Have you noticed that the state of your kitchen can make a huge difference in how your entire home feels? When things aren’t running as they should, the smallest tasks (making breakfast, putting away groceries) can feel like a hassle.
Here is a helpful plan of attack from the editors of Houzz:
“Set goals that make sense for you. Setting a goal that relates to how you want your kitchen to function better is more helpful than blindly tackling a long list of cleaning and decluttering jobs, so consider what you personally want to get out of this week. Want help getting through hectic mornings? You may want to focus on clearing the kitchen cabinet and pantry clutter. Wish your evenings felt more peaceful? Getting the fridge and surfaces clean and clear so you are ready to cook could help. Dream of hanging out in the kitchen more? Focus on the social areas of your kitchen by sprucing up the island and breakfast table.”
Set Daily Plans And Manage Your Kitchen Work Easily
By setting a timeline and daily goals, you’ll find that the structure keeps you focused on the immediate needs rather than the bigger, more ominous picture, and by breaking down the work into digestible pieces, you’ll never feel overwhelmed.
Day 1: Focus on Kitchen Appliances
Decluttering tasks:
Take everything out of the fridge and freezer, one shelf at a time, and toss anything that has gone bad or that you know you won’t eat. There is no reason to let that salad dressing you tried and hated sit there for another year.
Cleaning tasks:
Wipe the shelves of the fridge; wash crisper drawers with warm, soapy water. Degrease the stovetop. Clean out the microwave. Clear the crumb tray under the toaster oven. Pull your fridge away from the wall and vacuum the space behind it and the coils. Run your oven’s self-cleaning function (be sure to consult the manual for instructions first). Run the dishwasher without anything in it.
Day 2: Tackle cupboards and drawers
Decluttering tasks:
This is the day to get the most frequently used spaces in your kitchen decluttered and primed for easy cooking. Get rid of things you never use (be honest!) and move things you rarely use (like once or twice a year) to a nonprime position. Take everything out of your cupboards (you can do this in two or more stages if you need to) and look over each item. Remove unnecessary duplicates, broken items and things you do not use or like.Repeat the process with drawers and counters. When it’s time to put back the keepers, be sure to put things near where they will be used (knives near prep area, spatulas near the stove etc.)
Cleaning tasks:
Wipe down drawers and shelves. Inspect pots and pans, and remove cooked-on spots and stains. Have knives sharpened.
Day 3: Clean Out & Organize Your Pantry
Decluttering tasks:
Working one section at a time, take everything out of your pantry and go through it. Toss out expired food. Set aside items that are still good but that you know you will not use. Transfer bulk items into airtight containers to keep them fresh and keep pests out. Sort what you are keeping into categories based on when you use the items – for instance, all breakfast foods could go together on one shelf, and all baking supplies on another.
Cleaning tasks:
Wipe down pantry shelves and containers as you declutter. Replace shelf paper.
Day 4: Handle the Kitchen Sink, Garbage, and Grimy Drain
Cleaning tasks:
Pour white vinegar down the drain and let it sit for at least 10 minutes; rinse with boiling water. Clean the garbage can and recycling containers, inside and out. Scrub your sink and around faucets, paying special attention to crevices and joints where grime can build up.
Day 5: Clear the Kitchen Counters and Open Shelving Spaces
Decluttering tasks:
Remove and sort through everything on your open shelving and counters; be ruthless about what you choose to put back and why. Cluttered, overcrowded counters and open shelves will only make being in your kitchen a drag, and now is your chance to make a change. If there are items here you want to keep but not look at daily, move them to a closed cupboard – you should have more room in those by now.
Cleaning tasks:
Give your counters and open shelves a thorough cleaning while they are empty, paying special attention to corners. Use tile and grout cleaner or a paste of baking soda or natural scouring powder and scrub tile grout with a stiff, narrow brush.
Day 6: Wash the Kitchen Windows, Walls, & Floors
Cleaning tasks:
Starting at the top, vacuum the ceiling, walls and, finally, the floor. Use an all-purpose cleaning spray to spritz and wipe the walls and cupboard exteriors. Launder window treatments, or vacuum if they cannot be laundered. Take area rugs to be professionally cleaned.
Day 7 and Beyond: Make Your Kitchen a Livable & Enjoyable Space
Decluttering tasks:
Today is the day to give your kitchen hangout zone some love. Remove the piles of paper, laptops, random cords, bags of cat food or anything else that has accumulated here. Make a list of anything this area could use to make it more comfortable.
Cleaning tasks:
Have cushion covers professionally cleaned. Spot clean upholstered pieces. Note which areas gave you the most trouble this week and schedule time at least once a month to tackle the problem areas. Commit to clearing the decks each evening by putting away all dishes and taking out items that belong elsewhere.
