8 Tips To Make Cleaning Your Kitchen Less Scary

It's almost Halloween, which means this is the perfect time to face the scariest project of them all: kitchen cleaning! Though I've done it thousands of times, this task always seems super daunting. I am disorganized, I keep things around too long, and I can't seem to put things back where they belong. When it comes time to clean my kitchen, I make a checklist and then start tackling it with reluctance. That said, I have found a few things that make it less intimidating. Here are 8 tips that will surely make your kitchen a bit less scary to clean!

1. Make Sure Everything Has A Place

Organization 101: if everything has a place, then you know where it all goes. When you know where it all goes, you can put it back efficiently. Decluttering your kitchen is a crucial step in the cleaning process. Clutter equals stress, so always make sure you have a place for everything. And if you can't find a place for something, create one!

2. Don't Keep Things You Don't Use

I LOVE to keep stuff I don't use. My pantry and spice cabinet are packed to the brim with neglected ingredients. When you clean your kitchen—this also works for other rooms in your house—try asking yourself if you regularly use something whenever you pick up an item. Doing this makes cupboard clean-outs less necessary. And always try to recycle and donate as much as possible when getting rid of things.

3. Decide If It's A Quick Clean or A Deep Clean

Deep cleaning your kitchen takes a lot of time and effort. So start by deciding whether you have time for a quick clean or a deep clean. Refrain from basing this decision on how dirty your kitchen because you don't need to sign up for something you can't handle. Schedule your deep cleans in advance—unless you find yourself with a sudden free day—and quick clean once a week.

4. Make a Checklist

Take the time to decide what needs done before you start actually cleaning. Keep your process organized! Prevent yourself from missing steps by making a checklist. It only takes a few minutes, and it'll make your life easier.

5. Get Rid Of Dysfunctional Decoration

This tip comes straight from my own mother. "I don't want to have something to dust," she'll say. Wall decoration is the ONLY exception to this rule. Decoration is cute, but you don't need a random figurine on your kitchen counter. If it can't help you do something, then it can't help you at all. Try to steer clear from decorating your kitchen with useless stuff as much as you can.

6. Do All Your Dishes First

We all have our preferred first step of cleaning—or is that just me? Always make your bed first, always clean off your couch first, and ALWAYS DO YOUR DISHES FIRST. I hate doing dishes, but I will still wash them before I touch anything else. It just makes the process flow better if you don't have stacks of dishes in your sink.

7. Listen to Happy Music

There's no point in cleaning in silence. If I'm cleaning, then I'm listening to something that keeps me motivated. Fill a playlist with your favorite upbeat songs, and you'll be in a fantastic mood to spruce up your kitchen! If you want to check out what I listen to, you can find my cleaning playlist right here.

8. Give It an Inviting Aroma

Whenever I'm done cleaning, I always light a candle or plug in a new air freshener. It's a pleasant way to round out your cleaning process, and it's a simple step to complete.

While kitchen cleaning can be a drag, the payoff is so worth it. Having an organized and tidy kitchen can make all the difference. An inviting space can boost your culinary creativity, and may inspire you to try something new. After all, the best part about cleaning your kitchen is making it messy again!