Spring cleaning tips for kitchen

Spring is a time for new beginnings in nature and in life. One way to encourage new beginnings for your home is a good deep clean. I focus on the kitchen, since it is where my family spends a lot of our time. From the appliances, to the cookware, to the floors, spring cleaning the kitchen is a great start to the season. Here are some tips for spring cleaning the kitchen.

Many people forget how important it is to deep clean the refrigerator and freezer. First, pull out the food from the fridge and freezer. Second, throw away any old or expired goods. Third, clean every surface and drawer with a cleaner void of harsh chemicals.

Note: When cleaning surfaces that may come in contact for food, use a safe and effective kitchen cleaner with simple ingredients. 

It is incredible how filthy the cooktop of your stove can become in a short amount of time. I wipe down the cooktop after each meal, but try deep cleaning the cooktop once a month to avoid build-up. 

Note: When it comes to cleaning the inside of the oven, its easiest (and safest) to leave the house and run the self-cleaning cycle. 

Remove everything from the kitchen surfaces before you start to clean. Empty out utensil jars and wash everything inside. Store any appliances that are used infrequently.

After the counters are cleared, wipe crumbs or dust onto the floor (it will be vacuumed later). Next, I clean the counters using products that are safe for our granite counters.

Want to spring clean the garbage disposal? Drop half a lemon, a few ice cubes, and a sprinkle of baking soda inside. Run the water and turn on the disposal! 

Don’t forget to spring clean your pots and pans. Food can become caked on the inside and outside of your cookware over time. Bon Ami works well removing food and stains, but if it doesn’t, here is another way:

Fill the pot or pan with about 2-3 inches of water. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda.

After a half hour, wash the pot or pan as usual, gently scrubbing. The burnt-on food should come off easily.

Bonus Tip: Try a 10 minute tidy at the end of each day! Spending just ten minutes to wipe down counters, place dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and even running the vacuum makes a huge difference! 

Caitlin Houston is a Wallingford blogger and mom of two who loves sharing all of her favorites on the Caitlin Houston Blog. Learn about fun activities at home, family friendly travels, easy recipes and more.