Keeping the Kitchen Tidy!
- christineeethecook
- May 6, 2020
- 3 min read
Got a stockpile of plastic bags?
1. Trash
Do you have a stock pile of old plastic grocery bags? Use them while you are preparing or cooking! I cannot cook without some sort of trash bin. This helps me keep my cutting board or prep station clean and tidy! It makes things go quicker because I'm not constantly going back and forth to the trash can. If you want, use the "trash" parts of vegetables/fruits to create some type of vegetable stock or compost. Gardens love compost juices and thrive with it! Keep a bag or even a bowl (I suggest a medium - large size) to keep next to your cutting board. It's so easy to just toss the "trash" bits into the bowl. I have been doing this for so long! You should too.
Got stacks?
2. Dishes
This one is very important!!! If you hate washing dishes, it’s because you dread the stack of them! Always, always, always, clean them as you go. Every time I hear this saying, I hear my culinary instructor’s voice in my head. It has stuck to me since then. When I cook or prep, I always have an old grocery or produce bag next to my station. Sometimes, I even hang it on one of my drawers. This helps me keep my surfaces clean and decluttered and also helps save time going back and forth to the trash can. DO NOT PREP FOOD OVER THE TRASH. It's very unsanitary and you could even create a bigger mess! Another tip is combining items in one dish or container if possible. Read the recipes thoroughly and see what could be done to reduce dishes. Whenever I cut veggies for a meal, I use the biggest plate possible and throw them all on there, but in an organized way. I also try to cook things in one pot. Sometimes it even adds more flavor to the meal. When you wash the dishes as you go, at the end of cooking you won’t be bombarded with a sink full of dishes. This makes me hate washing dishes less!
Need to save some coin?
3. Towels
In my kitchen, I keep a basket full of small towels. I honestly buy a pack of "washcloths" from Walmart ($3 for 18 pack) because they’re so cheap and dry quicker than a kitchen towel. I make sure to dry the towels before placing them into my dirty towel bin. This helps to reduce any bugs or pests in my home. I do wash them weekly so I use up a bunch. If you want, you could even have different colors for different cleaning categories. For example, different colors for the stove, wiping cutting boards or knives, for hands, etc. I keep them right next to my sink for easy access. This has also helped me save some money so I’m not constantly buying and wasting paper towels. I suggest this alternative!
Trying to keep it clean?
4. Sanitizer
I like to clean surfaces, especially in the kitchen with restaurant grade sanitizer. I get a gallon from Sam’s Club, and it costs only $5. I dilute some with water in an old plastic spray bottle and leave it on my countertop. Keep it out of reach of children and pets and make sure to label it! When I use this, I clean the surface with soapy water then wipe it down. Then, I spray the sanitizer solution onto the surface, and wipe it down a bit then let it air dry. I always always use it after handling any meats’ or poultry. I do have sensitivity to very strong cleaners like Clorox. They tend to give me headaches from the scents or fumes they give off. The sanitizer solution does not have a strong scent, or give me any problems.
If you are not doing these tips & tricks, I challenge you to try at least one! If you are, KUDOS to you! These help me out so much in the kitchen and I hope it helps you too! Let me know what you try out, then if it worked or not. If you have any tips & tricks for keeping your kitchen tidy, feel free to share it with me! I’d like to know and/or explore other things. Much love,
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