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With the return of warmer weather, it's the perfect time to tackle a major spring cleaning of the kitchen: decluttering, deep cleaning, and organizing the cupboards and drawers. In addition to the pleasure of having a clean and tidy kitchen, this thorough cleaning has tangible benefits every day: fewer allergens in the air, more space for cooking, and a welcome feeling of lightness after the long winter months.
Where to start?
Before getting out the cleaning products, now's a good time to declutter. The famous KonMari method proposes a simple principle: every item in your kitchen should be useful on a daily basis or bring you joy. For each utensil, container, serving dish, or gadget, ask yourself these four questions:
- Does this object bring me joy?
- Is it useful to me?
- Does it still work?
- Does it have a specific storage location?
A "yes" means we keep it; a "no" invites us to donate or dispose of it responsibly. Simple and effective!
Take it one task at a time, without putting too much pressure on yourself. Spread your to-do list over two days or two weekends if the project is a bit discouraging, and take breaks in the sun!
1. Clean the refrigerator
Empty your refrigerator completely and check the expiration dates to discard any expired food. Remove the drawers and shelves, and wash them separately in hot, soapy water. Then clean the interior walls, doors, door seals, and handles. If your model has one, now is also a good time to replace the water filter. Finally, pull the appliance towards you to clean the surfaces, the floor behind it, and dust the coils.
2. Defrost and clean the freezer
Schedule this task shortly before your next delivery. l’épicier, while the freezer is as empty as possible. Defrost it, clean the walls and reorganize your freezer in order to optimize the available space.
3. Empty and clean the cupboards and pantry
Remove all the contents, clean the shelves with hot soapy water, and then sort through everything. Discard any expired products, reinforce opened packages, and check the freshness of your spices. Generally, after a year, their color changes and their flavors have faded, so it's best to replace them. Take this opportunity to create a list of products you're missing to add to your next delivery. l’épicier.
4. Sort the containers, dishes and utensils
Do your annual clean-out of containers: if the lid is missing, get rid of it to make room. Empty your drawers and assess your utensil needs: four whisks of the same size are two too many! Are your knives no longer sharp? Get them sharpened! It's also the perfect time to bring out your outdoor dishes for the upcoming BBQ season.
5. Clean the oven thoroughly
Start by removing the racks and washing them in hot, soapy water (soaking them for a few hours makes things easier if they are very greasy). For the door, the bottom drawer, and the inside of the oven, a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar works very well, as does a commercial cleaner.
6. Maintain the cooker hood and dishwasher
Degrease the kitchen hood and replace its filter. For the dishwasher, remove the filter and clean it thoroughly. It's always helpful to take photos of the disassembly steps to remember how to reinstall it! Then run a cleaning cycle with a cleaning tablet or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate residue and unpleasant odors.
7. Clean small household appliances
These devices are used daily, but they are rarely cleaned thoroughly. Unplug them and wash them with soapy water, then rinse and dry well. A few tips:
- Coffee maker and kettle: descale according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and if you do not have the recommended products, run 3 complete cycles with a half-and-half mixture of water and white vinegar. Rinse thoroughly by running 2 cycles with water only.
- Microwave: boil 125 ml (½ cup) of lemon juice inside: the steam softens the residue which can be removed with a simple wipe of a sponge and the lemon leaves a nice fresh smell.
- Toaster: empty and clean the crumb tray.
8. Clean the surfaces, sink and floors
Once the appliances are clean, move on to the surfaces. Start by dusting the walls, light fixtures, and ceiling fans. For a deep clean, clean everything with a commercial cleaning product.
Degrease cabinet doors and handles, as well as the oven backsplash. Scrub and disinfect countertops, descale the faucet, and degrease the drain. Thoroughly clean cutting boards by scrubbing them with a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar. Once dry, apply a thin coat of mineral oil to your wooden boards.
9. Restore the shine to your cookware
Check the condition of your pots and pans. To restore shine to stainless steel and enameled cast iron cookware (inside and out), prepare a homemade paste just before cleaning them:
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) flour
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) of salt
- 30 ml (2 tbsp) of white vinegar
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) of baking soda
Apply, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, rub a little with a sponge then rinse.
10. Re-season your cast iron pans
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to inspect your cast iron pans and re-season them if necessary. Proper seasoning protects the interior and exterior surfaces of your pans, restores the non-stick patina so food doesn't stick, and extends their lifespan. See our article on using cast iron pans for a step-by-step guide.
A kitchen ready for the warmer months!
There you have it, your kitchen spring cleaning is done! By tackling one task at a time, it's much less daunting than it seems. A clean and well-organized kitchen is also a kitchen where you're more inclined to cook, and with BBQ season just around the corner, that's exactly what you need to get back on track!
Good spring!
