For the last two weeks, we’ve been cleaning the pantry, refrigerator and freezer. While these are huge chores, and I’m so happy they are finished, there is still work to be done. Now we need to clean the rest of the kitchen. But I can hear your questions: What does any of this have to do with prepping and planning? I’ve taken care of all the food and its proper storage, so why do I need to clean out the rest of the kitchen?
Because food and water are two of the most important issues when it comes to emergencies, and the room where we spend all our time preparing and storing food needs constant attention. While today’s homework is simple, it’s not easy and may take you a while depending on the size of your kitchen.
Since you don’t have to deal with the food (we’ve already done that), we are looking at appliances, cabinets, drawers, countertops, and the floor. While taking everything out of the cabinets is a lot of work, it also shows a commitment to your family, yourself, and your planner mindset. The idea is that if you go through all of your kitchen possessions, and can organize and pare down, you open up space for storing things you need more. An extra case of soup. Plastic jugs of water. Maybe even cans of emergency freeze-dried food.
So let’s get started:
Cleaning the oven
- If you have a self-cleaning oven (and it needs to be cleaned), turn it on now.
- If you use a spray oven cleaner, grab your gloves and spray the inside. Then follow the directions for how long it needs to sit.
Cleaning the Kitchen
- If there are dishes in the sink, wash and dry them, and then put them away. Or, if there are dishes in the dishwasher, turn it on and let the dishes run even if it’s not full.
- Just like with the pantry, grab a trash bag, set up a folding table (if you don’t have enough space on your counter and kitchen table), and take everything out of the non-food cabinets and everyone on the counter. And I mean everything! It’s only when everything is out that you can see if you have duplicates or things that should be stored together but aren’t.
- Using a good all-purpose cleanser (here’s a recipe for my favorite one), spray and wipe down the insides and shelves. Then do the same thing with the outsides of the cabinets and the handles. If you use shelf paper, now is the time to replace any torn bits.
- While the cabinets are drying, sort through your belongings. Be ruthless. Do you need four frying pans the same size? Or all those old, stained dish towels? Donate or throw out what you can’t fix or don’t need anymore. This could take time so make sure to build in some snack time and breaks. The less tired you are, the better decisions you’ll make. As you do this, make a list of any items you realize you need to buy/replace.
- Throw any dirty/used linens and dishtowels into the wash.
- Once everything is sorted and you know what you’re going to keep, put it all away. If you decide you want to store items in baskets, or other storage containers, set them aside until you purchase them. If you don’t have room to set them aside, temporarily store them in a cabinet or drawer–just don’t forget that you wanted to organize them differently.
- Set aside anything that is going back on the counters–we’ll do that after we clean them.
- Now the cabinets are clean, inside and out, and everything you’re keeping is put away nicely.
- If the oven cleaning cycle is finished, clean up the ash. Or if the oven cleaner is ready to be scraped off, grab your gloves and finish the task.
- If you have small appliances, clean them of crumbs and drips and polish the outside with an appropriate cleanser.
- Clean the counter with whatever cleanser it requires. Granite and marble need a different cleaner than formica.
- Next up is the dishwasher. Empty it if you ran it earlier. (see directions below)
- Clean the sink. (see directions below)
- And, finally, sweep and mop the kitchen floor!!!
Cleaning the Sink
- Remove everything from the sink and rinse it. If there is a lot of food residue, use a bit of dish soap and use a sponge to swish and swipe. Rinse again.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the bottom and sides of the entire sink. Use it liberally and cover as much of the surface as you can.
- With a sponge soaked in hot water, scrub the baking soda in a circular motion. Make sure to get the all of the sides as well as the bottom. If you are worried about scratching your sink, use a soft rag instead of a sponge.
- Baking soda is mildly abrasive and shouldn’t hurt a stainless steel or porcelain/ceramic sink.
- With the baking soda still in the sink, use a soft toothbrush to get into crevices beneath the counter rim and around the drain(s) and any other areas that are hard to reach.
- Pour white vinegar all over and around the sink. The vinegar and baking soda will react and foam up. This will help break up the grease grime that has attached itself to the baking soda and make it go down the drain easier.
- Keep pouring vinegar until all of the baking soda is rinsed away.
- Baking soda and vinegar will NOT clog your drain.
- Rinse the sink with warm water. Keep rinsing until all of the vinegar and baking soda have washed away. You’ll know if you missed any spots because there will be streaks.
- Dry the sink well with a soft towel. If you find any spots you missed, use a bit of baking soda and vinegar to clean that spot again. The sink stay clean for about two weeks.
- If you want a shiny sink, use a lemon slice and all over the sink.
- If you have a garbage disposal, cut up a lemon into small pieces and run them through the disposal until they are all pulverized. You will immediately smell the difference!
- While you are cleaning the sink, soak the drain covers in a bowl with 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 Tablespoon of baking soda. The mixture will foam up and soak the drain covers for 15 minutes. Rinse under warm water and dry.
- If you don’t have a garbage disposal, you’ll need to clean the drain.
- Boil a big pot of water and pour it down the drain.
- Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. It will sit on top of the drain at first. That’s okay.
- Pour 1 cup of vinegar down on top of the baking soda and down the drain. Things will get foamy and frothy and that’s good. That means it is working.
- Pour another 1 cup of hot tap water over the vinegar and baking soda and down the drain.
- Pour another big pot of boiling water down the drain.
Deep Cleaning the Dishwasher
- With a damp cloth or sponge, wipe away spots or residue that splashed around or settled onto the interior surface of the door. Check the door handles, edges, and dishwasher controls. Just use warm water. DO not use any kind of cleaner, especially cleaners that contain vinegar or bleach.
- Use an old toothbrush, soaked in warm water, to gently scrub the rubber seal. Dry with a soft towel.
- If there is mold or mildew anywhere in the interior or rubber seal, check the owner’s manual. You cannot use any kind of bleach product on stainless steel, and you can’t use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide on ceramic interiors. If at all possible, clean the mold or mildew by gently scrubbing with warm water. Or use whatever the manufacturer recommends.
- Clean the filter
- If you don’t know where the filter is, check the owner’s manual.
- Unlock and remove the filter. Rinse it in the sink under warm water.
- With a soft toothbrush, gently scrub the mesh screen and plastic frame to remove any grime and grease that may have accumulated.
- Lock the filter back into place.
NOTE: On a monthly basis, you may want to try the Cascade Deep Cleaning tabs. They contain surfactants that remove grease and bits of food. Always check your manufacturer’s manual before using any new product.
It’s Time to Celebrate!
I know you’re exhausted but take a moment to step back and appreciate all the hard work. Now you know how much storage space you have available and any appliances or tools you need to buy. And in a few weeks, we’ll be ready to move on to the concept of long term emergency food storage. But, in the meantime, kick back and relax with your favorite snack and maybe romance novel!
