This post has been sponsored by Art of Green™. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Imagine waking up to a sparkling clean and clutter free kitchen every morning. Wouldn’t that be so nice? You (in theory) could enjoy a hot cup of coffee, eat breakfast or go on with your morning routine. No cleaning. No cluttered counters. Just clean and clear. I don’t know about you but, I love waking up to a clean kitchen. Something about NOT having to clean first thing in the morning makes my day start out just right. Today I’m sharing the clean kitchen tips I use every most evenings to make sure I’m waking up to a clean kitchen the next day.
Do you Have a Cleaning Routine?
My kids and I have a simple cleaning routine that’s been going for strong for a few years now. Each day after dinner we all pitch in (yes, there is whining from all the kids and sometimes me) and clean up the kitchen, living room and dining room. On most days the areas stay clean and we wake up to a fairly clean home. And on some days something happens and despite our cleaning spree the house looks like a mess. #RealLifeWithKids
I find sticking to a cleaning routine makes me more likely to clean even when I don’t feel like it. And I know that mornings are busy for us and I want to be in the best mood possible. My 5 year old is incredibly sassy in the morning and I only have enough energy to deal with the drama of her morning antics. I don’t ever clean in the morning so if we didn’t get to the kitchen the night before there’s a 100% chance the kitchen will be dirty all.day.long.
Let me paint you a picture of what the kitchen looks like when we don’t clean the night before:
- the dishes are piled in the sink
- recyclables are hanging out all over the island (this drives me nuts)
- random dishes, toys, kitchen tools, things we probably do not need are spread out like a crazy buffet all over the counters
- the floors are a mess
- there are no clean cups or spoons
- the trash can is full (how come I am the only one to notice?) so now I don’t feel like cleaning because I hate taking out the trash
Now, let me tell you how I feel when my kitchen is a mess: stressed, annoyed and irritated! I could kick myself for not taking the time to clean up at night. So this is why I welcome a super simple routine to stick to. I know exactly what to do (follow the easy clean kitchen tips) and I know it’s not going to take much time.
Clean Kitchen Tips
Here is a breakdown of what we do to keep the kitchen clean.
Each day before dinner the kids or my husband unload the dishwasher while I start dinner. If we have any dirty dishes around those get loaded into the dishwasher.
After dinner everyone rinses their dishes and loads those into the dishwasher.
And now we start our routine:
- clear & wipe down the dinner table (kids or me)
- clear & wipe down the counters and island (kids or me)
- wipe down the stove (me)
- sweep kitchen and dining room (kids)
- hand wash the pans and anything else I don’t put in the dishwasher (me or Juan)
- quick clean the sink (always me)
- quick mop if needed (me or the kids)
- check on garbage and recyclables -if full have kids or husband take out
- get my coffee prepped for the next morning
This quick routine can be done in 15 minutes if we hustle. And by hustle it means I’m the one rushing and the kids are the ones moving as slow as snails. But still, it gets done. And afterwards the kitchen is CLOSED.
What I’m Using to Keep the Kitchen Clean
I became aware of how toxic cleaning products can be a few years back and started using a DIY cleaning mixtures in my home. While I love DIY cleaning products I don’t always have the time to make a batch and then I’m left with no cleaning products. Not good! I try to find naturally based products and came across Art Of Green™ non-toxic products at H-E-B. Here’s what I like about Art of Green™:
- 98% naturally derived cleaner
- no harsh chemicals
- non-toxic
- tough on dirt, grease and grime
- safe for sensitive skin
- made with essential oils
- the formula is free of parabens, phthalates, glycol solvents and artificial color or phosphates
- safe to use around kids and pets
In addition to using natural cleaning products I also keep a large supply of microfiber cloths for cleaning both the kitchen and the bathrooms.
Here’s how I use the Art of Green products in my home: the Multisurface Cleaner is perfect for spraying on the counters, stove and table. I let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe/rinse clean with a microfiber cloth. I added the Multisurface Cleaner mixed with water into my mop and use that to mop the floors at night.
I also picked up the Art of Green Powerful Cleaning Wipes and while I don’t regularly use cleaning wipes in my home (since I use the microfiber cloths) I wanted these for two reasons: cleaning the interior of our vehicles while on the go and I like taking cleaning wipes when we stay in hotels. We have an upcoming trip to the beach and I’m taking the wipes to clean up any messes in the hotel room.
And last but not least, I love my house to smell good but don’t want to use plug-ins or scented candles so I switched to an essential oil diffuser. My go-to scent is mixing lemon and lavender oils or lavender plus eucalyptus oils.
I hope you found my clean kitchen tips helpful. I know I am happier and more positive in the mornings when I wake up to a clean kitchen. I hope these cleaning tips can help you feel better in the morning too!
Grab the $1.00 off coupon and find out more about Art of Green™ by checking out their website: https://artofgreen.com
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I fell off my kitchen routine and haven’t been waking up to a clean kitchen too much lately. Also, my dishwasher keeps going out! 😭 I’m really interested in these products though. I want to try them. I’m currently using a DIY cleaning mix for the kitchen and those microfiber towels. I really LOVE disinfecting wipes!! They’re so quick and easy for me to grab, wipe down the bathroom in between deep cleans and throw out.
I always feel so much better when the kitchen is cleaned up and ready for a new day the night before. There is nothing more draining than seeing dishes to do or cluttered counters when you wake up! These are some really good tips you shared
I hate going to bed with a messy kitchen, too! Usually, I try to clean dishes as I cook as much as possible. Then after dinner, while my husband helps the boys get ready for bed and do their evening routine, I clean the dishes and tidy the kitchen. It stresses me to have a messy kitchen, and I can’t cook when it’s a mess, either.
I hate cooking in a dirty kitchen! It messes with my motivation to cook dinner! lol
Ooooo so many helpful tips!!!! My kitchen is usually pretty clean all the time. Only thing I slack in is the dishes!
I love waking up to a clean kitchen but I’ve really been slacking lately. My dishwasher went kaput as well so I dread doing the dishes by hand!
I hope your dishwasher is fixed soon!
I love having a clean kitchen. It makes me feel better when my counters are nice and shiny.
I would love to wake up to a super clean kitchen! I definitely want to try out Art of Green & I’m so happy its at one of my favorite stores!! HEB!!! Thanks for the tips!
This is such a great cleaning routine! But if I understand well, it is 4 of you participating, For me (which is always ME) it is at least 45 minutes task and my kitchen is quite small (we live in a small flat). But those products you show look really handy and I’ll check to see if I can find them around here!
Nati recently posted…Nail Art │ Mint, Black and White Tile Nail Design
Thank you very much for this great article on how to have our waking up into a clean kitchen. indeed, it can be very annoying when you find your kitchen being messed up especially in the morning. it speaks volume about the day and ones general feelings.
the product you shew also would be a perfect agent for cleaning.
femzy recently posted…How to take care of your kitchen
Hate to see my kitchen so dirty and greasy! These tips are great and helpful! Love it. Thanks!
Kyra Rodriguez recently posted…Flooring Solutions Joins PHILCONSTRUCT 2019
The kitchen is the most important part of the home.
It must be kept clean at all times.
Thanks a lot for sharing these tips with us.
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Hi Crystal, I’ve been trying to set up an evening kitchen cleaning routine in our home over the last few weeks, and we are slowly making progress. We haven’t got it down to 15 minutes like you are, but we are getting there. Thanks for the tips!
Love to see that your child is helping you! It really does change my mood every time I see a messy kitchen. But yes, thank you for reminding me how dirty the kitchen would be if we didn’t have any cleaning routines.
We always can’t sleep thinking that the kitchen still in mess and we always do cleaning the kitchen before and after the usage. having it cleaned is not enough but making sure that it is safe for the family.
Hi Crystal, I loved reading your article and specially loved how you include your little minions in your kitchen cleaning routine. I can’t wait to try out Art of Green Products. How satisfying to have a squeaky clean kitchen at all times!
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Great tips. I love a clean kitchen look beforehand. Make it easier to clean and be presentable for guest and easier to cook with.
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