8 Ways to Spruce Up Your Kitchen This Month

I’ve been a devout reader of Apartment Therapy for years and I love their concept of the January cure – a detailed home organization effort for the first month of the year.

While I certainly don’t follow every suggestion they make (I have no intention of changing my living room lighting and I’m not purging any books) I do pay particular attention to the suggestions in their kitchen organization and cleaning chore list.

After the holidays, and a busy fall in general, my space was certainly in need of a little sprucing up. Inspired by the list sent to me, I’ve compiled some tasks that can be done this month to prepare for the busy year to come.

8 Ways to Spruce Up Your Kitchen

1. Clean All Surfaces, Inside and Out

Use your favourite earth-friendly cleaner and get to work tackling the sink, counters, cupboards, cabinets, and drawers. Move everything and clean under food storage containers or glass jars.

2. Spruce Up the Appliances

Clean the inside of the fridge and freezer, use a little elbow grease and tackle the oven. Wash the inside of the microwave and run the dishwasher through a ‘clean’ cycle. Remove the crumb catcher at the bottom of the toaster and clean it out, and give the food processor/mixer/blender a good once over, taking the pieces apart to thoroughly clean the inside bits.

3. Dispose of All Bad Food

Remove anything that’s past its prime from the pantry, fridge or freezer. Cook with items that are on the verge of expiring. If you have canned goods that have been in the cupboard for longer than a year, donate them, and any packages that have just a little food left can be tossed.

4. Toss the Broken Bits

Go through the cupboard and toss any chipped, cracked, or broken glasses, mugs, plates or bowls. Dispose of mismatched items or pieces that you never use.

5. Look Through the Linens

Anything with holes or stains can be tossed. Replace any sponges and dish clothes that have seen better days, launder any napkins or tablecloths that may have stained over the holidays and pack away anything that’s seasonal. Pumpkin and Santa motifs will have to wait for a few more months until they’re needed again.

6. Wash the Floor

Not with a mop, but on your hands and knees. The scrubbing is somewhat meditative, and it’s nice to clean in those corners every once in a while.

7. Make Something Yummy

After all the hard work that comes with deep cleaning your kitchen, treat yourself to something special. Make something just for you because you want it, and not because it’s needed for the lunchbox, dinner, or feeding your in-laws.