If you’re like most Santa Barbara homeowners, you have been focusing your time and energy on your outdoor living spaces. But as the leaves start to change and the air turns cooler, it’s time to start preparing for more indoor activities, including the fall and winter holidays. Yes, fall is here and now is the time to focus on interior cleaning – dusting, vacuuming, cleaning upholstery, scouring the bathrooms, mopping the floors, deep cleaning carpets and tidying up all of your indoor spaces. Thinking about everything that needs attention can be overwhelming, so make your list and tackle one room at a time!
Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Wondering where to start? We suggest you start in the place where your family gathers most often – the kitchen. Here are some easy tips to get your kitchen in tip top condition.
The Refrigerator and Sink
Throughout the summer months, your fridge may have seen its share of spills and splashes. Get it ready for the next wave of parties and guests by cleaning it from top to bottom. Start by emptying everything out of your refrigerator, discarding all items that have expired. Then, remove shelves, drawers and door inserts and wash them in hot, soapy water as you would wash dishes. Starting from the top down, wipe the inside of the refrigerator, including the door, with a dishcloth soaked in that hot, soapy water. Make sure to get your cloth down into any tracks or indentations, and don’t forget to run your rag between the rubber seal around the door, where crumbs and dirt hide!
Once the inside is finished, replace the cleaned and dried shelves, drawers and door inserts and move on to the outside. You may want to wash down the outside of the fridge with hot soapy water or choose to use a microfiber cloth for dusting. Finally, use your vacuum’s attachment to gently clean the vent at the bottom. Now your refrigerator is clean and ready for those fall apples, pumpkin pie and all of your seasonal favorites!
The Microwave
We’ve all experienced the exploding burrito or had other foods “pop” and splatter the microwave. Although you may have wiped it out at the time, your microwave could probably use a good cleaning. But don’t worry, you won’t need a chisel or even a lot of elbow grease to remove stubborn, cooked-on food with this method. Start by wetting a sponge and place it in the middle of the microwave. “Cook” the sponge on high for 2 minutes. This creates moisture in the microwave that should help loosen any cooked-on food. Once cooled enough to handle, use the sponge to wipe the racks and turntable (if applicable), then remove them. Wipe down the walls and door with the sponge, using a little extra pressure for stubborn spots. Dry with a dish towel and replace the racks and turntable. Your microwave will now be clean and ready for its next burrito or frozen dinner!
The Oven
To get a sparkling, clean oven, you don’t have to endure the high temperatures and smoke from self-cleaning ovens or the harsh chemicals and fumes of commercial oven cleaners. All you need are 2 basic ingredients – baking soda and vinegar – to get the job done! So, put on your rubber gloves and get to work!
First, remove the racks and place them in the sink (or in your tub if they are too large for the sink). Sprinkle the racks with baking soda, then pour vinegar over them (creating a foam) and let them sit for several hours before scrubbing them clean. Next, mix about a 1/2 cup of baking soda with a little water to make a paste and spread it all over the inside of the oven, making sure to avoid the heating elements. Let this sit overnight. In the morning, wipe down the inside of the oven with a damp rag. For stubborn or caked-on spots, spray some vinegar and use a microfiber sponge. With a little elbow grease, your oven will look like new in no time!
Cupboards, Counters and Sink
Cupboards and counters can become catchalls for all kinds of items. So, start by removing clutter. Remove anything that doesn’t belong, discarding some items and placing others in a basket for redistribution later. Then, remove all items from the counters, cleaning them with a damp rag while removing, and empty the cupboards (hint: your kitchen table is a great place to put everything). Wipe the inside of the cupboards with hot, soapy water or an environmentally-friendly or “green” product. Clean or replace shelf liners (if you use them). Wipe both the insides and outside of the door and drawers. Now it’s time to purge. As you begin to refill the cupboards, throw out or remove any broken, chipped or worn-out items.
Once you finish filling and reorganizing the cupboards, it’s time to clean the sink and countertops. For the sink, use an all-purpose cleaning spray or nonabrasive cleanser to remove any stains. If stains persist, you may want to try using a little vinegar.
For the countertops, use an all-purpose cleaner or hot soapy, water depending on your type of surface. For granite countertops or steel surfaces, refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning tips. Finally, replace your small appliances and other countertop gadgets and watch them shine!
Finishing Touches
Once you’ve tackled the items above, take the time to do some light dusting (don’t forget the light fixtures!) and clean the floor. Your kitchen will look like new as you move into the fall and holiday seasons!
Hire a Professional Cleaner in Santa Barbara
If you would rather take the day off, you can hire Continental Janitorial Services to come and deep clean your entire home!
