Your kitchen is often seen as the heart of your home; it’s where you gather to cook and socialise; however, keeping it organised and clean can sometimes feel as though it’s an unachievable task. With meal prep, snack time and the occasional spill, it’s very easy for your kitchen to become messy and feel cluttered.  However, with a little bit of effort and some smart thinking, you can make sure your kitchen is a clean, efficient and welcoming space.

We’re going to have a look at some of the ways you can create a thoroughly clear and organised kitchen so it’s a space that you can be proud of and enjoy.

Declutter your kitchen

Before diving into the deep end of cleaning, you need to start by decluttering your kitchen. This means that you need to get rid of any items that don’t belong in your kitchen, like keys, post and books.  Then, you need to go through each of your cabinets and drawers and make sure you get rid of anything that you no longer use or need. You need to be ruthless with this; if you haven’t used it in the last year, it’s probably time to get it gone.

You could think about donating old kitchen items such as pots, pans and appliances to a local charity shop or thrift store. This will help you to free up some space and it will also help somebody who is in need.

Deep clean your appliances

 You use your kitchen appliances on a daily basis; therefore, they need some care and attention. You need to have a thorough cleaning of them to make them look better and last longer. Items you should tackle:

Your refrigerator:  You should start by removing all the food and getting rid of anything that is no longer on date. Then, clean with a mixture of baking powder and water. Make sure you clean the seals and the outside of the fridge as well. Before you put anything back in, make sure you think about some storage solutions that are easier to use.

Your oven: This is something that people often dread; however, it is important for both safety and hygiene. Take out the racks and soak them in warm, soapy water; then, use baking soda to coat the inside of the oven. Allow the mixture to sit for a few hours, then start getting rid of all the grime.  If you have any stubborn areas, then you may want to use a little bit of white vinegar to help you lift them. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, then you may want to consider using an oven cleaning service so that you can get your oven nice and clean without all the hard work.

Your microwave: Your microwave is really. All you need to do is put water with a few slices of lemon or vinegar into your microwave and put it on high for three to five minutes.   The steam created from this will help you loosen any nasty gunk and allow you to wipe it down easily.

Your dishwasher: This is another one that is easy to clean. Load a piece of copper or white vinegar and put it on a hot water cycle.

Clean the cabinets and worktops

You may be surprised by how much dust can accumulate on your worktops and cabinets; therefore, it isn’t a good idea to clean them regularly. Clear off any items from your worktops, wipe down the surface with a mild cleaner, making sure that you pay attention to the corners and edges where detritus can collect. If you have any stubborn stains, use a mixture of water and baking powder, leave it for a couple of hours, then wipe it down. For your cabinets, you can use a mix of warm water and dish soap; if they are a little bit greasy, then you may want to add a bit of vinegar to the mix. Make sure you pay attention to your handles, as they can gather a lot of bacteria. Make sure that you don’t forget your splashback when you are cleaning your worktops and cabinets, as a lot of grime can get on there without you realising it, especially if it is behind this stove or in an area where you prepare food.

 Organise your kitchen space

Now that you’ve made everything clean and tidy, it’s time to organise your kitchen and make it as functional as possible. First, look at your pantry and make sure that you have similar items in it, all grouped. For example, if you’ve got canned goods, make sure they are all stacked together and easy to see. If you have containers for things like pasta, rice and cereal, make sure you put them in a place where you can easily see them and have access to them. It’s a good idea to label everything so that you can see what you need. When it comes to your cabinets, make sure that you have one cabinet for each item. For example, put your pots and pans together in one place. If you’re short on space, you could consider using shelf risers or pull-out organisers so that you can make the most of your kitchen space. Don’t forget that you can use the space under your sink for things like all your cleaning supplies and random bits and bobs. Think about adding some bins where you can put smaller items together, so they’re organised.

Getting your kitchen cleaned and organised might seem like a huge task; however, when you put a bit of planning and effort into it, you can create a kitchen that is both functional and inviting. Whether you are going to do it all in one day or you’re going to spread it out across a couple of weeks, it’s really worth getting this done. Don’t forget that it’s important to keep up to date with your kitchen cleaning regularly, but you don’t need to do a deep clean every single time.

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