Spring Cleaning- Kitchen

Have I been horrible at taking my after pics?! I can't believe these weeks are just flying by. And so many more things to do. If I set aside chores (barn), kid's activities, and regular housecleaning, I would still have church things (Women's ministry party coming up in May, board meeting in 2 weeks- need to have board minutes done, worship team, nursery schedules made, small group, and finishing up the pictorial directory layout! ) and all of the unexpected things that come along. Am I singin' a tune anyone else knows? :)

Well, today start the biggest job I will have in my home. The kitchen.

But first, some "fun" facts for you today...

Top Ten Dirtiest things in Your Home:

#1. The Bathtub
#2. The Kitchen Drain
#3. The Telephone
#4. Your Toothbrush
#5. The Remote Control
#6. Computer Keyboard and Mouse
#7. Wooden Cutting Board
#8. Behind Appliances
#9. The Top of the Refrigerator
#10. Doorknobs

This coming from Howtocleanstuff.net

Several of these items you see here are found in the KITCHEN!

On another search of the GERMIEST places:

#1- Sponges (solution: run through dishwasher or in microwave)

#2- Women's purses (where do you set your purse when you potty in public? And then wash your hands?)

#3- Men's Wallets (you sit on them and keep them nice and warm...)

#4- Make-up Case

#5- Remote Control

#6- Pillows & Mattress (The average person sheds about 1.5 million skin cells per hour and perspires one quart per day while doing nothing...)

#7- Refillable liquid soap dispensers! (They suggest not to reuse them!)

#8- PDAs, Personal digital assistants ( like a Blackberry)

#9- Phones

#10- Bottoms of desks drawers (inside, because of food and things stored in desks)

#11- Computer Mouse

#12- Door Handles

These were compiled by Life Script.

You ready to clean yet?

So, let's get started:

• Start with a general clean-up of your kitchen
• Go cupboard by cupboard

- Take everything out, look at expirations, wipe down shelving, add shelf liners, reorganize

- Fix squeaky doors, add bumpers to doors so they don't slam shut

- Put "like" things together, so thing are more organized

- Put stockpiled items in a separate location???

- Consider taking inventory of what you have.

• Take everything off of your counters- wipe down everything, remove anything that does not need to be there.
• Wipe down all cupboard fronts
• Clean all decorations, wipe down with damp cloth or wash in soapy water
• Refrigerator

- Clean off top

- Take everything out (check expirations)

- Wipe down shelves, or take out and wash

- Put things back in, organize

- Add a box of baking soda, to take away odors

• Freezer (clean out the same way as fridge)
• Microwave (heat a cup of water with 1/2 cup of lemon juice for 2 minutes, then wipe down inside!)
• Clean oven top and inside!
• Clean oven vent hood.
• Garbage Can- Clean out, wipe down, clean garbage area
• Clean floors, windows, curtains

Dining Area

• Thoroughly wipe down table tops and legs, underside
• get a new centerpiece for spring or revive the old one!
• Clean floors thoroughly
• Clean decor
• Get rid of anything that doesn't belong
• Clean windows and curtains
• Thought about saving money on napkins? Get cloth ones!

Oh, where to start! I guess with a general clean-up... Then my goals are to get some cupboards organized. I have been making a lot more food from scratch, and thus needing less of the "boxed" foods. So I need to reorganize the spaces where I kept some of the boxed items.

I also want to do a THOROUGH wipe down of everything. I did this about a month ago actually. I caught a mouse under my sink (the "entry point" is where I keep all of my cleaners!), and it grossed me out so much, I cleaned and wiped down a bunch at that time. I want to do this again, and extend it to other parts of my kitchen.

What is YOUR plan? Please share in the comments section, or by linking up!