Maintaining a Clean and Tidy Kitchen: Tips for Home Cooks

Is your kitchen the centre of chaos while cooking meals? Food splatters, oil spills, grime, and gunk on surfaces like cabinets, countertops, appliances, and sinks can breed lethal germs, such as E. coli. These can cause various health hazards, such as food poisoning, pneumonia, abdomen infections, etc.

Thus, regular cleaning is crucial if you are a home cook and want to maintain a clean and tidy kitchen. No matter how busy you are, wipe down the mess and keep the dirt at bay to prevent foodborne disease outbreaks.  Day-to-day cleaning can prevent grime, gunk, and grease accumulation and help you return a rental property to pristine condition with minimal effort.

So, here are some pro tips and tricks to help home cooks maintain a clean, sparkling, organised and hygienic kitchen. Ensure you use eco-friendly products to tackle stains and spills from almost all surfaces.

Let’s Get Started!

1. Keep Your Kitchen As Minimal As Possible

Is your countertop occupied with unnecessary items, including jars, utensils, and appliances? Too many items can also make your kitchen look dirty and unorganised and create more mess when cooking.

So, it is good to eliminate unwanted items and clear the pantry by tossing expired or empty food content. Also, organise your countertops to make them look visually organised. The best part is that you can easily encounter and tackle food spills and splatters. It is good to delclutter before the arrival of professional bond cleaners Gold Coast and experience quality service.

Tip: Donate the pre-loved items you no longer need and make your kitchen look spacious.

2. Use Splatter Guards or Screens

Splatter guards or screens are handy tools for maintaining a clean kitchen. They spread out and surround your pan to prevent splatters and maintain a clean and shiny stovetop, countertop, and backsplash area. This will also save you time and energy on scrubbing.

Tip: Ensure you buy a splatter guard that can easily cover your pot and pan. You can also prepare a DIY stove cleaner to get rid of build up grease and grime.

3. Designate a Large Garbage Bowl

It is hard to avoid dirt and grime when preparing meals on a daily basis. To keep your cooking station clean, designate a big bowl and put it on the counter. Use it as a temporary bin for vegetable and fruit waste, such as potato or onion skins, celery ends, etc. However, do not toss wet trash as it can linger with unpleasant odours and breed harmful germs.

Tip: Empty the temporary garbage bowl into the kitchen dustbin once you are done with cooking.

4. Act on Spills and Splatters Immediately

According to Expert Bond Cleaners Gold Coast, it is always important to act on spills and splatters immediately. The longer a spill or splatter sits, the higher the chance it will spread and cause damage.

So, grab a damp microfiber cloth and wipe down the stovetop and countertop after preparing your meals. Use baking soda and water to wipe down dirty surfaces for effective results. Baking soda is a natural cleaning product that can help you tackle stains, lingering germs and bad odours in a breeze.

5. Clean As You Go

This is more than just a cleaning tip. Every home cook should develop this habit and spruce up their kitchen as they cook. Loading dirty dishes, pans, containers, and cutting boards into the dishwasher takes less than 5-10 minutes. So, clean as you cook and save precious time.

If you have time between recipe preparations, use it to clean or toss unwanted items. Take one task at a time to maintain a clean kitchen. You can also prepare a weekend cleaning plan and deep clean your kitchen and other dirt-laden areas of your home.

Tip: Use lemon and baking soda as a natural disinfectant. Gently rub over your cutting board or other surface to kill germs and bacteria. This will also banish the lingering smell.

6. Use Baking Mats or Aluminium Foil When Baking

Do not forget to line baking pans and sheets with baking mats and foil paper. This prevents sauce, oil and other liquid from spilling on the surface of your kitchen appliances, saving you cleaning time and energy.

Baking mats create a heat-resistant, non-stick layer that prevents spills from dripping onto the appliance floor. Toss the dirty foil or wipe down the baking mats with a damp cloth.

7. Clean Your Oven and Microwave Regularly

Filthy kitchen appliances are the prime reason for rental disputes in the Gold Coast, QLD. Whether you use baking mats or not, some stains and gunk can accumulate on your appliances. So, make sure you regularly clean the oven and microwave to maintain their pristine shine and functionality.

When cleaning your oven, remove and soak the racks in hot water. Then, apply a layer of baking soda and water (except heating coils) and spray a vinegar solution to get rid of buildup grime and burnt food particles.

On the other hand, you can clean your microwave using a steam cleaning technique. Pour the vinegar, water, and lemon juice into a bowl and microwave it for 2-3 minutes. Leave the door closed and let the steam break down grime and gunk. Later, wipe down the surface with a damp sponge and cloth and let it dry completely.

8. Do the Dishes Before Going to Bed

Piles of dirty dishes in the sink can make your kitchen look dirty and messy. It can also harbour harmful germs and bacteria. So, it is good to do the dishes every night before going to bed. This will reduce your stress and promote quality sleep.

Believe it or not! This hack is wonderful for busy professionals. Having clean dishes ready in the morning can save you a lot of time as you don’t have to wash them before preparing for breakfast.

However, if you are at the end of your tenancy and moving out soon, book experts for a budget bond cleaning Gold Coast and secure their full bond money. Professionals thoroughly clean your kitchen, bathrooms and other important areas according to the pre-approved end of lease cleaning checklist and help you pass the rental inspection.

Tips to Maintain a Clean Kitchen for Home Cooks

Wrapping Up

Home cooks often face challenges maintaining a clean, organised and germ-free kitchen. However, these pro tips will help them reduce clutter, mess and splatters while cooking. You can even tackle grime and gunk using natural cleaning products and enjoy a healthy indoor environment.