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!