2016 Clean & Organized Home Week 2 ~ Clean Kitchen

How did everyone do last week with the 15 minutes a day of decluttering? I finished decluttering and my kitchen already feels so much better! It's crazy what a difference just 15 minutes will make. I got rid of several things, mostly outdated food from my pantry, and some dishes I really didn't use anymore.

If you're just joining in, please read last week post here, where we focused on decluttering. You can very easily catch up if you want to. Fifteen minutes a day is pretty manageable and when you set a timer and put a little "pressure" on yourself, you can get a lot done! We're still using #2016HowJenDoesItChallenge on Instagram, if you want to see every ones progress.

This week she's challenging everyone to work just 15 minutes a day to get the entire kitchen clean by the weekend. You can check out this weeks video from Jen, from HowJenDoesIt, here. For the next several weeks there will be a new challenge for different areas of the home. This seems extremely doable. We can do it!!

Week 2, This week she is focusing on cleaning the kitchen. So let those soap bubbles fly! By the end of this week, your kitchen should be decluttered and clean!

• Monday ~ Refrigerator & Freezer. Now that you've gotten rid of anything outdated in the fridge it's time to wash it out. Starting at the top and working your way down, spray and wipe down all the shelves and interior. She suggests using a vinegar solution with one part vinegar to 2 parts water. If the fridge shelves or drawers are extra dirty you might have to let them soak in some hot soapy water for a little bit. 
• Tuesday ~ Exterior of the Refrigerator. If you have stuff stored on top of your fridge, take it off and go through it. If it's a bunch of clutter consider donating some of it. Next look at the magnets, paperwork and photos you have placed on the sides and doors of the fridge. If they are out-dated or things you don't need anymore, take them off and get rid of them. Take everything else off the fridge now so you can clean it well.  Scrub the top of the fridge well, grease and dirt loves to accumulate up there! Then wipe out all the seals, crumbs love to live there. Then wipe down the rest of the exterior. Now you can hang the photos, artwork, magnets, etc. back on the fridge. 
• Wednesday ~ Cabinets (All but under the sink, that's for a different day.) Starting at the top and working your way down remove everything from a shelf and wipe it down with a damp rag and all purpose cleaner, I love tough and Tender from Melaleuca for this. Put everything back and repeat until all the shelves are clean. She just wipes around the dishes on the shelves, but my OCD won't let me do that lol! But really just do whatever you're comfortable with. When you get to the spices, take them all off the shelves or Lazy Susan's, wipe them off, clean the shelves, and put them back. Check the expiration date on the spices if you missed that during the decluttering last week.
• Thursday ~ Drawers. Same as the shelves, remove everything from a drawer, and if you use plastic drawer organizers, wash them out with soap and water, we all know crumbs love drawers. If you use wood organizers, wipe down with a damp rag. Wipe out the drawer, put everything back inside, and repeat until they are all done!
• Friday ~ Pantry. Wipe down all the shelves, small appliances, canisters and bins. Starting at the top and working your way down. Clean everything off the floor and then sweep and mop the floor. Put everything back, stand back and look and your clean kitchen and pat your self on the back! Good Job!

That's it! She wants this to be quick so it's not overwhelming. If you need more than 15 minutes in an area, then of course take the extra time. 

I am excited to continue this! Let me know if you plan on trying this too. 

Happy cleaning and thanks for reading :)