The Forgotten Ones – Part One
In this mini series, we will cover some of the least thought about spots in our homes, that tend to get neglected when we are cleaning. If you are on the verge of a whole house deep clean, planning your spring cleaning, or nesting prior to a new baby’s arrival, this is the article for you!
While most of us clean the obvious spots, the most used areas, the stuff you can actually see, it can be frightening to realize the areas we don’t tend to very often, can actually be out of hand, right under our noses. While the initial shock may be disgusting with dirt and dust build up, and whatever else may come along with being left for too long, the satisfaction of cleaning that spot will be beyond measure. So buckle up, you’re about to be reminded of some areas that could use your attention.
Home Cleaning that is Easily Neglected – The Kitchen
The Oven – Luckily, most ovens these days come with self-cleaning features, just set it and forget it. But we should also be paying attention to the aftermath of self-cleaning. Wiping down the inside after the setting has be completed. Cleaning off the glass door window. Consider soaking or wiping down the racks and elements. Let’s not forget about the hood range up above, giving that a moment of tender love and care. Vacuum out the lower drawer if you have one build in and review what you have stored in there, some things can likely get tossed or donated. Pay attention to this appliance, from top to bottom.
The Utensil Drawer – I find it remarkable how much junk and gunk and debris gets inside of a utensil drawer. In between the actual utensils in the organizing tray… people, we eat with those items! Let’s not allow nastiness to be tampering with our sanitized dinnerware. Give the whole drawer itself a good vacuum and wipe down, and soak the utensil drawer, every now and then.
Kitchen Drawers & Cabinets – On the same topic, go through all of your kitchen drawers and cabinets and give them a good vacuum or wipe down or both. This is also an opportunity to review what is inside each spot and purge things that you no longer use, have never used or have no use for.
Reusable Water Bottles – Personally, I use these every single day. We should be cleaning these everyday. Plain and simple.
Dishwasher Filters – Did you know your dishwasher had a filter? Now you do, clean it out. Here is a video about where to find these and how to clean them.
Drying Racks – I try to clean ours, at minimum, once a week, but quite often I am cleaning it more. It is used so much throughout the day, it can seem harder to find a clearing in time to give it a good cleaning. But it is important, especially for the bottle drying racks, to maintain the sanitization on them, to prevent cross contaminating your clean dishes with gunk or mold or stagnant water building up.
Fruit & Veggie Trays or Bowls – Another spot that can build up mold or crumbs or all kinds of dirty messes. Before I refill ours each week after our grocery run, I give it a shake out and a wipe down.
Knife Blocks – Wipe these down at least once a week. Grease splashed or sprayed food from pots and pans, dust and airborne dirt can all play a part in creating a mess onto your sterilized knives and storage place. These tend to be a quick grab and go convenience, let’s not infect it and spoil this luxury.
The Toaster – Ever smell burning when you just inserted something to be toasted? There is likely a mass collection of crumbs built up inside of your toaster. There is usually a built in tray known as the crumb catcher in the lower portion of your toaster. It is a good idea to empty this out often. Better yet, turn your toaster upside down over your sink or garbage and give it a good shake. It’s amazing what builds up within these small appliances.
Garbage Bins – Even when using liners and bags, things leak, stuff spills and items rot. Give your garbage bin, recycling bin and compost bucket a good soak and cleaning every once in a while. I would try for every week on garbage day or whenever you are emptying them, but realistically, life is too busy for that. At the least, once a month, pay a little extra attention to these areas. And try to wipe down the inside of the cabinet door that it is set behind, it’s amazing what can be splashed up and what nasty build up can occur on the inside of these cabinets.
The kitchen is a well-loved, highly used area of our home. It is also where we prepare meals for ourselves and our families. We should be maintaining a safe and tidy environment to work in and cleanliness plays a key role in the health of our families, let’s not neglect this.
Tune into Part Two – The Household.
Melanie xoxox