by Brandi McDaniel

Created on: May 22, 2009

Out of all the rooms in your house, the kitchen should be the cleanest. It is the room in which you cook and eat on a daily basis. If it is not kept clean, you and your family could get sick. To prevent that from happening, there are simple things that you can do each day. If you and your family get in the habit of cleaning up the kitchen daily, it will not only be cleaner, but there will be no overwhelming mess to "deal with later".

First, get rid of clutter. If something does not pertain to cooking or eating, it probably does not belong in the kitchen. Find a different place to hang your coat (not on the back of the kitchen chair). Do not let the table hold a pile of mail and your purse.

For those of you who have pets that eat in the kitchen as well, you should consider putting a placemat under their food and water bowls. This might sound silly, but if you think about it, pets make a mess when they eat, just like we do. The difference is that they are not able to clean up their mess like we are. When you go to clean up, it will be alot easier to just wipe off the placemat.

If you clean up as you cook, it will be easier at the end. Throw away trash as you go. Clean up spills as soon as they happen. They are alot easier to clean before they dry. Have hot, soapy water in the sink for dishes to soak in, until you can wash them. You should wash dishes after each meal, so that they do not pile up. If you wait to long before washing them, they will start to stink, and possibly cause gnats.

After washing the dishes, take a few minutes to wipe down the kitchen. Wipe the counter tops, the stove, the table and chairs, the fridge. Wipe the inside and outside of the microwave (you can take the glass plate out of there and wash it with the dishes).

The floor should be swept everyday as well. We bring in dirt on our shoes everyday, so the floor needs cleaned everyday. You can probably get away with mopping once a week.

It would be a good idea to clean out the fridge once a week. The ideal time for this, would be before a trip to the grocery store, and/or around trash day. Throw away anything that looks or smells spoiled. Remember the saying, "When in doubt, throw it out".

Speaking of trash, there are ways to make that part of cleaning up easier too. Always line the trash can with a trash bag. Do not pour any liquids into the trash can (they can cause an odor). When the trash can is full, take the bag out, and replace it with a new one (you can only stuff the bag so full). It does not hurt to wash out the trash can, in between uses, to prevent or stop odors and germs.

Keeping your kitchen clean does not have to be a hassle. Just follow these simple guidelines. Get the family involved too. They help make the mess, it is only fair that they help clean it up.

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