Perfect order in the kitchen has always been considered a sign of a good housewife. But maintaining it can be very difficult due to lack of free space and lack of a competent storage system. Small tricks and bold solutions will help you forget about the mess and create a cozy environment, thanks to which your kitchen space will become thoughtful and functional.
Use all surfaces
The kitchen can use surfaces that some haven't even thought of. For example, you can hang a spice rack on the door of the upper cabinet, a container for cutlery on the kitchen apron, and a roll of paper towels on the back of the cabinet door near the sink.
Many Russians complain that they have a small kitchen, so it is difficult to keep it in order. A few life hacks will help you get rid of unnecessary things and clean up your space.
How to clean up your kitchen in 7 steps
Before you take action, you need to make a plan. The most convenient way is to write it on paper and cross out each item as you complete it. This will allow you to estimate the amount of work and understand how much time it will take to restore order. It is not at all necessary to try to complete everything in one day - you can distribute tasks over several approaches so as not to overwork and do everything efficiently.
Step 1. Clean out drawers and cabinets
One of the main tasks is sorting out the contents of cabinets, which are very often in a state of chaos. To do this, you need to take everything out and sort it into three categories:
- frequently used;
- rarely used;
- something that is not used at all, but would be a shame to throw away.
After this, all surfaces of the shelves and drawers are wiped with a damp cloth and filled. In the depths of the cabinets you should place things that are practically not used in the household, and closer to the doors and in the top drawers - those things that are needed constantly. After such an “inventory”, finding the desired item will become easy and convenient; the main thing is to constantly adhere to this arrangement and return the item to its place after use.
Every thing should know its place
Step 2. Clean the refrigerator, microwave, and kettle
Before you start cleaning the refrigerator, you should unplug it, remove all food and let it defrost. To speed up this process, you can use a hairdryer, a fan heater, or place a container of boiling water on the middle shelf.
Then you need to remove all removable parts and shelves to wash them separately. For cleaning, you can use both store-bought household chemicals and folk remedies - hot soapy water or a slurry of water and soda. It is important to note that you cannot remove dirt with too hard sponges, scrapers and brushes. Otherwise, scratches and abrasions will remain on the plastic surface.
To clean the microwave until it shines, use baking soda, lemon or vinegar. A paste is made from soda and water and applied to all surfaces using a cloth. Afterwards they are thoroughly washed with clean water and wiped dry.
When using lemon, peel it, place it in a container of water and place it inside the microwave for 5 minutes, turning on full power, so that all impurities are softened and removed. Vinegar is used in a similar way (2 tablespoons per glass of water), only it takes a little more time - 10-15 minutes.
To remove plaque inside the kettle, experienced housewives also advise using available means, in particular citric acid, which is suitable for both conventional and electric options made of glass, plastic and metal.
All you need to do is boil half a liter of water in a kettle, then add 2 tablespoons of acid and let it cool completely. Then rinse thoroughly, pour in clean water and boil again.
For enamel teapots, it is better to use soda: mix a tablespoon with half a liter of water, bring to a boil, leave on low heat for 30 minutes and repeat the rinsing procedure as in the case of citric acid.
Step 3. Remove yellow and greasy stains
The next stage of cleaning will be removing grease stains from the hood, kitchen apron, hob and other surfaces on which they are found. For cleansing, you can use both store-bought products (especially for severe old stains) and folk ones: soda, rice water or mustard powder.
But before you start washing, you should try the product on a small area of the surface to check whether it will damage the coating. There are several nuances to make the task easier:
- elements that are too dirty (kitchen hood filter, hob grates, etc.) should be soaked for 10–15 minutes in a basin with a cleaning solution so that the active components eat away the fat;
- To thoroughly clean the kitchen apron, before applying detergents, you can “steam” it with boiling water by placing a container of hot water at the base of the masonry;
- After using the cleaning product, any surface should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water and wiped dry with a soft cotton cloth.
Step 4. Wipe smooth surfaces
Wiping horizontal surfaces and facades should begin from the highest tiers, gradually moving down. It is better to do this with a soft, damp cloth soaked in water or soap solution if there are noticeable dirt.
In this case, it will be necessary to wipe the surface again with clean water and then wipe dry. Particular attention should be paid to the countertop with household appliances located on it, which should also be cleaned from the outside. Don’t forget about the chandelier: you need to turn it off, carefully remove the shades and wash them in soapy water, rinsing well and drying.
Step 5. Clean the sink and fixtures
Before you start washing the sink, you need to remove the dishes from it, as well as all the utensils on top (sponges, jars, etc.). After this, rinse the surface with water and apply a cleaning agent, which is selected depending on the material of the sink.
A universal option can be regular dishwashing detergent or soap solution and a sponge, and for hard-to-reach places - a small hard brush. Apply the product in a thin layer to the entire surface and plumbing, leaving for a few minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water and rub all elements until shiny with a dry cloth. To keep your sink looking presentable at all times, you need to clean it after every dishwashing.
Step 6: Wipe down the window and sill
The next stage is the window space. If there is a curtain on it, it is advisable to remove it and wash it. The same applies to blinds, which are wiped when closed, alternately on both sides with a damp cloth.
To clean glass, you can use both store-bought sprays and a homemade soap solution. The products are applied to the entire surface, paying special attention to the corners where dirt accumulates. After this, wipe well with a sponge, rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a flannel or fleece napkin.
Step 7. Vacuum and wash the floors
The final stage is cleaning the floor. You should start by freeing up space (raising chairs, removing baskets, containers, etc.). If there is carpet on the floor, it must be vacuumed on both sides, rolled up and taken out of the room.
After this, sweep out the trash from the farthest corners, gradually moving towards the door. To remove the smallest particles of dust on the floor, you can also vacuum it. The last stage of cleaning is washing the floors. For tiles and linoleum, absolutely any detergent is suitable, while for parquet and laminate - delicate products or plain water with the addition of a small amount of glycerin soap.
Hob
Definitely, vitroceramics are easier to clean than conventional electric and gas burners.
Of course, it also has its drawbacks - not only is it more expensive, but it should also be washed only with expensive special products and washed carefully. But vitroceramics free up so much time and cooking with it is so convenient that you can come to terms with it. In general, if you are willing to spend money, vitroceramics are the best choice. Another tip:
– choose vitroceramics with electronic control (as in the photo below) – it is much more convenient than traditional handles
And if you want something cheaper, then choose not an enameled hob, but one made of stainless steel - unlike enamel, it can be rubbed with abrasives.
What will you need?
Each job requires the presence of certain materials. In this case you will need:
- sponges for cleaning surfaces (preferably of different hardness);
- garbage bags (durable);
- glass cleaner;
- dishwashing liquid;
- cleaning powder, gel or paste;
- clean paper or cotton towels;
- rubber gloves;
- trash container;
- plastic scraper;
- toothpicks.
Those who prefer to clean without chemicals prepare baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and mustard powder.
It's better to clean it clean
At first glance, the statement may seem absurd. However, if you think about it, this is really true.
It is easier to maintain order than to regularly try to clean the kitchen Augean stables.
There are many systems that help you achieve cleanliness and neatness with very little effort.
Start by organizing your kitchen utensils wisely.
- Take care of spices and bulk products: do not leave them in store bags. This not only looks untidy, but also significantly reduces their shelf life. You can see interesting ideas for organizing storage spaces in our article.
- Carefully go through all the items in the kitchen: perhaps some of them need to be donated or thrown away. Think about whether you really need three whisks, dishes that have been gathering dust without use for the second year, or a cracked glass?
- Replace accessories with modern ones. Neat sponges for washing dishes, cute towels to match, potholders and clothespins for bags and small items - everything should look harmonious. You will be surprised how tidy your kitchen will be once you take care of it!
- Try to get into the habit of washing dishes while preparing food - this way you will need much less effort. It’s easier to rinse the pan and pot right away than to wait for food residue to dry on it.
- Keep an eye on all horizontal surfaces - as soon as you leave some trinket on the windowsill, in a few days it will be filled with them. The same applies to dirty cups on the table: have you ever noticed their tendency to multiply? Where there is one glass of unfinished juice, there will soon be ten.
- A standard rule that people often forget to use: if you spill something, wipe it up, if you open it, close it, if you spill something, sweep it up. All these actions take a matter of seconds, but they make general kitchen cleaning much easier. If it is needed at all with such accuracy.
As you can see, maintaining order in the kitchen is not so difficult - you just need to show a little attention and not let it become a complete mess.
However, what if you realize it too late and the room looks more like a battlefield? Don't give up! We will help you regain cleanliness without any extra effort.
Space under wall cabinets
Often, using the space under wall cabinets makes it much easier to find the items you need. You can make a shelf under the cabinets for spices and utensils.
For example, you can screw lids under a wall cabinet, then screw in jars of seasonings.
Means and tools
When preparing for global cleaning, you should make sure that all the necessary supplies and tools are at hand. Tips on how to clean the kitchen and what you might need:
- brush or broom;
- bucket;
- mop;
- vacuum cleaner;
- soft cloths;
- sponges;
- disinfectant (chlorhexidine, ammonia);
- cleaning products (the choice in stores is quite extensive);
- vinegar;
- baking soda;
- lemon acid;
- dish soap;
- floor cleaner;
- soap;
- paper towels;
- bleach (if the cleaning product contains ammonia, it is prohibited to add bleach to it).
All this should be at hand.
Useful tips
- Do not mix products that contain ammonia with those that contain chlorine. When they combine, they form toxic fumes.
- Chlorine can damage wood and dark surfaces.
- You can lay wax paper on the bottom of the drawers - grease and dust will settle on them. When the paper gets dirty, you just need to replace it with a new one.
How to make cleaning easier? Avoid old stains from appearing as they are more difficult to remove. If you pay attention to certain areas every week, dirt will not accumulate in large volumes, and the need for general cleaning will arise less frequently.
Trays, separators, containers
For order and storage by category in the closet, various baskets, boxes and trays are perfect. This will help tidy up your closet and make it easier to find the items you need.
Using containers can make cleaning much easier without having to pull out every jar. They also rarely get dirty; you can wash the tray itself. Everything looks nice and orderly.
Dividers are also assistants for many housewives. They will help you arrange things correctly and not mix items, making them easier to find.
Dividers are placed in closets and furniture compartments. This system is suitable for large items as well as small ones.
In order to easily find the required jar or container, you need to write the name of the spice or cereal on the container. This will help you find the products you need faster.
It is advisable to pour cereals and bulk products into sealed containers. This will help protect against bugs and food moths. If the dishes have cracks or chips, they must be thrown away.
Monthly kitchen cleaning
Once a month, give your refrigerator and freezer a serious cleaning. Put out the food, remove all shelves and drawers, defrost the refrigerator, and wash it.
If you don't use your oven often, you can give it a thorough cleaning once a month. To do this, use oven cleaner.
Once a month, do a complete audit of your cabinets and shelves: empty them of old cans, food, and empty containers. Wipe the shelves with a damp cloth. When removing cabinets, open all doors to ventilate them.
It is necessary to keep the drains clean monthly - this will protect them from clogging. Today there is a very large selection of household chemicals for drains, so it will not be difficult to choose an effective product.
Once a month it is necessary to clean the floor and baseboards. Wet cleaning is done every few days. Monthly cleaning involves cleaning the floor manually using a brush and detergent. Wash not only the floor and baseboards, but also the surfaces under cabinets, radiators, etc.
When the guests left
After entertaining, the main problems are dirty dishes and crumbs or stains on household items. You shouldn’t put off washing dishes if there are only a few of them. If you have a large amount of dirty dishes, you can collect them in a large bowl of water, add baking soda and leave overnight.
White tablecloths and napkins are soaked in warm water with bleach for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse and place in a basin with powder.
Cleaning plan:
- Wet items containing stains.
- Collect the dishes in a basin.
- Wipe down the oven and stove.
- Remove crumbs from the table.
You can vacuum and wash the floor within the next day.
Fridge
You need to remove all products from the refrigerator, sorting them by type and getting rid of spoiled ones. Vegetables, meat, milk, herbs, and other products are stored separately. Since food spoils very quickly at room temperature, the refrigerator needs to be cleaned as quickly as possible. Shelves and drawers should be soaked in a cleaning solution, washed and wiped dry. The ice and frost in the freezer are allowed to thaw and removed with a plastic scraper.
After cleaning, wipe all parts of the electrical appliance with a clean, dry towel.
Washing
If you choose an expensive solution (composite or artificial stone), then it is better to make the sink from the same - it is very convenient to clean. The fewer profiles and bends the sink has, the better. (We are now talking not about design and beauty, but about ease of use.)
It is most convenient to wash a round bowl-shaped sink and the least convenient is a square sink with corrugation and an abundance of parts. Look at the illustration below.
If you choose a cheap solution - a countertop made of laminated chipboard and a stainless steel sink - then choose a glossy sink . Oddly enough, it is glossy polished steel that is more convenient to wash and more resistant to pigments. And the shape of the sink, just like in the previous example, is most conveniently bowl-shaped, not rectangular, without protrusions or corrugated parts.
In general, when thinking about a kitchen set and wanting to make it as easy to maintain as possible, keep in mind that your enemies are all the corners, joints, panels, threads, and protruding parts. Smooth, seamless surfaces are your friends .
Here's another piece of advice:
– if possible, order a kitchen set without handles
Kitchen fronts without handles (as in the photo above) open with a light touch and close the same way. They are much more convenient to clean than traditional facades with handles, especially if the handles are U-shaped.
It looks somewhat unusual, but very modern, and most importantly - comfortable.
True, the mechanism by which drawers and doors open without handles slightly increases the cost of the set.
And if such a modern design is still too unusual for you, use button-type handles , as in the photo below. Choose the simplest shapes and smooth, easy-to-clean materials - steel, aluminum, smooth plastic.
