Today I’m tackling the Spring Cleaning of my kitchen. I’ll be thorough, but I won’t stress about it or agonize over it. I can make today fun by watching cooking shows on my kitchen TV, playing fun music, drinking delicious iced tea, and switching to my favorite white wine later in the afternoon as I work.
Keep in mind that in doing our Spring Cleaning, we’re not just housekeeping. We’re homemaking. And as the kitchen is the heart of the home, today’s is the most important spring cleaning project of all!
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
- While in the kitchen for your spring cleaning project, take inventory of your cleaning supplies, dish soap, hand soap, and dish towels. What do you need to add to your shopping list?
- Look around your kitchen. Do you see anything broken that needs to be repaired, or broken and needing to be thrown out? Soiled, limp, ugly dishtowels that should be replaced with inexpensive colorful ones from Target or the like?
- Are your family members sleeping on clean sheets tonight? Start a load of laundry and take a break later from the kitchen to throw things into the dryer.
TODAY’S PROJECT: Spring Cleaning the Kitchen
You may remember that in the fall we worked on fall kitchen preparations and it took four days. That’s because I did those days mostly on weeknights. This time I’ll get the whole kitchen all done in one long Spring Cleaning day.
Want to peek at my to-do list?
- Wash windows, inside and out
- Take down kitchen curtains, launder them, and re-hang
- Wipe down walls; dust baseboards
- Mop floors thoroughly
- Have my teenager help me move the oven and refrigerator to sweep and mop behind and underneath them
- Thoroughly clean appliances inside and out – refrigerator, oven, microwave, toaster oven, dishwasher, and rice cooker. If you keep up with weekly fridge and freezer maintenance, the fridge shouldn’t be overwhelming today.
- Wipe and dust outsides of all cabinets
- Remove dishes from all cabinets. Check for wear and tear, throw out any cracked or broken dishes you don’t enjoy using, and try to de-clutter. Wipe down cupboards and replace dishes in an organized fashion.
- Shine floor heat vents with Brasso; do the same with the four door handles on my kitchen’s two doors
- Dust the two wood doors in the kitchen
- Vacuum cat hair off the four cushions in the breakfast nook
- Dust wicker loveseat, chair and ottoman
- Dust and clean the two bar stools; replace the pads on their legs, which are hairy right now.
- Reorganize drawers, utensils and kitchen tools.
- Wipe down counters and try to re-home as many items as possible so I have more counter space clear.
- De-clutter front of refrigerator, prioritizing just a few favorite photos and drawings, preferably recent ones.
- Organize kitchen calendar, desk, whiteboard, telephone, phonebooks, emergency phone number list, and any other organizational and office tools kept here.
- Finish by making yourself and any helpers a tasty snack, pouring a delicious beverage, and sitting down to relax with your favorite cooking magazine.
LOVELY BLOGS: Gizmodiva
A “cool finds” blog that covers fashion, home, mobile phones, gadgets, beauty, and pets. Recent fun posts include Blush Up Your Kitchen with the Hello Kitty Pink Microwave, M.A.C.’s Cook Gourmet line of makeup; and for the geek girls, a Star Trek the Motion Picture phaser replica. I love coming back to this site every day to see what fun new things they’ve found.
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Kosher-for-Passover Breakfast Recipes (CHOW)
