Quick Cleaning a Kitchen in Five Easy Steps

Step 1: Dishes, Dishes, Dishes!

Remember the last time every dish in the house was clean?  What an amazing feeling! 
To start the kitchen cleaning, gather up all the dirty dishes and either wash them by hand or stick them in the dishwasher and turn them on to wash.  If there are too many dishes to fit in the dishwasher take a few moments to wash the excess by hand.  Go ahead and fill the soap up with hot, soapy water in preparation for Step 3. 

Step 2: Quit Being Trashy!

Gather up the trash out of the trash can.  Pick up any other garbage that is laying around on counters.  Get any garbage off of the floor, too.  This might include sweeping if the mess is larger.  Replace the trash can liner and drag the can over to the fridge to embark on the next adventure.

Step 3: Expired Leftovers, You Have No Power Here!

Open the fridge, dive in and throw out!  Throw out expired leftovers that can no longer be redeemed.  Rake out the contents into the garbage can and then set the containers in the sink that should already be filled with hot, soapy water.  Check the dates on things like salad dressings and condiments to make sure they aren’t expired.  When the deed is done, tie up the bag and dispose of it, along with the garbage gathered in Step 2.  Don’t forget to replace the liner in the can. 

Step 4: Clear Off the Counter Clutter!

Counters seem to be a magnet for clutter.  So now is the time to undo all that damage.  Clear the counters by putting everything where it belongs.  Take a moment to evaluate all those small appliance that are taken up valuable counter space, too.  Figure out if a few of those might be able to survive living in a cabinet instead.  By the end of this step, the kitchen should be resembling a very orderly place.

Step 5: Last But Not Least: Scrub, Scrub, Scrub!

With the garbage put out, a clean fridge, (mostly) washed dishes and a clutter free counters it is time to scrub, scrub, scrub!  The leftover containers are the first things that need to be scrubbed and put away.  All of the time spent soaking should make them relatively easy to clean.  Now grab some kitchen cleaner, a rag and start scrubbing.  Scrub the sink first, followed by all the counter tops and finish by scrubbing the stove top.  If the process hasn’t been too exhausting, consider a quick scrub for the floor, too.  

After finishing up, go to another room for around 15 minutes and relax.  Then come inspect the kitchen and bask in the newly shining glow of a clean room.  With such a spotless kitchen, the most appropriate reward is a to eat dinner out at a restaurant.