EXPERTS advise that hands must be washed frequently, surfaces and utensils be washed thoroughly, and food stored properly to prevent cross-contamination and ensure food safety.

SweepSouth, an award-winning home services platform, says, “A kitchen is the centre and heart of your home. Knowing how to clean a kitchen is essential for many reasons. Your kitchen must be clean for hygienic reasons and to make it comfortable and easy to cook in.

“The key to cleaning your kitchen, just like with any household chore, is to just start – declutter, organise, and clean out kitchen appliances and hard-to-reach surfaces for your kitchen to look like perfection. Take it one step at a time and the results will be worth the effort.”

Remember that decluttering the countertops, inside cabinets, refrigerator, and pantry interiors makes a noticeable difference in the look and feel of the kitchen. This kitchen cleaning is said to be the bare minimum and can be done within a day.

Also read: Steam your home to a more hygienic and allergy-free space

SweepSouth shares tips:
1. Don’t Get Too Deep – When cleaning your kitchen, remember that you’re doing an overall clean, meaning there’s no need to know how to spring clean your kitchen all the time.
2. The Right Tools – The right cleaning tools make the job more satisfying and effective.
3. Clear Clutter From Countertops
4. Dishes – Start by placing freshly washed dishes into the necessary spaces or cupboards. If you have a dishwasher, unpack the clean dishes and replace them with the dirty dishes yet to be washed.
3. Dust The Top Of The Fridge And Cabinets
5. Dusting the fridge
6. Clean Kitchen Cabinets – First, clear everything out of each cabinet at a time, then use a handheld vacuum or a duster to remove dust. After dusting your kitchen cabinets inside and out, you can use a cloth dampened with soapy water to wipe the cabinets.
7. Clean Small Appliances – Quickly clean your small appliances
8. How To Clean A Microwave With Lemon – Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice out into a bowl that’s safe for the microwave. You can also place the lemon halves into the juice with ½ a cup of water. Then place the bowl inside the microwave, and on the highest setting, heat up the bowl for about 2 to 3 minutes.
9. Scrub The Exterior Of The Oven And Stove – Start from the top and move downwards. For gas stove tops, take the grills off before cleaning. If they have grime or greasy residue, you may want to soak them and wipe the surface underneath with an all-purpose cleaner.
10. How To Clean An Oven (interior) – Fill a bowl with about ½ a cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water, and mix together until you’re left with a spreadable paste.

Also read: Teach your child about good hygiene

Kitchen Care Association (KCA) shared insight on maintenance that is required to look after kitchen surfaces in order to stay safe and attain the longevity of the space.
“Use a mild household cleaner to wipe doors or panels with a soft cloth, and not to rub too hard, followed by a dry cloth to avoid residue.
“Your work surfaces can become damaged if mistreated. We would recommend the use of a chopping board. Place hot pans or casserole dishes on protective mats or trivets. Mop up spills immediately, particularly on joins, and around sink and hob cut-out areas.”

KCA added that all marble countertops should be sealed with a good quality sealer on installation and should be sealed as often as is necessary. If marble is installed in your kitchen, any stain should be wiped up immediately with a warm, soapy cloth to prevent obvious staining.
“Wet crockery must not be left to stand for any length of time. Particular attention should be paid to the sink area, and avoid prolonged contact with metals as these can cause black staining of the timber.”

Also read: How to clean your home properly

KCA further advises against the overloading of drawers and adjustable shelves as these may malfunction over time
Jeffery Madkins, marketing manager for Unilever Professional, concurs.
“Before house guests arrives, before a plate is set, and before the hum of a busy kitchen begins, the true mark of a hospitality establishment is already being measured. It starts with clean counters, gleaming floors, and ensuring that every surface is properly sanitised.”

He emphasises that maintaining hygiene goes beyond surface shine, “Clean after every meal: this is the general rule of thumb. It may seem tedious, but it is worth it.”

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