For your kitchen cleaning spree, you will need:
All purpose cleaner - use this amazing cleaner concentrate for a safe, nontoxic alternative!
Baking soda
Broom & dustpan or a vacuum
Cleaning cloths
Coarse salt
Dish detergent/ soap – if you need a clean, plant-powered swap, this dish soap is a must
Glass cleaner – this one from Grove Collaborative is a great option
Lemon
Mop & floor cleaner – this page includes three DIY floor cleaner recipes that are safe for both tile and wood floors
Sponge
Step stool
White vinegar
To Prep
To kick off your kitchen cleaning, throw on some comfy clothes you don’t mind getting a little grimy, fill up a big bottle of water and press play on your favorite pod or playlist then let’s get to work!
First thing’s first: clear away counter clutter. You don’t need last month’s mail junking up your counter tops. It is also a good time to collect any dishes from around your home and hand wash or throw them in the dishwasher. If you’re going with the latter, go ahead and turn that sucker on so it can get to work while you do.
Get Started
Take everything off of the countertops to prep for spring cleaning and spray with a safe all-purpose cleaner. Wipe down your countertops AND backsplash! Make sure to wipe off
any appliances or utensils that may be collecting dust or food gunk before putting them back. Use a wet sponge to scrub any more splatter or scuff marks off of the walls and carefully wipe down electrical outlets and light switches. Clean any windows or glass surfaces with a nontoxic glass cleaner.
Take out your trash, recycling, and/or compost bins and clean the waste containers well by spraying down the outsides. If you have a garden hose, now is a good time to take your containers outside to wash out with dish soap and leave to dry in the sun while you’re busy cleaning!
Oven, Range, & Microwave
Deep clean the stovetop. Use white vinegar in a spray bottle as a cheap, easy, chemical-free way to cut through grease. Thoroughly spray down the outside of your oven and your stovetop, not forgetting the knobs! Remove any gas grates or coils if you have them to really get in there. Let the vinegar do it’s thing while you clear out any burnt food droppings from the floor of your oven. If your oven has a steam clean option, add the suggested amount of water to the oven floor and start the cleaning cycle – otherwise, spray the inside of your oven with vinegar before wiping down. Now you’re ready to scrub the stovetop with a sponge to loosen up any grease & food bits before wiping clean!
To clean the microwave, slice and juice half of a lemon into a bowl of water and microwave for 5 mins to steam the inside of your micro – this loosens up tough food splatters and makes it easier to wipe down! This is an essential spring cleaning hack. Spray an all purpose cleaner (or the vinegar if your microwave is super greasy) on the outside of your microwave while the inside is steaming. Wipe down both the outside and inside of your micro with a cloth.
While you’re in the zone, go ahead and scrub down any other appliances that have food residue as necessary (i.e. blender, toaster oven, pressure cooker, etc.).
Pantry
Even pantries need a good spring cleaning! Take everything out of your pantry and spray the shelves with an all-purpose cleaner before wiping down. Don’t skimp on this part – the
pantry is where you store food so you want the space nice and clean! Before putting the items back, check labels and throw out any food products that have expired or that you know you will never use, making sure to compost & recycle as you go, if you’re able. Be sure to wipe down any yucky sauce and oil lids/ nozzles as you put your pantry items away in an organized manner.
Fridge
Start by dusting off the top of your fridge – you may need a step stool to do this! Then spray down and wipe off the outside of your fridge, paying attention to scrub off any finger smudges. Like the pantry, you’ll want to take everything out of the fridge to get a deep clean. Clean the fridge shelves and drawers by either removing them and hand washing
with a nontoxic dish soap or by using your trusty all-purpose cleaner. Vinegar is a good option to use again if the inside of your fridge is particularly icky and sticky. Make sure to spray and wipe down the inside walls of your fridge, as well as the door making sure to get into all of the little nooks and crannies!
Check for spoiled items to toss again, wiping down anything that’s getting gross as you go before restocking your fridge. Now is a good time to get organized by setting aside items that need to be used up soon.
Repeat these steps for spring cleaning your freezer!
Cabinets, Shelves, & Drawers
Dust the top of your cabinets if applicable before spraying and wiping down your cabinet doors. Take everything off of the shelves and out of the drawers before cleaning with your all-purpose cleaner. If you have open shelving, you may need to dust the shelves first.
This is a good time to rethink your kitchen organization and put things away mindfully and in an organized manner (tip: pull items to the very front of shelves so you have better sight/ it looks nicer!) During this step, you may come across some forgotten items, tired utensils, or things you no longer need. Consider making a donation pile as you go!
Under the Sink
Once again, take everything out and clean the cabinet floor. Wipe down any products that need it, throw out any nasty old sponges and put everything back in an organized, functional fashion. This is a great time to take inventory of your cleaning products and make a list of anything you’re running low on or that you may want to replace with safer, more eco-friendly products.
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Dishwasher and Sink
If you started your dishwasher before, it should now be time to unload your dishes. To deep clean the inside of the dishwasher, run it empty with some vinegar. Clean the outside of the dishwasher as well at this time.
Now it’s time to deep clean the sink and drain – generously pour coarse salt into your sink and scrub with the other half of the lemon. If you have a stainless steel sink this step will be extra satisfying as you watch your sink get shinier and shinier! Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pour some baking soda down the drain, along with vinegar for a deep clean before rinsing and running the disposal.
Floors
Sweep or vacuum your floors thoroughly! Get under the cabinets and in any cracks. Don’t forget to scrub the moulding along your floorboards with a sponge – just hot water should do here. Finally, it is time to mop up those floors with your DIY floor cleaner and call it a day!
Hopefully you made it through and your kitchen is cleaner than ever. Next time you’re at the farmer’s market or your local grocery store, go ahead and treat yourself to a fresh bouquet of flowers – sunflowers are a personal fave to add a bright bit of happy to the kitchen!
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