Well ladies, it’s Monday again. It seems like every week at about this time, it’s a Monday. I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the only one who’s not a fan of Mondays.
Part of the reason I hate Mondays is because during the weekend, I don’t do any cleaning aside from my morning and evening routines. As a result, some Mondays I’m greeted by the catastrophe that is my house. The logical solution would be to, of course, do some cleaning over the weekend, but gosh darn it… I’m just too lazy. So Mondays, I’m all about the cleaning that is thorough, effective, and most of all, quick. That’s why I’m very glad that Mondays are Kitchen Day in my cleaning schedule. Because we’re there in it all the time, we’re kind of forced to keep it moderately clean, making it quicker to clean on the days where I have to clean it. All things being equal, I can completely clean my kitchen in about 10-15 minutes, from top to bottom. 20 if Mr. Stepford did the cooking all weekend. Really, I don’t devote more than an hour a day to cleaning my house.
Impossible, you say? Well, watch this:
Kitchen Cleaning Routine
Fill a bowl of water with lime juice and water, microwave for 2-3 minutes
While microwaving water, fill up both sides of sink with hot, soapy water, about 4 inches worth
With a broom, knock down cobwebs from ceiling, working clockwise around the room
With a microfiber cloth that’s dampened with some of the hot, soapy water, wipe down spots on upper cabinets (again working clockwise around the room)
With same microwiber cloth, wipe spots and stains off the wall and tile backsplashes that are above the counters. Wipe any appliance you come across as you go by (excluding stove, fridge, microwave… Just hit things like mixers, decorative knick-knacks, toaster ovens, etc). You’re still going clockwise, right?
Wipe off spots on lower cabinets, and wipe down the space between the bottom of the cabinets and the floor. I don’t have to tell you to keep going clockwise…
Now, with a new microfiber rag, open up the microwave and wipe it clean, cleaning the ceiling of the microwave first, then back, sides, and finally bottom and door. Clean out around the door seal too.
Time to hit the stove… Using the same cloth you cleaned the microwave with (unless it’s nasty, then get a new cloth), wipe it down with the soapy sink water. Don’t forget to clean the top of the oven door, the sides of the oven door, and the drip pans.
Counter time! Spray a fresh microfiber cloth with a vinegar and water spray, or a glass cleaner with disinfectant in it (yes, there is such a thing), and wipe down all of the counters, working clockwise, and wiping down the top and sides of the microwave, oven, and sink as you go.
Finally, with the hot soapy water, scrub the sink, rinse, spray and wipe/buff with glass cleaner, and… If you feel like it, wipe the insides of the sink with baby oil to prevent stains and water marks (and make it super shiny).
Ta da!
It sounds like a lot, but really once you’ve done it a few times, you can crank right through the routine. There are just three key things to remember:
1. You’re not cleaning to make things perfect, you’re cleaning to make things better than they were before you started.
2. Cleaning is an investment… The more you clean, the easier it will become. So the first time you do the routine, it might take you 30 minutes, but as you clean over and over, there will be less to clean.
3. Clean only what needs to be cleaned. If it doesn’t need to be cleaned, don’t waste your time. If your cabinets all look great, except for a couple spots from where you dropped tomato sauce, then just clean those spots. No need to clean the whole thing every time you clean. By cleaning only what needs cleaning, you save yourself a ton of time and energy… There are, of course, exceptions to this rule… Such as when something needs to be disinfected. Your toilet and counters might look clean, but I’d give them a wipe with the ol’ disinfectant anyway. 
So, enough of that. I made some Banana Bread, and it’s time to eat. LOL!
Until next time!
