Don't Forget These Spots While Cleaning Your Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the rooms of your home that you use the most often, so it can become dirty rather quickly. Even if you're diligent about your cleaning routine, you're probably forgetting about some areas. Whether you're planning to live in your home for years or are giving it a top to bottom cleaning before it's listed among Richmond homes for sale or Petersburg homes for sale, you'll want to clean these often-neglected spots.
  
Our real estate agents point out some of the spots you might be missing when cleaning your kitchen:

• Light Switches and Wall Plates
  Your kitchen light switches and wall plates are touched countless times, but they're easy to forget when you're cleaning your kitchen. Wipe them clean of dirt, grime, and bacteria with a disinfecting wipe or a paper towel that's slightly dampened with rubbing alcohol or a household cleaner.
  
  
• Trash Cans
  You probably have a set routine for taking out the trash, but how often do you thoroughly clean your trash can? And of all the trash cans in your home, the one in your kitchen is the most likely to build up bacteria and food-related odors. Take your kitchen trash can outside where you have a hose hooked up, and clean it with a nylon scrub brush and disinfectant cleaner, finishing off with some disinfectant spray when the trash can is dry. If you don't have access to a hose outside, you can clean it out in the bathtub, but make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect your tub afterward.
  
  
• Dishwasher  
  Your dishwasher can develop a build-up of detergent, minerals, dirt, and food debris if it's not cleaned every month (or more often if you notice spills or other issues). Start by cleaning the filter at the bottom of your dishwasher to remove any bits of food or debris. Some filters can be removed and cleaned in the sink. Check the holes in the spray arms to remove any blockages. After that, pour two cups of vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container and place it on the top rack. Run a regular cycle without the heat dry and without using detergent. Then sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom of your dishwasher and run a hot water cycle to help keep it smelling clean.
  
  
• Refrigerator and Freezer  
  Wipe and clean your refrigerator and freezer regularly inside and out, making sure to clean the door seals. Use a stiff brush to remove dirt, crumbs, and other debris, and then use a damp microfiber towel and baking soda to further clean the seal. Spray with disinfectant spray to kill germs and keep mildew away.
  
  
• Coffee Maker
  Keeping your coffee maker clean will help it function well while getting rid of yeast, mold, and bacteria that can hide in the reservoir. Read your coffee maker's instructions for cleaning, and especially if you use it daily, clean its removable parts regularly.
  
  
• Baseboards and Door Frames  
  Even when you vacuum or mop, you probably don't take time to clean baseboards and door frames in your kitchen. Using vinegar on a microfiber cloth is a good way to clean them, and you can also try Magic Erasers or dryer sheets.

Contact us for information about buying or selling a home in the Richmond or Petersburg areas. Our company and agents would love to use our experience and knowledge to help you with your next real estate transaction.