Welcome to Flawed yet Functional! I’m so glad you stopped by to see what’s been rolling around my brain lately! With the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol as my diet, I spend a LOT of time in the kitchen. I do try to minimize that time, but blogging about my kitchen adventures also raises the amount of the time spent in the kitchen. So keeping my kitchen clean without spending tons of time cleaning my kitchen is frequently on my mind. Today I’d like to show you how I do a quick 15 minute (or less!) clean-up of my kitchen say if guests are coming over or I just want to motivate myself to have an extra clean kitchen before bed time.
Microfiber Cloth
Before I dive into the process of this quick kitchen clean-up, let me share my secret of fast, efficient, chemical-free cleaning: Norwex. This is not a sponsored post, and I am not paid in any way. I simply love Norwex. The basic Enviro cloth only uses water to clean, and I’ve never found another cloth that can compare to its cleaning abilities.
These cloths are pricey though. If Norwex isn’t in your budget, try e-cloth or another type of microfiber cloth. The microfiber allows you to pick up more dirt than a typical cotton or terry cloth rag will allow.
Clear the Clutter
First, before you start actually cleaning, the clutter must be moved so you can reach all of the counter space.
Ideally, you’ve learned to keep a handle on the clutter, but even if you have a system for all the paper and toys, things pile up. Move the clutter. Ask the kids to help. Do what needs to be done to clear the counters of all papers, small appliances, toys, and random objects that belong elsewhere in the house.
Also take this time to put away clean dishes, empty/load the dishwasher. This part can be a deal-breaker to finish in 15 minutes. If the counter is loaded with dirty dishes, then it might take a bit longer. On the other hand, if you have few dishes to contend with, you will finish under the 10 minute mark!
Wipe Counters
Second, let’s get those counters clean!
Get your cloth wet with the hottest water you can stand. Water is an extremely good remover of dirt and stains, and hot water improves that ability even more.
Fold your cloth in half then half again. Hold the cloth so that it is as flat as possible and wipe the counters in a back-and-forth motion without lifting the cloth. This will allow you to trap crumbs and dirt in the cloth without pushing them onto the floor.
Shake your cloth into the sink when it gets too full of crumbs, fold and continue wiping. If you’re using Norwex, you won’t need to rinse your cloth until all the counters are done. I guarantee it! So much time saved.
With the counters cleared and clean, the kitchen is already looking SO MUCH better! Isn’t it?!
Wipe Fronts of Appliances
Third, now take just a couple minutes to give the fronts of your appliances a quick wipe. We often don’t notice how dirty they get, but trust me, once you really look, they are covered in spots, drips, fingerprints, and overall grime.
Re-wet your cloth with the hottest water you can stand, fold it in quarters, and wipe each appliance once starting at the top and working to the bottom. Move in order around the room so you don’t waste any steps.
Use a different quarter of your cloth for each appliance, and you shouldn’t have to rinse your cloth for this whole step! Don’t believe me? Give it a try then come back and comment here!
That’s it! Fifteen minutes and bam, a kitchen that looks sparkly clean again! As a busy mom with young kids in the house, I rarely get to dive deep into cleaning my kitchen, but a quick kitchen clean-up? I can do that! Ten or fifteen minutes is all I can devote to any cleaning task, and I imagine the same is true for you. Give this quick, 3 step kitchen clean-up a try!
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