Kitchen Cleaning Tips

For all of you here from TDC, Welcome, For all my other readers, Welcome!

Sit down with me as I tell you about some of my favorite tips for keeping the newlywed nest clean(er).

I am going to focus on my kitchen today because it easily gets the gross-est the quickest in our house. Between the dog coming in (and going out) there are always puppy prints to follow up after, a husband who thinks any counterspace is his own to claim for electronic equipment, and a kitty who leaves her toys lying around for me to break my neck on, there's always SOMETHING to clean up.
So here's how I deal:
First of all, I remove all clutter. The toys, the electronics, the bills.. you name it, it has to go. This is how our kitchen looks on a regular basis (I know, I'm not proud). Just keepin' it real guys.

Then I PUT AWAY all the dishes that are clean. Unload the dishwasher, empty the dish drain, put any dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Ahh.. that feels better already doesn't it?

Ok, now we can get started.
Lets gather the supplies that will get our job done best:

• First things first, Magic Erasers
• All purpose cleaner (I like Clorox Green Works) because it's organic and I can use it all over the place
• Clorox -10/1 diluted solution, I use an old spray bottle
• Brillo pads

Always start with the countertops first. Start at the top and work down towards the floor. This is true for any room (dust before you vacuum etc).  I like to take everything off and really clean with my magic eraser dipped in some all-purpose clorox cleaner. This little guy will take off most any gunk, grime, stain or baked on goo. If in the case you have a stubborn stain, just use a little bit of your colorox 10/1 solution and it will be gone. Presto!

To clean the stove top (we have a glass ceramic stove)
I have NEVER had good luck with the cleaners that prove to clean up the messes left behind. So I came up with my own little way of cleaning it up and it works.
I take a brillo pad wet it a little bit and scrub out all the boiled on mess. Yes, it will leave a film, just let it set on there and dry. I come back in a couple minutes with a dry kitchen towel and buff it all away. Works like a charm every time. I was worried the first time I tried it that I would end up scratching the surface, but after having our stove for 6 months and cleaning it like this every week, it still looks brand new. Awesome. :)
For extra shine, I take a window cleaner to the surface and boy does that make it SHINE!

Lastly, the kitchen sink. The grossest part of the kitchen. I am a germ-a-phobe so I take the sink pretty seriously. First, fill the *empty* sink with HOT water. Like hot, hot water. Then pour in a little (about a 1/4 cup) of clorox. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Don't touch. Just let it sit.  After time's up, just let the water go down the drain (I use tongs to pull the stopper out). The clorox will disinfect your drain and disposer as it drains. Voila. Clean sink.

Now it's time for a cocktail and to sit down and stare at my clean room. At least, for the next 20 minutes. And since we all LOVE a before and after:

Before:

After:

And since I can't get the hubs to move the computer equipment until tomorow when he goes to work:

Here it stays.

So thats the skinny on how I keep my kitchen clean. What about you? Anything you have a tip about that you'd like to share? I'm always looking for great cleaning advice! Leave your comment below.