How to Spring Clean and Declutter your Kitchen…in Super Quick Time
The nights are drawing out, the sun’s shining and Mrs Hinch is inspiring us to clean our homes so, it’s the perfect time to have a good sort out and a spring-clean ready for the new season! When it comes to your kitchen, de-cluttering can be quite a daunting prospect as so much accumulates in the many cupboards and drawers…and let’s face it, if you’ve got cupboards to fill, you’re going to fill them.
This blog gives you some easy steps to de-clutter your kitchen cupboards and tips to cleaning the appliances that sometimes get forgotten, without chemicals.
Where do I start?!
As long as you’re methodical, it doesn’t really matter but, why not go from top to bottom and left to right? Empty one cupboard or drawer at a time putting the contents on the worktop ready to organise. Clean the cupboard or drawer thoroughly starting with the shelves and the inside walls of the unit. Next, clean all around the outside including the top of the unit and door. Then it’s time to sort through the contents and only put back what you really need.
Cracking amount of Crockery.
Most of us have far more mugs, bowls and plates than we actually need or use. Realistically, enough crockery for the family meals for 3 days plus a few spares is enough to keep within easy reach in your main kitchen area. You’ll need more cups and mugs but, have a good sort through and throw out any chipped ones so you reduce them down to a manageable amount.
You can store the excess in another cupboard out of the way or even in a plastic container under the bed or on top of the wardrobe. The point is, they don’t all need to be taking up space in your main kitchen cupboards.
Glasses, glasses everywhere!
If you’ve got more glasses than the local Wetherspoons, perhaps think about scaling down a little. We all have extra wine glasses that only come out at Christmas but they don’t need to be taking up precious space in the kitchen cupboards the rest of the year. Obviously, keep enough ‘everyday glasses’ close to hand but the others can be boxed up, clearly labelled and stored away elsewhere. If you’re worried that you won’t have kept enough crockery or glasses for a party or large gathering, don’t…that’s what disposable cups and plates are for! (No washing up either!) ????
Fondue Sets are so 1989!
When you empty your cupboards to clean them, have a good think about which gadgets you actually need. Have you used the bread-maker, the juicer, the spiralizer in the last couple of years?! Do they really need to be taking up space in your cupboards? Maybe admit that you’re not going to make all your vegetables into cute spiral shapes like you thought you would and take a trip to the charity shop. Reuse Network help support low-income households in need so check if your local re-use centre accepts electrical appliances. https://reuse-network.org.uk/donate-items/#/
Store to get More…Space.
It’s probably best to keep your food products in their packets so that you can keep a check on their best-before dates. Investing in shallow baskets or boxes and grouping items together, so that they’re easily found, can work well in your cupboards or drawers. If you’re keen to decanter food and love matching glass jars, try using square jars instead of the more traditional Kilner jars as they will take up less space in your kitchen cupboards as they can easily be stacked.
Now for some top cleaning tips…
Descale without Fail.
After endless cups of tea and coffee throughout the winter, your kettle may be in need of a bit of TLC. White vinegar can double up as a de-scaler as it’s a weak acid and perfect for cleaning, disinfecting and reducing limescale. Add half a cup of neat white vinegar to a kettle filled with water and leave it to sit overnight to remove any surface scale. In the morning, empty, rinse, then fill the kettle with plain water. Boil the water and throw it away when finished. Now you’ll have a lovely clean kettle (and your next cuppa won’t taste like vinegar!)
Marvellous Microwave in Minutes.
Cleaning the microwave can be quick and easy and no chemicals required! Pour half a cup of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the water then place the bowl in the microwave and cook on full-power for 3 minutes so the liquid comes to the boil. Leave the door closed for 5 more minutes so the steam loosens the dirt. After the 5 minutes, carefully remove the bowl and turntable and, starting with the ceiling, wipe all around the inside of the appliance and door. The moisture will have loosened any dirt and it will wipe away without the addition of elbow grease!
Treat your Dishwasher to a Clean.
*Spoiler Alert* That appliance in your kitchen that cleans all the dishes needs cleaning itself! Over time grease, soap scum and food debris builds up which provides a breeding ground for germs and also reduces the efficiency of the machine. You can easily clean it without using chemicals and here’s how…
- Remove the bottom dish rack and remove any gunk or food caught there. This will improve drainage, increase cleaning efficiency and prevent damage to the dishwasher.
- Starting with an empty dishwasher, place a cup of white vinegar on the upper rack of the machine and run the dishwasher through a hot-water cycle.
- When that cycle’s complete, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short, hot water cycle. The dishwasher will then be smelling fresh and have a brightened, stain-free interior.
Brilliant Bicarb.
Bicarbonate of soda is a magic cleaning product as well as a baker’s friend – Clear a stubborn drain by pouring down 125g of bicarb followed by 125ml vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth, wait 5 minutes, and then flush with hot water…no effort required just magical science! You can remove stains from crockery and surfaces by using a little sprinkled on a damp cloth and it cuts through grime without scratching, so it’s suitable for cleaning chrome and steel. It also acts as a deodorant so you can keep your fridge pong-free by regularly wiping it with a cloth sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda.
If a Spring Clean isn’t going to be enough for you to fall in love with your room again and it’s time for a new kitchen, Artisan Interiors would love to help you with that. You can secure some one-to-one time with one of our interior designers to discuss and start to plan your dream kitchen. Book a Free Showroom Design Consultation Here …we can’t guarantee it won’t need a Spring Clean again next year but, we can guarantee you’ll enjoy it more in your well organised new kitchen!
