You mop the floor before you stick to it and give the oven a good clean a few times a year. You’re no stranger to rubber gloves and antibac spray. You’re on top of things.
No one’s calling the council. But even in the best-run homes, there are parts of the kitchen that can get easily overlooked in our regular cleaning. The good news is that it requires little extra effort in our daily or weekly routines to keep them pristine.
Lots of the tasks I describe here are what I call “while the kettle boils jobs”; that is, you can do them in the time it takes to boil water. There is no white-glove test here, it’s not about perfection, more about creating a kitchen that’s a safe, efficient and enjoyable place to be. We often talk about the kitchen being the heart of the home – and it often is – but what it also is, is the engine.
All good things flow from there. Here’s how to tune it up so it runs as smoothly and happily as possible. Handles Anything you touch while you’re handling food needs very regular cleaning, ideally after every cooking session.
Pay attention to appliances with touch pads such as microwaves and air fryers, and to fridge door handles in particular. They need wiping down with a microfibre cloth and antibacterial spray or a dilute antibacterial cleaner daily. The good news is it only takes seconds.
While we’re here, don’t forget cupboard and drawer handles, particularly the kind of cup drawer pulls you tuck your fingers into to pull out the.