When cleaning the kitchen, if we are to do the best job possible, and be able to finish in time to catch our favorite television program, it's essential that we have the proper cleaning equipment to do the most efficient job that we can. Cleaning the kitchen will often require specific cleaning tools and supplies. In this article I'm going to outline the necessary supplies that any home should have in order to clean their kitchen effectively.
To clean any area of the house, it's always best that we have working tools. You don't want to try cleaning with tools that are weathered or look like they have no life left in them. While cleaning supplies dissolve the dirt, it's the tools job to take the mess away. This is near impossible if we don't have the tools, or if the ones we do have, have been used to capacity. This couldn't be any truer than for the kitchen. Because the kitchen is the area of the house where we store, and prepare our food it is absolutely the one room in the house that should remain as clean as possible.
First off we should always carry with us a pair of rubber gloves. Rubber gloves protect our hands from hot water, dirt, germs, and any chemical cleaning agents we might have to use when cleaning. Next, we want to have at least 10 clean, cleaning cloths, and perhaps even a set of paper towels for surface cleaning. Use paper towels if you want to dispose of a mess once you clean it up.
In order to remove tough stains that paper towels and cleaning cloths can't remove we are going to need a set of scrubbers. Scrubbers come in a wide array of different materials, and some are more abrasive than others. What you will need depends on exactly what you need to clean, and how tough it is to clean it. The tougher the stain the more abrasive a scrubber you will need. Included with scrubbers, sponges are also an essential cleaning tool for quickly wiping up messes and scrubbing out stains.
To get into the small crevices around the drain, and around faucets, I often use and recommend using an old tooth brush. The bristles on a tooth brush are just fine and coarse enough to get into those tight areas and remove any gunk or grime that's hiding in there.
Kitchens like all other areas of the house accumulate dust. Make sure to have a feather duster to clean off areas like the top of your refrigerator.
When it comes to cleaning the floors, before we get into heavy duty floor cleaning, it's always recommended to sweep up any dirt or excess debris that might be lying around first. I recommend using an all natural bristled broom and dustpan. These brooms will help you to gather more dirt with fewer sweeps - anything to help us clean faster and more effective is always recommended. If you'd prefer to use a vacuum, make sure to use the extensions to get into tough corners, and under the areas where a vacuum by itself cannot reach. More heavy duty type cleaning often requires a mop, or a sponge mop. While a mop is good for a wipe down and shine of your flooring, a sponge mope will often be able to scrub out any tough dirt stains that may have accumulated on your flooring. You can use either or, or both if you desire.
The last recommended tool is a carry-all bin or cleaning apron for the organization of your tools and cleaning products. Having either one of these tools makes holding your cleaning supplies and transferring them from room-to-room much easier, versus trying to hold them all at one time.
While the tools get rid of the mess, the cleaners dissolve the dirt. We can't have one without the other. For general surface cleaning in the kitchen, I often find that an all-purpose cleaner or multi-purpose cleaner will handle most surfaces like counter tops, appliances, cabinets, even floors! Definitely add one of these to your list of cleaning products to have.
To clean tougher areas that build up hard stains, like the sink, use a powdered cleaner such as Ajax. The last cleaner that's required when cleaning the kitchen is a floor cleaner. If you have linoleum, vinyl, wood or tile there are specific floor cleaners available at home appliance stores that will ensure a safe and thorough clean of your floor. Simply ask a sales associate to help you find the proper cleaner for your type of floor. They will also be able to provide you with all the necessary information you will need.
As long as we have the basic supplies to clean our kitchen we will greatly increase our chances of cleaning it effectively, and efficiently. I hope this guide on Kitchen Cleaning Tools and Supplies has been beneficial for you. Everything that you will need to take care of the basics of kitchen cleaning has been outlined.
