Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

As I found myself cleaning our kitchen and not finding a clean surface on which to work, I was inspired to write this two-part post in preparation for Thanksgiving.

During times of celebration, I get out of my rhythm as more people are milling about the kitchen and helping to prepare and serve.

With the more people involved, I find more mess accumulates. At the end of the wonderful celebration, I am left with a sink of dirty dishes, messy countertops, and little motivation to start another project.

Now, my fantastic husband usually cleans it all up after big events. Realizing that not everyone has that kind of help and there are other times that the kitchen is in upheaval, I will share from my experiences how to take back your kitchen.

In part 1, I will share how I work through the mess with a dishwasher and a divided kitchen sink. In part 2, I will share how I would clean up if I had a dishwasher and a big kitchen sink without a divider. In getting back our kitchen, I can muster the motivation needed by visualizing my once-cleaned space, roll up my sleeves, and start.

Part 1: Take Back Your Kitchen with a Divided Sink

1. Prepare the Dishwasher

When everything in my kitchen is in disarray, I concentrate on the dishwasher. If the dishes are clean, then I put them away without setting them on any counter. With an empty dishwasher, I now have one clean space in which to work. 😉

2. Evaluate the Sink

With a divided sink, I keep the rinsed-off dishes that are ready for the dishwasher in the left side. The dishes on the right side still need rinsing/cleaning. When other helpers come into the kitchen, they do not usually follow my system. If I cannot tell which items have been rinsed, then I unload the sink and start over.

3. Setup Boundaries

With the sink unloaded, I start on the right side because this is where our garbage disposal is located. Any food particles can just go through the disposal throughout the cleanup process. I rinse and remove food particles from the dishes and place them in the left side of the sink. I continue to clean until the left side is full.

4. Return to the Dishwasher

With the left side of the sink full, I open the dishwasher and begin loading using the rinsed off dishes. If I fill up the dishwasher, then I add the detergent and start the load. If I still have room in the dishwasher, then I return to the sink and keep rinsing off items. Once the dishwasher is completely full, I get it going.

5. Take a Break

At this point, I usually need a little break. With my “helper” (the dishwasher) still cleaning, I go sit down for a few minutes.

6. Designate a Hand Wash-Only Counter

After my break, I come back to see what dishes are still remaining. If I have hand wash-only dishes, then I designate one counter or space for those items. I gather the platters, silverware, glasses, or anything else that needs handwashing and place it in that space.

7. Return to the Sink

Back at the sink, I rinse off any remaining items and stack them carefully on the left side. If food still needs to be put away, I find an empty space and clean it up.

Then I transfer the food to plastic containers, put them in the freezer or refrigerator, and place the dirty dishes to the right side of the sink. Once all the food is put away, then I finish rinsing the dirty dishes and place them in the left side of the sink.

8. Clean the Counters

By now, the end is in sight, and the only dishes left are in the handwashing pile. I need a space for the clean dishes, so I wipe down all the counters, stove, and any other appliances that need cleaning.

9. Hand Wash the Special Dishes

In the clean spaces, I usually put down a towel. Then I hand wash the items and set them on the towel to dry. If large pots still need cleaning, I tend to hand wash those to get them out of the way. Once all the handwashing is complete. I just need to tidy up.

10. Finishing Touches

With all the dishes either cleaned or rinsed and ready for the dishwasher, I add these finishing touches:

• Wipe down all surfaces
• Run the garbage disposal
• Clean the sink
• Sweep the kitchen floor (if the floor is dry)
• Remove any spills or marks on the kitchen floor
• Go rest with my family

Getting back my kitchen is a process. Thankfully, this process is not an everyday occurrence. The times I use this system are when we entertain or have a complex meal.

As our Thanksgiving celebration is fast approaching, I have a plan in place. It might take time to accomplish the project, but I will know where to start when I am ready to tackle the kitchen.

When you get to where you cannot find a clean space in your kitchen, discover how to take back your kitchen. Feel free to use and adjust my system until you master a process that works best for you. Happy cleaning!

Question: How do you take back your kitchen when you cannot find a clean space?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (stst31415)

When cleaning, I often wonder if I make the process more difficult than it needs to be. Following the marketing push to need a different product to clean each item in my home, I find I have a shelf full of products. Seeing my stash as normal, I’ve been considering unconventional or back to the basics alternatives for cleaning my home.

My Cleaning

Coming as no surprise, I use all the products I have in my cleaning closet, and they work great. Of course, I purchased all of them on sale and paired most of them with coupons or received FREE samples or products – saving our family money. My thought process here is not about the money spent, but rather the investment of time in using multiple products.

Though I am not abandoning all my supplies, I am considering a better way to using time wisely. My time might be better spent if I had fewer products to gather at the store, transport from room to room, and switch from within one room.

I know many make their own cleaning supplies and use one or two products to clean everything in their homes. If that works for you, then great! I am not against making my own, but I am still brand loyal and find my Lysol, Fabuloso, Scrubbing  Bubbles, and Windex time-savers for me.

My Discovery

Recently, I used about half a bottle of white vinegar to clean my tea maker. (Let’s just say, it had been a few years since I had given this well-used appliance a good cleaning.) With the entire container of vinegar costing less than $2, I was pleased with the results and the cost.

After that success, I was chatting with my mom about her house renovations, and she mentioned how soaking her shower heads in white vinegar overnight completely cleared out the mineral deposits and debris in the holes. As I shared my success with white vinegar with my tea maker, we had a discussion about cleaning products.

Shortly after that discussion, I found 150+ Household Uses for Vinegar from Reader’s Digest. With this topic on my mind, I have started looking at white vinegar for other uses around my home. For example, the grass or weeds that grow in the creases of our driveway and sidewalk are eliminated with a day when sprayed with white vinegar.

In evaluating my cleaning supplies, I am amazed at the unconventional or back to the basics alternative found in white vinegar. With my interest peaked with other uses for a less-than-$2 bottle of white vinegar, I am learning.

Still embracing my tried-and-true cleaning supplies, I am on a mission to using time wisely. This journey is on-going, and I’m not opposed to trying something new.

Pleased with the progress had with white vinegar, I am more open to other uses which may be the start of a new cleaning style – only time will tell. Keep on using time wisely, and happy learning!

Question: Have you found a new discovery causing you to consider why you do what you do?  

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Ever get stuck in a rut or a routine? I have maintained the same type of cleaning routine for about 16 years.

I would clean top to bottom every room in my house every 6 to 8 weeks. The rest of the time, I would keep it picked up and wiped down.

With the increase in trips to and from school this year, I have fallen further and further behind in my cleaning routine.

So, I decided to try something different because my current routine was not working.

Preparing for a new routine

I took almost 2 weeks and deep cleaned my entire house. Let me tell you, I was exhausted from all the scrubbing and moving of furniture, but my house was almost spotless.

Maintaining the new routine

Now, I spend about 2 hours one day a week to re-clean my upstairs and about 1.5 hours another day during the week to re-clean my downstairs.

Planning for changes to the new routine

This new routine has been working for me this month. Our home stays clean and picked up. I’m excited about going into the summer with a new game plan for keeping our home clean.

Having to remind myself to clean is a bit different from my previous system, but the results are worth the extra effort. I like the morning weekly cleaning verses the 3-day monthly cleaning that completely tires me out.

Realizing that seasons of life produce changes in our routines, I am willing to try new ways of doing the same thing. In using time wisely, I am enjoying this new routine.

If you are struggling with a system you have had for quite some time, mix it up by trying a new routine. You might surprise yourself while saving energy and time. Happy trying!

Question: What changes have you made to your routines?