As we move into the traditional ‘spring clean season’, it’s taking on a new dimension this year; coinciding as it does with the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. As we can’t go out of the house except for essential journeys, there is now no excuse for not getting properly stuck into the house cleaning! No, there’ll never be a better time to deep clean your kitchen.
But, of course, it’s not as simple as that. Social media may be awash with tales of houses cleaned to within an inch of their lives – and floors so sparkling that you could eat your dinner off them. However, although you may now have the time and inclination to embark on a deep clean, sometimes the hardest part about getting a task done is knowing where to start.
You also need to know when to stop too. Is house cleaning ever actually ‘done’? This is why having a ‘step-by-step’ guide to well, anything really is very useful. It gives a framework, structure and some semblance of order to even the most daunting and mammoth of tasks.
Deep cleaning your kitchen is one such task. Indeed, Google the topic and you’ll be hit with a plethora of tips and tricks to help you on your way. But, which advice do you take when there’s just so much out there to choose from? Well, here’s our answer to that particular dilemma. Here’s our step-by-step guide for how to deep clean your kitchen properly. This has been developed over years and draws on a wealth of sources: books, magazine and online articles, and TV programmes. We’ve taken the best bits and condensed them all down to a single handy guide.
Clear up and clear the decks
First off, clear the decks by making the kitchen the sole focus of your efforts. Put any items that are out into their proper place in the kitchen. Fill a washing basket (or something similar) with any items that don’t have their proper home in the kitchen. These misplaced items can be put rehomed later on.
Sink and spray
Start at the sink. Simply run a sink of hot and soapy water and place the likes of hob tops, dish drainers and the microwave turntable into it to soak. Next, spray all the countertops and the stovetop liberally with a good quality all-purpose cleaner. Be careful that the cleaner you choose is suitable for your surfaces. But the good news is that you can let the cleaner do its magic while you move on to other areas of the kitchen.
Start at the top and work your way down
It makes sense to start your deep clean at the top and work your way down the room. Simply knock any dirt and dust onto the floor. It can be swept up later. With a long-handled duster, reach up into the far corners of the room. Make sure you clean light fixtures, cabinet tops, and don’t forget the top of the fridge.
Speaking of the fridge, clear out any expired food and wipe around the shelves with a suitable cleaner.
Deep clean: Wipe down
Place a wet sponge in the microwave and turn on for 1-2 minutes. Meanwhile, wipe down the doors and fronts of the cabinets and walls. By the time you’ve finished, the sponge in the microwave should be cool enough for you to wipe down its inside and outside.
Now that the cleaner has had a chance to work its magic, it’s time to wipe down all the countertops, stovetops, and other horizontal surfaces. Again, simply brush any dust and dirt down to the floor.
The next step is to wipe down the vertical surfaces of all your white goods. Pay particular attention to all the outside edges and handles. A clean cloth dipped in warm soapy water will be just the job for this.
Final tasks and finishing touches
Finally, finish of washing by hand the items that you left to soak in the sink. Drain the sink and rinse. Next, clean the basin and rinse again. Sweep the floor and get the mop out. If you can, use a steam cleaner. Finally, empty the rubbish from your swing bin and wipe down with a wet cloth.
Some final deep clean tips
There are a whole host of substances and materials that can be used as a ‘special weapon’ in a kitchen deep clean. There are too many to list here, but from lemon to vinegar to baking soda, this handy round-up from Buzzfeed covers a plethora of cleaning options.
So, good luck with your kitchen deep clean. Make good use of the extra time that the lockdown affords us. Don’t be afraid of enlisting the whole family to share the load and split the tasks. Finally, don’t forget, if you are deep cleaning and you come to the decision that you want revamp your kitchen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Kitchen Warehouse team. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and give you friendly advice about your options.
