as it falls to prevent buildup.
- Make sure that you start with organizing the pantry once the above mentioned have been dealt with. Toss away items which have expired or give away things which you won’t be using. Arrange items according to their use. Keep open items out in the front so that they can be used first.
- Clean the fridge. Get rid of items which have expired. Put things in an organized manner labelling everything in boxes so you can access stuff with ease. Clean the shelves properly using warm soapy water and allow to dry before putting those back in the fridge. Make sure you clean it from the outside as well. When done make sure you cut open a lemon and place it on one of the shelves it would help prevent the odor from building up and keep things fresh and clean.
- Next approach the drawers and the cabinets. Get rid of anything which is broken or hasn’t been used for more than a year. Wipe the drawers and the organizers carefully and get rid of the dirt and grime.
- Once that’s done start with the kitchen appliances. Use gentle ecofriendly cleansers when wiping each of the appliances. Don’t just clean the exterior but also make sure that you clean the appliance from inside as well.
- When you are done with everything mentioned above, it’s time to deep clean the kitchen floor. Sweep the floor carefully. Remove furniture if possible. Use a heavy duty cleaner when it comes to mopping the floors. Throw any dirty rugs into the washing machine.
The above mentioned checklist would help ensure that you get everything cleaned and organized in the proper way. On the other hand, if all of the above seems too much for you to undertake on your own, you could even ask professional cleaning services to help you with deep cleaning the kitchen.
Hiring a professional to deep clean the kitchen
I’ve hired a professional cleaning service on several occasions, including when I’ve just needed an extra helping hand and when we were trying to sell our house. Trust me, when you’re selling a house, a clean kitchen gives a great impression. In that case, I told with the cleaning service that I wanted the kitchen to be so clean that the new buyer would feel comfortable preparing a meal on the counter without having to pick up a cleaning rag. Then I joked that I wanted it to be so clean that if I were renting, I’d get my deposit back.
For those of us inhabiting our homes, we know that a beautifully organized kitchen impresses anyone who might walk in. Whether you spend several hours cleaning it yourself, or hire a professional to deep clean your kitchen, you want it to show pride of ownership.
Here are some things to keep in mind when hiring a professional cleaner to deep clean the kitchen.
- Find someone with experience. When hiring someone to clean the kitchen you need to make sure that they have a good idea of how they are supposed to approach things. Ask around for referrals. You can also find cleaning professionals on the internet. Be sure to check out their ratings and reviews on Yelp or Angie’s List to help you make an informed decision.
- When it comes to kitchen cleaning there is no one size fit all kind of solutions. Every kitchen is unique and needs to be cleaned accordingly. Be sure to hire a professional who is capable and experienced can handle deep cleaning a kitchen. You want someone who knows where they have to start and knows which products to use on various surfaces. You want to be sure that any products used provide deep and hygienic cleaning without damaging any surfaces.
- Make sure you hire someone you can rely on. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for someone to come clean one time, or want to hire them on a weekly or a monthly basis, it’s important that they show up when required. Punctuality is a sign of respect, and it will give you peace of mind. You shouldn’t have to worry about them being two hours late or not showing up.
- Find someone who is flexible. A professional who is willing to adept to your needs. If there are specific tasks which you have in mind, like cleaning the cabinets and the kitchen appliances, make sure you mention that to them. Since most companies charge by the hour, the amount of time they spend cleaning your kitchen has a direct impact on how much you pay. You may want to space out more time consuming tasks and have them clean cabinets on one visit, and deep clean the oven on another visit.
- Know their rescheduling policy. Life happens, and from time to time, you just can’t be available when you scheduled a cleaner to come. It is important to know what the rescheduling policy is ahead of time.
- Ask if they’re licensed/bonded/insured. The house cleaning company should be licensed and have liability insurance and a bond to cover any theft or damage.
Keeping the above mentioned things in mind would help ensure that you get immense satisfaction from deep cleaning your kitchen. Remember my How to Splurge Wisely post? This is one of those things I would love to splurge on from time to time.
You may also be interested in my 20 Household Uses for Vinegar, which includes a free printable.
