Kitchens can be used for entertaining, cooking, chilling out, working – the list is endless. This is why it’s important that you know how to take good care of your kitchen from the moment it’s installed.
Follow our tips below to maintain a kitchen that will not only last for years but stay looking as fresh as it was when you first started using it.
Keeping cabinets clean
Modern kitchen cabinets often come in finishes such as high gloss. The installation company should remove the protective film on delivery to check for damage, but once installed, it’s down to you to keep them clean.
A regular wipe with a soft damp cloth and mild soap is all you’ll need, because aggressive chemical substances can cause irreversible damage on the cabinet surface.
If you’ve opted for hand-painted or timber doors, just bear in mind that the colour might alter over time. This is totally normal, but if might be worth installing blinds or curtains in your kitchen to reduce the amount of strong light hitting your cabinets.
Protecting the worktops
Kitchen worktops are put through a fair amount of stress during their lifetime, but some simple habits will keep yours looking as fresh as possible.
A chopping board for meal preparation is a must, but regular cleaning to remove food stains and greasy fingerprints is just as important. Warm soapy water will do the trick, but be sure to wipe away any strong colours or acidic spillages quickly to avoid staining.
Maintaining ship-shape appliances
Although not always the easiest elements of a kitchen to clean, appliances need careful maintenance if they’re to last as long as manufacturers suggest.
It’s thought that the humble washing machine is the dirtiest item in most kitchens, followed closely by the oven. Most people will clean these, respectively, once and twice a year on average.
Self-cleaning ovens are a fantastic option if you don’t fancy doing it yourself, but just as with the other self-cleaning kitchen appliances on the market, reading the manual will ensure you know how to care for them properly.
Accessories and quick tips
There are plenty of small things you can do each day to keep your kitchen in tip-top condition. For instance, try and avoid placing the kettle and toaster directly beneath a wall unit, as regular rising heat and steam can damage any under cabinet lighting you may have.
Here’s some additional quick tips for kitchen care that you can add to your weekly routine:
- regularly clear the decks by placing unused appliances and cutlery in their respective homes;
- start with the sink when cleaning – you’ll spend a fair amount of time returning to that spot;
- occasionally give the fridge a spring clean by removing out of date items and accessing all nooks and crannies;
- don’t forget to look up and clean/dust the tops of cabinets and the extractor fan; and
- remember that lower cabinets and drawers and plinths often get missed – make sure they’re treated to a regular wipe down with warm soapy water.
Why not involve the whole family with the tidying and cleaning process? If you spread the kitchen cleaning load by making it a joint effort, you’ll all do your bit and the process will become far easier. (It’ll teach the kids a thing or two, as well!)
Making it a habit
We’re not suggesting cleaning your kitchen is endless fun (unless you’re that way inclined), but by making the above tips habitual, you’ll be left with a kitchen that lasts for generations and remains a beautiful focal point of your home.
We love the Organised Mum Method so if you’re keen to get into a cleaning routine watch this video with her top 5 kitchen cleaning tips.
If you’d like to discuss a new kitchen design with the Modern Homes experts, just get in touch today.