Quick Hit Cleaning – Kitchen Edition

Welcome to the “Quick Hit Cleaning” series. Today’s topic – the kitchen!

Spring is finally here. Everyone wants to freshen up their home and tackle some of those big projects that we may have been avoiding. I know I have been wanting to organize and scrapbook piles of photos for the past ten years! I will get around to that one…eventually! But today, let’s talk about some often overlooked cleaning tasks that are quick and easy to do!

The kitchen is the central point of everyone’s home and, usually, the messiest. I know there is a steady supply of dishes in my sink and crumbs on my countertops even though there are only two of us in the house! While I do keep on top of the kitchen, there are some areas that I tend to neglect because they aren’t as visible. Here is a list of kitchen areas to clean that won’t take a lot of effort!

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Quick Hit Cleaning #1 – Coffeemaker

The electric coffeemaker has to be the most used appliance in my kitchen! After our morning coffee, I usually give the hot plate a quick wipe after washing the carafe and emptying the filter. Over time, calcium deposits can build up and I find the brewed coffee doesn’t take as fresh. A deep clean can be done fairly quickly with just a few steps:

1. Fill the entire carafe (I have a Cuisinart 12-cup^* similar here) with a mixture of approximately ¾ water and ¼ white vinegar.
2. Pour the mixture into the coffeemaker, replace the empty filter, and run the coffeemaker as usual.
3. Wash the filter and carafe again.
4. Repeat the process, this time using 100% water (this step is to remove any lingering vinegar).
5. Rinse the filter and carafe and you are done!

^*My coffeemaker has an additional plastic piece that holds a charcoal water filter which needs replacing. I just ordered a bunch of charcoal water filters and promised myself to deep clean the coffeemaker and replace the filter once a month!

Quick Hit Cleaning #2 – Blender

We use our Vitamix blender at least twice a day. Even though I wash it after every use, the rubber lid and plug do not always look clean. There are even a few areas where black mold seems to get trapped in the lid plug. With repeated use, the container can get cloudy from mineral buildup. Mineral buildup can be caused by hard water or by the healthy minerals in the greens used in green smoothies. When I see this, I know it’s time for a deep cleaning.

1. Fill the pitcher halfway with warm water and a drop or two of dish detergent. Cover and run the blender on high or use the self-clean cycle if it has one (the Vitamix does).
2. Empty the contents and rinse everything clean.
3. If there are especially dirty areas, make a baking soda paste by mixing together a bit of baking soda and water. Dip a paper towel into the paste and rub the inside of your container in a circular motion to remove the dirt. Rinse clean.
4. Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the pitcher. Add a little white vinegar. Then top with warm water and let sit for about fifteen minutes. I like to place the lid plug inside the container during this time to give that a thorough cleaning too.
5. Rinse thoroughly.
6. Take a cotton swab and rub around all of the tight areas of the rubber lid and lid plug. This usually takes a few cotton swabs.
7. Repeat step 1.
8. Turn the container upside down and let air dry.
9. Wipe the outside of the blender unit with a damp cloth.
10. If you have a Vitamix blender, you can also peel up the centering pad on the motor base, clean the pad and motor base, wipe dry, and replace the pad.

Quick Hit Cleaning #3 – Under the Sink

This is a quick task since it only focuses on cleaning out the area. Organizing it efficiently will take more time and is a topic that will be covered in a future post.

1. Take everything out from under the cabinet.
2. Check for any pipe leaks and schedule a repair if needed before proceeding.
3. Dry up any spills and wipe down the inside of the cabinet.
4. [Optional] Line the floor of the cabinet with a protective layer which will make the next cleanup even easier (I like to use these non-adhesive shelf liners).
5. Throw away anything that is dirty, expired, or damaged.
6. Make a shopping list of any items you need to replenish.
7. Wipe off each item before you put it back.

If you are not in the mood for a full kitchen cleaning, tidying up these areas will require minimal effort, will leave your kitchen healthier and cleaner, and will leave you feeling very accomplished!