A Few Great Tips for Making the Kitchen Easier to Clean

The kitchen is so important that maid services makes sure it's exceptionally clean. What can you do to make your kitchen clean without it being too much of a chore? Here are some tips!

1. Soak the dishes first. Before anything else, gather up the dishes and put them in a sink with warm, soapy water. They can sit in the water while you clean the rest of the room, and when you're ready to wash them or put them in the dishwasher, stuck on food will come off much more easily.

2. Start on one side and work your way around the space. Working methodically like this helps you to get the space cleaner without getting overwhelmed. When the spot you need to clean is only a couple of feet wide, it doesn't seem like as big of a job. Do this around the room and you'll be done before you know it!

3. Sanitize! When you're done cleaning up the trash, items, crumbs, and messes off of the counters and stove, go back with a sanitizer and sanitize all the surfaces. For a super safe, kitchen-friendly sanitizer, combine vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray down the surfaces, then wipe dry after 5 minutes. (Always let your sanitizer sit on the surface to give it time to kill bacteria!)

4. Don't forget the appliances. Not many people think to clean their appliances very often, but keeping them clean will help make the rest of the cleaning that much easier. Here's a quick look at how to clean the appliances in your house:

• Microwave: Cut a lemon in half and put it in a microwave safe bowl with some water, then microwave the mixture for 10 minutes. It will loosen the food and grease, then just wipe it out when it's done.
• Dishwasher: You can actually keep your dishwasher pretty clean just by running an empty load with vinegar once a week. Every few weeks, take a cotton swab or old toothbrush to the seal around the outside. That will keep it clean without much work.
• Oven: Stuck on food in your oven? Baking soda is the secret! Generously sprinkle baking soda over any burnt, crusted food in the oven, spritz with water, and leave overnight. The next morning, just a quick scrub will bring the burnt food out with the baking soda.

Keeping a kitchen clean can feel like a lot of work, but if you know the secrets to a clean kitchen, it's not so bad!