Top 4 Expert Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Kitchen

With the arrival of warmer weather, it’s time for spring cleaning, meaning many people are now making a list of the projects they want to complete to get their home spic and span. If you’re one of them, the number of tasks that spring cleaning can involve may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to spring clean your house, so you can get the job done more easily. Plus, we’ll share tips for spring cleaning to help you keep your home smelling fresh long after you clean.

Tip 1: Deep Clean Your Refrigerator

With spring cleaning, kitchen care is a key job, as many appliances and surfaces benefit from a deep clean. The refrigerator is a good place to start. A deep clean can help eliminate germs and get rid of drips and stains that contribute to refrigerator odors. To clean your refrigerator:

1. Remove everything from the refrigerator. Check expiration dates and throw away anything old as you go.
2. Slide out all the removable parts like drawers and shelves.
3. Add mild dish soap to hot water and use it to clean all the removable parts.
4. Dry removable parts with a clean towel.
5. Wipe off the interior of the refrigerator with hot, soapy water.
6. Dry the interior with a clean towel.
7. Put everything back.

Bonus tip: Wipe shelves and bins with a cleaning cloth moistened with Fresh Wave Odor-Eliminating Spray every other week to keep the fridge smelling great.

Tip 2: Clean Your Oven and Stove

Your oven and stove can harbor food particles that attract pests and produce smoke while you’re cooking. As a result, giving your stove and oven a deep clean at least once or twice a year is one of the most important kitchen cleaning tips. Here’s how to clean your stove:

1. Remove burners if you have them. Wipe them clean with warm, soapy water and let them dry completely.
2. Use a rubber spatula to lift away any stuck-on foods.
3. Wipe the stove top clean with a sponge and hot, soapy water. If messes persist, apply a degreaser.
4. Dry with a clean towel.
5. Replace the burners.

Bonus tip: Some stove tops may require specialty cleaning products. Consult your owner’s manual for more information.

Here’s how to clean your oven:

1. Remove the oven racks and soak them in a sink filled with hot, soapy water.
2. Prepare a cleaning paste by mixing 1/2 cup baking soda and six tablespoons of water.
3. Spread the paste all over the inside of the oven.
4. Allow the paste to rest in place for 12 hours.
5. Scrub the oven racks clean with a bristle brush after they have soaked for a couple of hours.
6. Moisten a dish cloth with warm water and wipe off the paste. Use a spatula to loosen any stuck-on food.
7. Use a dampened, fresh dish cloth to wipe off the entire interior again.
8. Slide the oven racks back in.

Bonus tip: Keep cooking odors at bay by placing a Fresh Wave Odor Eliminating Gel or Pod near your stove.

3. Declutter Your Cabinets and Pantry

Keeping your cabinets and pantry neat and tidy can cut down on odor-causing debris and allow you to spot expired foods before they begin to break down and emit volatile organic compounds that give rise to odors. To get your pantry organized, follow these tips:

1. Take everything out of the pantry, and throw away expired food as you go.
2. Wipe down the shelves with dish soap and water.
3. Put in fresh shelf liner paper.
4. Place dry goods like flour, sugar, pasta, rice and cereals in airtight canisters.
5. Use storage bins to group like products together.
6. Purchase shelf risers to expand storage space and make it easier to see items.
7. Install self-adhesive magnetic clips to the fronts of pantry shelves and use them to hang small bags of snacks, seasoning packets and similar items.
8. Place Fresh Wave Pods inside the pantry and cabinets to absorb odors and freshen the kitchen.

4. Clean Your Dishwasher

Over time, food debris can get trapped in various parts of your dishwasher. As it decomposes, these particles can cause the dishwasher to stink. Fortunately, a deep clean can solve the problem. To clean your dishwasher:

1. Remove silverware bins and racks that come out.
2. Fill your sink with warm water and 2 cups of white vinegar.
3. Place the dishwasher parts in the sink and allow them to soak for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse the parts and reinstall.
5. Put one cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack.
6. Run the dishwasher on the hottest rinse cycle.
7. Stop the dishwasher when the dry cycle begins.
8. Open the door of the dishwasher and let it air dry.
9. While the door is open, use an old toothbrush and a mixture of three parts hot water and one part white vinegar to clean the door and gasket, unless the manufacturer’s instructions give you other advice.
10. Consult the owner’s manual for how to remove the dishwasher filter. Once you have it removed, rinse it thoroughly with warm water and use an old toothbrush to remove any stuck-on food.
11. Wipe down the outside of the dishwasher with warm, soapy water and a soft cleaning cloth.
12. Dry the outside with a soft towel.

Bonus tip: Repeat these steps every 3 to 4 months to keep your dishwasher clean going forward. Every week, wipe down the inside of the dishwasher door with Fresh Wave Odor-Eliminating Spray to control odors between cleanings.

Start Cleaning Your Kitchen and the Rest of Your Home

Now that you’ve finished reading this spring cleaning guide, you should have a good idea of how to spring clean your home. That means it’s time for you to get started. Create a list of the supplies and tools you’ll need to begin. Fresh Wave can help you find odor-eliminating products for every room with a wide range of options that all use plant powered ingredients to neutralize the compounds that cause odors. Shop our line of nontoxic odor-eliminating products to freshen your home this spring and beyond.