Kitchen Deep Clean Kitchen Deep Cleaning: a Four-Step Plan Regular kitchen deep cleaning makes each next cleaning a little easier—something for which you’ll be grateful the next time you’re going to have company, just plain makes you feel better about your home, and can even extend the life of your appliances. Drawing from the expertise of homemaking authorities such as Martha Stewart Living and Unilever, we have developed a game plan that breaks down what might seem like an overwhelming task into four manageable steps to make it a little less unpleasant. 1. Prepare First, compile cleaning items you’ll need: Antibacterial cleaner (for the refrigerator and cabinets containing food) Baking soda Dishcloths Disinfecting surface cleaner Distilled white vinegar Floor cleaner Microfiber cloth Lime de-scaler Oven cleaner Paper towels Rubber gloves Scouring sponges Stepladder Wood or metal polish 2. Clean the room structure and utilities Vents, blinds and ceiling fans attract a lot of dust that degrades air quality throughout your home, so wipe them down or use the hose on your vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dust first. Areas that are prone to smudges, fingerprints and marks include window and door frames and baseboards, so cleaning these areas delivers a lot of “bang for the buck” in the form of immediate, noticeable improvements. 3. Tidy up horizontal and vertical surfaces Similarly, cabinets and drawers are magnets for smudges and you’ll go a long way toward realizing your “new” deep-cleaned kitchen by sprucing up the exterior surfaces and hardware (if these items are so equipped). But clean drawer and cabinet interiors first. When cleaning the interiors, remove all the contents of the cabinets and drawers first. Use the disinfectant spray and a microfiber cloth on these areas. To clean the vertical exterior surfaces, use a sponge or cloth soaked in mild soapy water; wood surfaces may call for a special soap or cleaner. Shine up the hardware; you may need to remove and soak hardware that is covered with grease for 30 minutes in mild soapy water. In that case, consider polishing it, too. For cleaning your sink and plumbing fixtures, typically a soft cloth, warm water and mild dishwashing liquid are sufficient. Buffing with a dry, soft cloth usually removes water spots. Use a soft toothbrush for crevices around the faucet. To remove mineral deposits, mix one part white vinegar with one part water, rub them with a soft cloth, rinse and dry them off. Speaking of your sink, remove odors from your drain by pouring in half a cup of baking soda, then half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain tightly with a wet rag or plug for five minutes before flushing it with boiling water. To deep-clean wooden cutting boards, sprinkle coarse salt on them, rub them with lemon and rinse. Another method is to coat them with a paste consisting of baking soda and water for five minutes before rinsing them off. For plastic cutting boards, your dishwasher’s hot water will disinfect them; alternatively, you can soak them in a solution of one teaspoon of bleach in a quart of water. To clean floors, use a cleanser designed for them, e.g., tile, linoleum, stone or wood. 4. Brighten up kitchen appliances By deep cleaning the kitchen’s biggest appliances—the oven and refrigerator — at the same time, you can double your cleaning efficiency. First, ensure that the kitchen is well-ventilated and put rubber gloves on. If your oven is not a self-cleaning type, unplug it and spray the inside with oven cleaner. Scrub the top and insides of the cooker with a sponge. You may need a second application of cleaner for crusted-on food marks. Then, rinse the sponge and wipe the oven down with clean water. Remove the racks and soak them in warm, soapy water in your kitchen sink or a utility sink for several hours. Scrub them with a scouring pad, then rinse and dry. If you own a self-cleaning oven, remove the racks and switch it to clean mode. When the clean cycle is complete, wipe away residue with a damp cloth. Wipe down the oven exterior using disinfecting surface cleaner. If your oven has a glass cooktop, use the same type of cleaning pad you use to clean nonstick pans. Use a razor blade to remove any caked-on food. Wash gas burner grates by hand with warm, soapy water using a scouring pad on non-coated grates and a soft sponge on coated ones; some grates are designed to be dishwasher safe. To clean electric burners, remove food particles with a damp sponge. For any remaining particles, run the exhaust fan, turn the burners on high and burn them off. Use warm, soapy water to clean control knobs and dry them completely before reattaching them. Wipe down the range hood with hot, soapy water and a soft cloth and use a separate wet cloth to rinse it before drying it completely. To clean a stainless steel hood, use a specially designed spray. Remove the filter and soak it in warm water and dishwashing liquid. Gently brush the filter with a plastic scrub brush to remove greasy particles and rinse and dry the filter completely before replacing it. Unplug your refrigerator or freezer and remove any unwanted or spoiled food and keep perishable items, like meat and fish, in a cooler while you clean. Remove refrigerator shelves and soak them in soapy water in the sink. Wipe down the refrigerator walls with a mild antibacterial spray and a microfiber cloth. Take the shelves out of the sink and dry and replace them. While the refrigerator is still unplugged, clean the condenser coils, which are typically located at the back or front bottom of the unit. Use a long-handled brush or your vacuum cleaner’s crevice attachment to remove dust and dirt. Reconnect the power and refill the refrigerator. To clean your dishwasher, wipe down the door and control panel with a damp, soft cloth and dry these surfaces thoroughly. Use a specially formulated spray to clean stainless steel surfaces. To remove interior stains, place three to four ounces of citric acid crystals, which are sold at grocery and drugstores, in the detergent cup and run the dishwasher. To deodorize the unit, fill the detergent cup with vinegar and run the machine. Your microwave oven is one of the most heavily used (and dirtiest) items in your kitchen. Below are tips for deep-cleaning it. You’ll need: Microfiber cloths A tablespoon of white vinegar in a bowl of water A lemon sliced into two halves Remove any plates and moving parts and wash them separately according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the bowl in the microwave and run the unit for about five minutes. High-powered microwaves may need less time; the goal is to cover the interior walls with vinegary steam by the time the cycle ends. Wipe out the inside of the microwave with the microfiber cloth to remove debris. To remove lingering stains, use a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda mixed into one quart of water. Next, microwave your halved lemon for a minute or two to kill any remaining germs, loosen up any remaining debris and add a pleasant scent to the unit’s interior. Here to serve you Whether you want to keep your kitchen looking spotless with tips like these or its time to buy new appliances that make your life easier, Logan Master Appliance is here to serve you. We have supplied the greater Dayton, Ohio area for more than 110 years and we want to be the appliance sales and service provider you trust. Call us at (937) 853-8987 to learn more about our appliance solutions, or to schedule service today.