Summer Kitchen Prep
With summer comes the joys of warm weather, outdoor adventures, and quality family time. The kids are home from school and the home is gearing up to be busier than ever. This means your kitchen is working overtime!
From second breakfast and mid-afternoon snacks, to crafty projects on the kitchen counter, you’re bound to see a lot of activity in this space all season. So, before school’s out and you’re pulling out the bathing suits, let’s prepare your kitchen for a great summer!
Getting Clean
The best way to prepare for the busy summer months is to get ahead of your cleaning now, and really get into the nitty gritty. We’re going to clean the more often untouched areas of the kitchen to give you a nice, fresh start for summer fun!
Appliances and Fixtures
The hardest workers of your kitchen (other than you!) are your appliances and fixtures. Giving them a good clean now will help them do their job well this season!
Refrigerator
Take everything out of the fridge, throwing away anything expired or unwanted, and then scrub away with soap and water! This will keep your fridge smelling better and ready for new summer foods!
Sink & Disposal
To clean your sink, start by rinsing away any leftover bits of food or liquids. Then, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda inside the bowl. Finally, grab your dish soap and scrub away with a sponge! This solution is abrasive but not to the point that it will damage stainless steel or other materials.
With your garbage disposal, we’re going to need the baking soda and vinegar. Pour the baking soda down the drain and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then, do the same with white vinegar, again allowing it to sit and work it’s magic. Finally, turn on the hot water and allow it to run for about 30-40 seconds to help rinse away the solution and any gunk it took off with it.
Behind Appliances
The toaster has been put through a lot of morning toast and bagels this school year. Unplug it, pull it away from it’s corner and wipe down all the crumbs that have gathered. Do the same with any other countertop appliances like mixers, blenders, and coffee pots.
If able, get cleaning behind your refrigerator and stove as well! Use a vacuum attachment to reach the tight spaces and wipe down the sides to scrub away any old grease or dried liquids.
Cabinets
Remove everything from your cabinets to give them a good cleaning. It’s likely they’ve gathered dust and a few crumbs since their last cleaning and need a refresh.
Windows
Your windows are a hotspot for dust-gathering! Be sure you give them a thorough cleaning to allow that summer sun to stream in and to help improve your indoor air quality.
Cutting Boards
Sprinkle some salt across your cutting boards and rub it in with a halved lemon. This will give them a nice, deep clean and they’ll be ready for summer fruits and vegetables!
Other Tools and Pieces
Some other things to add to your cleaning list:
- Baseboards
- Pots and pans
- Grill/BBQ tools
- Garbage cans
Reorganize
Take this opportunity to reorganize your space. Move glassware to the back of the cabinet and pull forward plastics and more robust pieces that can withstand summer use.
As you go through cabinets and your refrigerator, take note of what you see and throw away or donate what you don’t need or want anymore.
Plumbing Services on Long Island
You don’t need to go through your kitchen prep alone! Your friends at AWS Plumbing, Heating & Cooling are here to help with drain cleaning, plumbing repairs, and more! Give us a call at (516) 217-2196 or contact us online to get summertime started!
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