Top tips for cleaning your kitchen before Christmas

clean your kitchen before Christmas

Top tips for cleaning your kitchen before Christmas

Before your entire family descends on you this Christmas, spare a thought for your kitchen. This workhorse of the season is about to come into some serious flogging. Its cupboards are going to be bursting at the seams, oven on overdrive, and worktops spilt and dropped on by more people than at any other time of year. While some people may give their kitchen a thorough cleaning before Christmas to impress guests, there are practical reasons to do it, too. These tips will have your kitchen festive-ready in no time!

Declutter

To clean your kitchen beyond a basic wipe down, you’ll need to have a declutter, however cursory. There’s no point in cleaning surfaces when they are littered with stuff. Plus, you’ll have extra food and utensils over the Christmas period, so it makes sense to have room for them. Here are the key things to remember.

Cupboards

While your kitchen units surely have a system that works for daily life, remember that you will be using crockery, utensils, and gadgets that you don’t normally use. This might mean some cupboard rotation is required. Make sure that you have easy access to large platters, carving knives, and pickle fork that only comes out once a year!

Pantry

Get rid of any out-of-date food in your pantry. In the lead-up to your kitchen before Christmas, try to use up items that you won’t tend to eat during that period. You can stock up again in the New Year. If you can, clear a space to be used for seasonal goods. Things like jars of pickle, chutney, and sauces that you don’t tend to use at other times of the year. Having this go-to place will save you all the rummaging around trying to find that elusive jar of pickled walnuts.

Fridge Freezer

Empty the fridge and get rid of food that won’t be eaten in the next few weeks. Give the whole of your fridge a wipe-down before putting back what’s left. When you’re about to add a full Christmas cheese board to your fridge, there’s no point in keeping that small corner of Stilton that you may or may not get to. Use up old leftovers that are in the freezer to make room for those that will be produced over the festive season. Accept the fact that you’re going to end up freezing some turkey, and make sure there’s room! 

Appliances

Now that your kitchen storage is fit for keeping the rest of your kitchen clear, you can get it fully clean. While you don’t have to go to spring cleaning standards, giving everything a thorough cleaning will make it all run smoother at your busiest time. 

Oven

Heat an oven-proof bowl of water at a high temperature for 20 minutes. When it’s cooled down enough (but not cold) wipe loose debris from the inside of your oven. Tough spots can be worked out with a combination of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.

Dishwasher

Run a hot cycle with a cup of vinegar in the bottom layer of the dishwasher. Then, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda around the bottom of the dishwasher and run another hot cycle. Once your dishwasher is thoroughly clean, your cycles will be more reliable when you need them to be. 

Kettle

It’s a small appliance, but it’s heavily used when receiving guests! Fill with half vinegar and half water, leave to soak for a while, and then boil. Empty and boil a kettle full of water to remove all traces of vinegar. 

Worktops

Yes, you’ll be wiping down your worktops more than you can believe over the Christmas season, but take the time beforehand to give them some TLC. This will make sure that they remain looking stunning after the onslaught of Christmas. 

Marble and Granite

These are sealed stones, so check that the seal is still intact. Drop a small amount of water on your worktop. If it pools into droplets, the seal is sufficient. If it spreads, then your marble or granite seal is compromised. This means that your worktop could be susceptible to staining and damage. You can reseal a marble worktop yourself or bring in a professional. Clean with a pH-neutral cleaner or mild dish soap, and buff dry. 

Quartz

Quartz worktops are manufactured using around 94% quartz crystals mixed with resin. This means that they have an integral seal that makes the surface super hard-wearing. As there is no ongoing maintenance required for a quartz worktop, you simply need to wipe down the counter with water and a microfibre cloth. An extra buff to dry off will leave your quartz worktop looking spectacular for your guests to admire. 

Kitchen Sink

Remove limescale with a vinegar and bicarbonate of soda mix. If your sink has a granite or marble worktop surround, be wary of letting acidic liquids like vinegar sit for long periods. This can cause damage, so keep your sink-cleaning contained. If you use a washing-up bowl, make sure that this, too, is clean. Pop the drain covers into your dishwasher to remove all the grease. 

Floors

Your kitchen floor is going to experience a lot of traffic over the festive season. So clean it thoroughly at the start, and you’ll find it much easier to maintain. Vacuum first and then mop using the correct solution for your floor type. Mild cleaners are generally best, so use a gentle dish soap or a weak vinegar solution. Stone floors, similar to stone worktops, can be damaged by acidic solutions, so stay clear of vinegar. Most flooring materials do not like to be soaked, so either wring a microfibre mop thoroughly or spray lightly and dry mop. 

Having spent the time to fully clean your kitchen before Christmas, you can sit back and enjoy the benefits. The room will be much easier to maintain over the season, and you’ll enjoy both working and entertaining there. Imagine your guests enjoying a mince pie from a platter on your quartz worktop and remember that it’s worth the effort!

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