So long winter and hello spring! Now, more than ever before, it is important to keep our homes clean. Maintaining an orderly and sanitized space is crucial in light of the COVID-19 pandemic we are all facing together. Grab your essential cleaning supplies and let’s get started!
See more inside the May issue of Military Spouse Magazine!
Make A Plan
Cleaning a kitchen can be overwhelming, especially when it seems like there is an insurmountable list of tasks to complete. Making a list of each individual thing that needs done is helpful in not only keeping your cleaning on track, but also ensuring nothing gets skipped or accidentally looked over. Take a look around the kitchen – when was the last time the windows were cleaned? Having a concrete list of jobs to get done makes it easier to formulate a plan of action, and crossing tasks off feels pretty satisfying, too!
Assemble Supplies
Get everything you will need for cleaning and have it at the ready in your kitchen space. Having supplies on hand prevents getting sidetracked and being able to accomplish more tasks seamlessly.
Tackle Drawers and Cabinets
It might seem very easy to live in the “out of sight, out of mind” headspace, but those cabinets and drawers could probably use a little TLC. Start by opening all your drawers and cabinets and sorting items into keep, donate, or trash piles. Scrub empty spaces clean, replace items you wish to keep and wipe down the drawer or cabinet fronts. Don’t forget the knobs or drawer pulls!
The Refrigerator
For some, cleaning the refrigerator is the most daunting task. Start by pulling out all the food from inside and getting rid of expired or moldy items. Pull out shelving and clean thoroughly in the sink, wipe out drawers and replace all perishables. Take stock of what is in the freezer and make a list of what you have. This can make meal prep down the road a bit easier! Does the front of your refrigerator double as a display board? This is a good time to take stock of what needs to stay, what can be filed away and cleaning up magnets.
Down and Dirty
Now that the space feels a bit more organized, it’s time to get scrubbing. Start with deep cleaning places like garbage disposals and dishwasher traps, inside the oven and trash can, window sills, and baseboards. Next, move to wiping down appliances like coffee pots and mixers, followed by countertops and window panes. Finally, vacuum and mop the floors.
Laundry
While the kitchen gets scrubbed, gather curtains, kitchen towels and rugs and start a load of laundry. Kitchen linens are not always top of mind to clean in the day to day scramble of life, so giving them a seasonal wash is important.
Spring cleaning can feel overwhelming for even the most inspired spouse. Using these tips –and maybe a few extra hands from family members – your kitchen will be ready for spring! Η
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4 Kitchen Cleaning Hacks To Remember
1) Wrap tongs in a microfiber cloth to clean blinds quickly.
2) Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is a great way to clean baking sheets and caked-on stove messes.
3) Shine up wood cabinets or baseboards with a DIY polish of lemon oil and vinegar. No chemical solutions required!
4) Going for a deep clean? Empty the cabinets and use a vacuum to get every crumb and dust bunny.
