©2009 Professional Organizer - Lea Schneider is the author of Growing-Up Organized: A Mom to Mom Guide available at Amazon.com.

Lea provides one-on-one organizing advice via phone and email through Organize Online division at her company website, Organize Right Now.

Her advice is featured here at What's Cooking America in a monthly column. You may have read her expert organizing ideas in Woman’s Day, Natural Health, College News, and Better Homes and Gardens Kids’ Rooms magazines and newspapers. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and the Association of Food Journalists.

Check out all of Lea Schneider's helpful home and kitchen columns at Organizing Kitchens, Pantries, Menus and Meals.
 

Winter’s the perfect time to make a clean-break with kitchen grime

Even the tidiest of kitchens needs a “good going over,” as my mother used to say. Winter is a great time to tackle this traditional spring-cleaning chore. After all, when beautiful spring days arrive, you won’t want to spend them cleaning!

With an organized cleaning routine, you’ll zip through this in no time.

1. Work from the top down

Cleaning high spaces is bound to shake loose some dust. You don’t want to re-clean the countertops or floors so start at the top

Remove any home décor from the tops of cabinets, if they are the open-top style. Dust or wash the décor. Rinse artificial plants of dust and set aside to dry.

Vacuum dust bunnies from the cabinet tops. Replace décor.

Wipe down the outside of upper cabinets with mild, soapy warm water.

Clean the top of the fridge.

2. Check out the walls

Clean off any splatters on walls or fingerprints on door jams.

Use glass cleaner to clean any framed pictures or clocks. You’ll find they may have a thin film of grease on them.

Use clean soapy water to wash backsplashes. If you have tile, you might need a soft brush to clean in the grout areas. Dry with a soft towel.

3. Hit the appliances

Clear the clutter from the outside of the fridge.

Wipe all the appliances first with warm, soapy water to remove food and grease. Begin with the stove hood followed by the stove. You can then follow this with an appropriate stainless steel polish or for other finishes; a glass cleaner will give you a shiny finish.

If needed, this is a great time to turn on your self-cleaning oven and wipe out the microwave.

Begin your microwave cleaning by heating a cup of water so that the steam from it softens any splatters.

4. Finish up

Continue your cabinet cleaning by washing the face of the lower cabinets.

Wipe off baseboards.

Clean the inside and outside of the trash can.

Do countertops last to insure they remain sanitary. Clear the clutter and then wipe off countertops, making sure to use clean water, clean sponge or a bit of disinfectant of your choice.

Sweep and then mop the floor.