A Complete Spring-Cleaning Guide for Your Kitchen.
Spring is a great time to thoroughly clean your home. In this blog post, we’re going to focus on some spring-cleaning tips to help you make your kitchen sparkle.
Cleaning Storage Areas
When it comes to thoroughly cleaning your kitchen, it helps to take a strategic, orderly approach. Start by emptying your trash and recycling and then wash the bins with warm soapy water. Leave each receptacle outside to dry turned upside down.
Next, remove every item from beneath your sink and take stock. Discard empty containers and any products you really don’t use. Scrub the floor, walls and hardware inside your cabinets. After letting the surfaces dry for a few minutes, replace the items neatly.
Once you’ve tackled the lower storage areas, move on to areas above the waist. Remove pots, pans and dishes from your cupboards. Empty spice racks and take all of the silverware and gadgets out of your drawers. Wipe down the interiors of every storage area and be sure to clean your silverware holders and other organizational tools too. If your flatware looks dusty, run each piece in the dishwasher before returning it to the cupboard.
Washing Surfaces
Once you’ve tackled the storage areas, deal with surfaces. Get a step stool and wipe the tops of your kitchen cabinets. Use a non-toxic degreasing product and wipe the fronts or your cabinets and drawers, paying special attention to cabinet pulls and handles.
Next, scrub your sink, faucet and countertops. It’s generally best to use warm, soapy water instead of chemical cleaners which can leave toxins on kitchen surfaces.
If you have difficulty removing sticky materials, you can use a plastic putty knife, which won’t leave scratches on sensitive surfaces. If you have specialty surfaces such as marble, use an appropriate, safe cleaner designed specifically for the material.
Cleaning Appliances
Locate your refrigerator’s coils, usually found behind the unit or within a panel above or below the doors. Use a long brush or nozzle vacuum attachment to remove dust build-up, which can reduce efficiency and shorten the life of the unit. Remove food items from inside the refrigerator and wipe down all surfaces with warm soapy water. Pay special attention to the rubber seals, since grime can collect and keep the refrigerator from sealing tightly. If your refrigerator is stainless steel, use a specialty cleaner to polish away fingerprints.
To clean your microwave, fill a glass bowl with water and add a splash of white vinegar. Microwave the mixture until it boils to create enough steam to soften caked-on food so you can easily wipe it away with less scrubbing.
Next, remove all the knobs from your oven and soak them in a bowl of warm soapy water. If you have a gas stove, remove your stovetop grates and spray the stovetop, range hood and backsplash with a degreaser. Scrub away any baked-on grease and food. After making sure your oven is completely empty, set it to self-clean mode.
Once you’ve cleaned your oven, move on to the dishwasher. Start by inspecting the filter, which you should be able to find beneath the top rack. If you see any food debris, rinse this away using the sink faucet. Return the clean filter and run your empty dishwasher on hot using a dishwasher cleaning product.
A Word About Appliance Maintenance
Regular cleaning and upkeep can help reduce the risk of breakdowns and prolong the life of your kitchen appliances. That said, there are also other steps you should be taking to keep your appliances running in high gear. To make sure your appliances stand the test of time, review these helpful home maintenance tips from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
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