Tips For Cleaning Your Kitchen Much, Much Faster
Kitchen cleaning doesn’t have to be such a time sink. Most of us go through the same steps and routine without realizing there are faster, smarter ways to get it done. Just a few simple changes can shave tons of time off your kitchen-cleaning duties, giving you more time to appreciate the results of your work (or go relax after all that cleaning). Here are a few tips for getting your kitchen cleaner, faster.
Use a Dish Tub System
Instead of letting dirty dishes scatter across the counter, keep a plastic tub or bin in the sink. Everything that gets used goes straight into it, even during meal prep. This contains the mess, helps make it easy to clear the sink, and makes dish transfer to the dishwasher that much faster. It also stops food scraps from spreading everywhere, which means less bits of food down your sink drain.
Pre-Line Problem Areas
Grease and crumbs collect in the same spots: the oven bottom, fridge shelves, under the toaster, etcetera. Lining these areas with foil, parchment, or removable mats can cut down cleaning time more than you might think. Should you spill something or even during routine cleaning time, all you have to do is pull out the liner and replace it. It’s faster than scrubbing dried-on messes or sweeping up every little crumb.
Keep a Razor Scraper Handy
A small razor scraper is one of the best, fastest, yet oft-forgotten tools for stuck-on gunk. Instead of endless scrubbing on glass stovetops, counters, or oven doors, a scraper can lift it instantly. It’ll minutes every time you run into hardened spills that a sponge just smears around. Make sure you’re always being careful and using the scraper safely, though. They’re sharp!
Steam to Loosen Everything
Instead of scrubbing, use steam. A bowl of hot water in the microwave softens dried food so it wipes away easily. The same trick works for stovetops and even fridge drawers, just place a towel soaked in hot water on sticky areas, let it sit, then wipe. Steam breaks down grime much faster than elbow grease.
Double Up with Microfiber Gloves
Microfiber gloves make wiping down surfaces faster because you can clean with both hands at once. Run them over appliances, cabinet doors, or even light switches in seconds. They pick up dust and grease better than paper towels and can be tossed in the wash after. Using them as gloves also means it’s easier to get into, and thus clean, the nooks and crannies.
Batch Similar Tasks
Jumping from dishes to counters to floors makes the process drag out longer than it needs to. Plan the order ahead of time and group similar tasks together, like washing all the dishes in one go, then wipe all surfaces, then finish with the floor. Your brain and body stay in the same motion, you get into a groove, which will help things move faster. You’ll have better momentum and find yourself swapping tasks easier once you know the previous one is fully finished.
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Cleaning the kitchen will always be a chore, but it doesn’t need to eat up so much time. There are tons of ways you can speed up the process while still feeling like your kitchen is truly clean. Order out your tasks, devise a plan, and think of ways you can work smarter instead of harder. You’ll be surprised how many minutes you’ll free up.
Daniel Mitchell
