10 Things In Your Kitchen You Should Be Cleaning Everyday

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One of the last things you want to think about after a long day at work is cleaning your kitchen. Unfortunately, this chore only gets worse the longer you put it off. But did you know there are a few tasks you can do every day that can make cleaning your kitchen a lot less of a hassle? And if you complete these daily tasks, you will have more time on the weekend for things you actually want to do. Simple things like wiping down the microwave, rinsing out the sink, or removing food debris from your dishwasher, can ensure your weekly kitchen deep-clean is a lot less time-consuming. Also, most kitchen surfaces are ripe with bacteria, so keeping them clean will ensure nothing gets transferred to your food, and your family stays safe. 

There are quite a few things we should be cleaning in our home every day, but sometimes life happens and things get put off until the weekend. But, with just a few habit changes you could be making life easier for your future self. If adding these tasks to your daily routine feels overwhelming, you can always implement one thing at a time and work toward progress, not perfection. The best way to be successful with new habits, is to implement them slowly, reward yourself for your successes, and don't stress if you have setbacks. Just imagine how amazing you will feel if you wake up for the day and your kitchen is fresh and clean. Meanwhile, the alternative can make the rest of your day feel hurried and stressful.

Is there any other chore that stresses you out more than dishes? The frustrating thing about washing the dishes is that it feels like they are never ending. But doing dishes every night can actually keep them from becoming overwhelming because they won't get piled up for the next day. Ultimately, that means less work every night. And who are you trying to fool, saying that you're just soaking them? This is a common dish cleaning practice that actually just makes everything dirtier.

After cooking dinner and finishing up the dishes, there is one simple task that should be done: cleaning the sink. Doing this every night will help eliminate the common cleaning mistake of allowing bacteria to thrive in your home. The kitchen sink is a place that can become the perfect environment for harboring nasty microscopic critters. Thankfully, this task only takes a minute or two. Simply remove any food debris, spray with your favorite cleanser, and wipe down with a cloth or sponge. Be sure to get the grooves around the drain and behind the faucet.

The microwave is one appliance that can quickly become a crud collector. It gets used a lot in busy homes and can often get forgotten about until it's time for a kitchen deep-clean. And by then, instead of easily cleaning your microwave with a quick wipe down, it'll be encrusted with the week's reheated meals. That means a lot more effort than if you'd cleaned it nightly. 

It's very likely you already clean your countertops every night and that's great! Wiping down countertops with an anti-bacterial cleanser is a great way to prevent food cross-contamination. And you'd be surprised what touches your countertops on a daily basis. Cleaning your countertops is best done as one of the last tasks you do before closing up the kitchen for the night. Not only will you have a fresh kitchen to start the day in the morning, but it can also help keep your family healthy.

There are places in a dishwasher where grime likes to hide. Like the sink, the dishwasher is another environment where bacteria can thrive. After you've finished your dishes for the night, the first thing to do is check for any food debris inside your dishwasher and remove it. After you've removed any food scraps, take a stainless-steel-safe cleaner or some vinegar, spray the inside of your dishwasher, and then wipe it down. Make sure you are getting along the edge of your dishwasher door — this area is often overlooked.

Cleaning the stovetop after cooking is just a good habit in general. It prevents oil, grease, and food debris from becoming a nightmare to clean, or worse, catching fire the next time you cook. First, remove any big stuff with a quick initial wipe. Next, spray down the stove surface with your favorite cleanser, allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then wipe clean. If something is really stuck-on, saturate with cleaner and allow it to sit for up to 20 minutes. Be sure to also wipe down your stove front and handle — splatters from the stovetop can end up there as well.

Ah, the coffee maker — the hard-working hero of kitchen appliances. But how often does the coffee maker get the attention it deserves? Depending on the type of coffee maker you have, there are daily cleaning tasks you can do to make sure it continues to provide you with tasty caffeinated beverages every morning. This could mean removing and cleaning filters, washing carafes, or filling its water reservoir with fresh water every night. This — along with a monthly descaling – will keep your coffee tasting good and also extend the life of your appliance.

Want to prevent the mystery refrigerator food surprise at the end of the week? Each night do a quick once-over of the food in your refrigerator and freezer. Check for expired items, forgotten fruits and veggies, and storage containers for spots of mold or fur. Toss anything you find that shouldn't stay another day, and wipe up any spills you notice. Lastly, move items that are about to expire to the front of the shelves to get used right away.

The floors should be the very last thing you clean in your kitchen everyday. After you've cleaned all the other items, there was likely fallout onto the floor. Leaving crumbs and other food debris overnight is a great way to attract unwanted pests. Your kitchen floor may only need a quick sweep each night, followed by a weekly mopping — unless you have a very active family. If your kitchen sees a lot more activity, after you sweep, you could use something like a Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Mop for a quick clean.

High-touch areas, like handles and pulls, see a lot of activity. That means germs. That's why it's so important to make sure they get a quick wipe down with antibacterial cleanser at the end of the day. You can help prevent a lot of unwanted sick days, especially if you have kids, by just doing this simple task every night. Get the most-used items like the refrigerator and dishwasher handles, microwave buttons, faucet handles, and frequently used cupboard and drawer pulls.