A Comprehensive Guide to Help You Find the Sink
Aside from the bathroom, the kitchen is probably the most used room in the house and takes a beating. But when it’s been a minute since it was last cleaned, it can be overwhelming. Even when I do it daily, the dishes have a tendency to respawn in the sink when I have my back turned.
Generally, it’s best to clean up messes as they happen. You were cooking pasta sauce, and it splattered a bit? Wiping it up before it has a chance to burn or dry on will save some elbow grease later. However, life likes to do its thing, and suddenly your kitchen looks like you just hosted the year’s best rager.
How to Conquer the Kitchen Chaos
Throw away all trash: Go around the room, throwing away wrappers, cans, empty pizza boxes, old papers, etc. When the bag is full, take it to the outdoor trash bins or dumpster. Don’t forget to put a new bag in the indoor trash can.
If your building or neighborhood has a recycling program, consider getting in on that. Sort cardboard boxes, metal cans, and plastic jugs and containers from the regular trash and put them in the appropriate bin.
Clear the clutter: find a home for everything. If you aren’t sure where it should go, consider placing it where you think you would look for it first. Just make sure it’s not in the way or taking up anyone else’s space.
Wash the dishes: collect any strays from around the house. Check bedrooms and the main sitting area for forgotten cups and plates. If you’ve been blessed with a dishwasher, make sure to load everything so the spray arms can reach the dishes, and you don’t have bowls full of dirty water. If you’re handwashing them, start with the least dirty items (like flatware and cups) and work your way to the really gross stuff (like greasy pans).
Wipe down the counter, cooktop, and table surfaces: a spray bottle filled with water and cleaner, along with a damp rag, is all you need. Don’t forget to get under small appliances! If your countertop looks expensive, make sure you’re using the right cleaners.
Laminate or soapstone: an all-purpose cleaner will get the job done.
Granite, quartz, wood, engineered wood, marble, or stainless steel: use water and a small amount of mild dish soap. Anything stronger might damage the surface.
Sweep or vacuum the floor: clear the floor of rugs and other items. If you’re using a broom, start at the edges and pull the dirt to the center of the room. Be sure to get under baseboards and appliances. Spot clean any spills or scuffs.
If you have the time: spot clean appliances, cabinets, and window smudges.
Dishwashing 101
Need a little more guidance on how to properly do dishes and tackle the cooktop? I got you.
Dishes are pretty simple. If you have been blessed with a dishwasher, your job just got a little easier.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Dishwasher, double sink with plug, or 2 small plastic tubs/containers
- Dishwasher detergent or dish soap (they are not the same!)
- Washcloth, sponge, or dish brush
- Dish rack or a large, clean towel
- Clean, dry tea towels (aka dish towels)
- Rubber cleaning gloves or disposable gloves (optional)
If you’re using a dishwasher, refer to the user manual for operating directions and detergent recommendations.
Dishwasher
Some dishwashers are basic with simple controls, while others have a variety of settings and advanced features. It’s always a good idea to consult your specific model’s operating manual, but the procedure is basically the same with most machines. Manuals for just about anything can be found online if you know who makes it and the model number. Dishwasher model numbers are usually on the side of the door.
Before loading your machine, make sure everything is dishwasher-safe. The following items are best washed by hand:
- Non-stick cookware – the heat and detergents can strip the non-stick coating
- Cast Iron – cast iron will rust easily; wash items by hand and dry immediately
- Handmade or embellished items – the heat may loosen decals or embellishments
- Wood utensils – the heat and moisture may cause them to warp or crack
- Insulated drink bottles and mugs – high temperatures may break the vacuum seal
- Sharp knives – the edges may be dulled or nicked, and a dull knife is a dangerous knife. The water and heat can also damage the wood handles.
- Other items – crystal, fine china, copper, and brass. When in doubt, wash it by hand instead.
Get ready: Scrape or rinse any excess food off plates and utensils before putting them in the rack or caddy. They don’t have to be squeaky clean, but food particles aren’t going to do your filter any favors.
Load: Everyone has their own way of loading the dishwasher. Just make sure the sprayer arms can reach everything and that the dishes aren’t positioned to collect dirty water.
That said, most people put small things, like cups, bowls, and plasticware, on the top rack and bulkier items, like plates, pots, and pans, on the bottom rack.
Utensils: Put regular utensils in the basket. There’s a debate about whether they should go business-end down or handle down, but I say, as long as they’re clean in the end, it doesn’t matter. However, sharp utensils should always be put pointy end down so no one gets hurt
Larger utensils, like large serving spoons, tongs, and spatulas, may be too large for the basket. I lay these down on the top rack.
Wash: Add dishwasher detergent to the dispenser, following the directions on the detergent package. Select your preferred wash cycle. In most cases, the “Normal” cycle is fine. If your dishes are really dirty, there is often a “Pots and Pans” cycle.
DO NOT PUT LIQUID DISH SOAP INTO THE DISHWASHER. MAKE SURE YOUR DETERGENT IS MADE FOR DISHWASHERS.
I cannot stress this enough. If you use liquid dish soap in your dishwasher, the machine will overflow and deposit soap foam all over the kitchen. At best, it’s a mess you’ll need to clean up. At worst, it could damage your floor, cabinets, and baseboards, and the residue left inside the dishwasher can make it harder to clean the dishes.
Tips: If you notice your glasses are coming out of the dishwasher cloudy, try a rinse agent. Most machines have a rinse agent dispenser in the door. On my machine, it’s the knob in the picture on the left.
If you have a lot of plastic, you may notice it doesn’t dry well. The surface of plastic generally doesn’t get hot enough to evaporate the water during the drying cycle. Propping the door open after the machine stops will help air-dry them.
Handwashing
No dishwasher? No sweat. The easiest way to do this is to get two plastic tubs. If you have a sink with two bowls and stoppers, that will do. Consider investing in a good pair of rubber gloves; your hands will thank you! My hands are typically dry, so I sometimes put on hand lotion first.
Get ready: Squirt a little dish soap in one tub or plugged side of the sink and add the hottest water you can stand. Fill the other tub or side with clean water for rinsing.
Washing: Start with the easy stuff, like cups, mugs, and flatware. Move to the dirtier dishes, like plates and bowls, and finish with the very dirty things, like greasy pots and pans. Change the water when it starts getting gross.
Drying: Place clean dishes on a dish rack or a clean towel. From here, you can dry them with a clean tea towel or let them air dry. Finish by putting them away.
A special note about cast-iron: This durable cookware will last forever if you take care of it. It’s very easy to clean, you really just need hot water and a scrubber. Back in the day, soap was never used because the lye would strip off the seasoning (the glossy black finish). These days, a little mild soap is fine to use. What you never want to do is soak it. Cast-iron rusts if you look at it funny; make sure it’s dried thoroughly. I throw mine back on a hot stove burner for a couple of minutes to make sure all of the water evaporates.
Cooktop Cleaning Basics
Keeping your cooktop clean between uses will spare you a lot of pain later. Wipe up spills as soon as you can. Once something has been burnt onto your cooktop, it’s really hard to get off.
Ask me how I know.
Gas cooktops often have enameled cast-iron burner grates that can be washed in the sink. Use a non-abrasive scrubber to clean spills from the well.
Electric coil cooktops usually have removable metal or ceramic drip pans. Carefully pull the (cool!) burner coil out of its socket and remove the pan to wash up in the sink. To make cleaning easier, line the trays with aluminum foil to catch spills before plugging the burner back in.
If the coils themselves are dirty, they can be cleaned by hand with a soapy cloth and a thin brush to get between the coils. Never submerge the coil, and make sure the plug end doesn’t get too wet. If it’s dirty, carefully clean the electrical component with a damp cloth.
On most electric coil cooktops, the entire top lifts up to allow for cleaning crumbs and spills that have somehow escaped the drip pans.
Glass cooktops require a bit more care and attention. Wiping it down after each use will keep spills from baking on. If it does get gnarly, you can use a plastic scraper to remove the crud. Avoid abrasive cleaners that will scratch the glass. Making a paste of baking soda and water will often remove stubborn messes. Commercial glass cooktop cleaners are also available.
As with most things, these aren’t hard and fast rules (except the dish soap in the dishwasher. You really don’t want to do that). You may find methods that work better for you. The whole idea is to make your kitchen a comfortable place to gather, cook, or even study.
Do you have a favorite kitchen cleaning hack? Drop it in the comments!
Next Up: The Ultimate Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
