Fall Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

It’s getting to be that time of year again…the air gets cooler, the leaves start to change, and pumpkins are out in full force!  It’s also a great time of year to do some major home cleaning.  Cleaning the kitchen can certainly be a project, and sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start.  Here are some steps for deep cleaning your kitchen for fall:

Remove all items from each cabinet and drawer (NOTE:  Be sure to go one cabinet/drawer at a time so you don’t feel completely overwhelmed!)

o   Dust or vacuum inside and wipe down with a mild cleanser*

o   Go through items and organize, toss, or donate.  Throw out chipped, cracked, old, broken and barely used items.  Store items that aren’t used daily to allow more cabinet space for items used more frequently.   Reorganize the most important items in the cabinets and drawers where they are easily accessible.

Clean the outside of cabinets and drawers with a mild cleanser*. 

o   Polish/clean cabinet hardware

Clean trash and recycling bin with hot soapy water (inside and out)

Clean the sink and drain thoroughly.  Your choice of cleaner may depend on the type of sink you have, but we love Bar Keepers Friend!

Clean refrigerator (inside and out!)

o   Remove any magnets and wipe down front/sides/back

o   Throw away anything that is old or expired inside the fridge

o   Wipe down / wash shelves and drawers

o   If possible, vacuum coils in back

o   Remove plastic grill in front and scrub with soapy water

Clean microwave (inside and out)

o   Try microwaving 1 cup water and ½ cup white vinegar for about 7-9 minutes to do a good steam cleaning.  Any tough stains should come off easily and the microwave will smell fresh and clean.

Clean Stove/Oven

o   If possible, pull out stove and wipe down the sides, back and underneath

o   Clean knobs

o   Self-clean if option is available and can be done safely

o   Clean interior racks

Clean small appliances such as toaster, blender, Keurig, etc.

o   Here’s a great tutorial on thoroughly cleaning your Keurig

Clean windows, sills, curtains and miniblinds

Dust / Clean countertops and backsplash. If you have granite countertops and backsplash, this would be a great time to put on a coat of sealer. We have a great variety of sealing products available at our showroom.

Dust baseboards and sweep and mop floor

*Remember that every surface in your home is unique.  Always be sure to test a small area first or refer back to cleaning instructions direct from the manufacturer so finishes aren’t ruined! 

West Yarmouth Retreat

This West Yarmouth Retreat, which started as a basic summer cottage, was transformed into a magnificent and luxurious summer home. Our clients were looking to create a space that was cozy for the immediate family, but also functional and suitable to entertain a large crowd. This was achieved by creating a spacious kitchen with a bar in the adjoining family room. Coastal hues were used to create a sense of tranquility, as this is their place to come and relax. The kitchen island was sized to create a dining area for four, with two stools on each end. This configuration works perfectly for meal time chats and avoids the dreaded “diner seating” effect. The seating arrangement also works well while entertaining, as it keeps family and friends out of the main cooking area, but not completely shut out of view or conversation.

It was so exciting to see this kitchen completed and see how happy our clients are with the end result.

Here’s a wonderful testimonial from our 'West Yarmouth Retreat' clients:

“We are in love with our new kitchen!  We searched all over southern New England for a kitchen designer with the right combination of good taste and a common sense. We found Kitchen and Bath Details on line and saw right away that they shared our taste in coastal living design. We knew they were the designers for our project after the first  phone call with Tena and a visit to their beautiful Mattapoisett showroom. Tena asked all the right questions and shared our vision. Soon after she presented a design that took a cramped and dingy space and made it a bright and cheery place equally adept at cooking, entertaining or just hanging. Then they worked closely with our contractor, Tom Finelli (Finelli Building, Inc.) to fit the design to the restored and renovated space inside our 1920 craftsman styled bungalow. Our house is wonderful, but the kitchen truly stands out thanks to Tena and kbdetails”

There is nothing better than happy clients!

Kitchen and Hutch

Bar Area

Master Bathroom

The Waterside Apron Front Sink

Introducing the new Waterside Apron Front Sink for Rohl!

Our clients just LOVE apron front sinks (and we do too!). We are so excited to be able to offer this beautiful award winning sink as soon as mid July. Be sure to look for it in our upcoming completed project photos!!

River View Cherry Kitchen

Our River View project is complete! For this remodel, our client decided to go with warm cherry cabinetry, a classic white apron front sink, granite countertops and stainless appliances.

Our client’s main goal was to bring the outdoors inside, which was accomplished by designing in three major windows above the sink area.  A great mini indoor garden was set up in the hutch to the left of the sink, which really adds a great touch of nature in the kitchen area.

The best part about this job was the feedback we received from our happy clients. Here’s a testimonial from the homeowners:

“We are thrilled with our kitchen!  We very much enjoyed working with Tena and the people at Kitchen and Bath Details.  They guided us through the decision and selection process without imposing on us.   Through our meetings, Tena gained a sense of our style and what we wanted so that she could help us on the couple of choices where we needed another opinion.  We couldn't be more happy the outcome and are planning to work with Tena again as we start to think about updating our bathrooms.”

Corner Drawers!

Spice Storage

Vertical Storage/Tray Dividers for Large Baking Pans, Cookie Sheets, Pizza Stones, etc.!

Photgraphy by Phil Mello of Big Fish Studio - Thank you!

Smart Design - Toe Kick Step Stools

A step up is always there when you need it! These Step Stools from Hafele fold to only 4 inches thick, making them great for the small spaces, including in the base of a toe-kick in a kitchen or even bath vanity cabinet! It can even be hung on a cabinet side panel with an optional bracket. The step stool locks in the open position for safety. These step stools are made of epoxy-coated steel and have non-slip rubber treads and plastic foot caps.  It is available in two color schemes: White/Grey and Silver Black finishes. Say good-bye to having to ask your spouse for a helping hand! 

Photos courtesy of Hafele