Posted by ABClocal on August 27, 2010 at 06:00:43:
Cleaning and Organizing the Kitchen Thursday, August 26, 2010
August 26, 2010 (WLS) -- It's central command. It's a homework station. It's an arts and crafts studio. It's a playroom. And, oh yeah, you eat in there, too! The kitchen is the heart of the home. And it lives many lives in any given day. Because it's such a popular place, it's hard to keep it clean. And if it's not clean, it can't be organized. If it's not organized, it can't be kept clean. What can you do?
Peter Walsh, www.peterwalshdesign.com America's home organization expert and host of a soon-to-air show on the Oprah Winfrey Network, says the kitchen is primed for a "Home CleanOver." Peter says a "CleanOver" is similar to a home make-over, designed to help people rethink the way they clean and organize their homes from the floor up.
"In any home, the kitchen is truly where the heart is," says Peter, the author of It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. "It's where your family gets its nourishment--not only from the food you serve but also from the gatherings that so often take place there. Because it's such a nerve center, it's also a tough place to keep organized and clean. "
Peter says now is the time to declutter the kitchen. "It's important to be able to spruce up before the holidays come along. There are a lot of "drop ins" during this time and you'll feel better if your space is clean and organized," he says. " Also, the kids are back in school and the schedule has changed so it's the ideal time to freshen up."
Here are Peter's tips on giving your kitchen a "CleanOver";
Flat surfaces are not for storage: Clear all of those things like trinkets and bread makers off the counters. The largest flat surface is the floor. I recommend having the new ProMist close at hand for a fresh, convenient and thorough clean. There's no bucket to drag around and you can either use the durable, machine washable microfiber pad or the microfiber semi disposable pads for those sudden spills. And, you can choose your own cleaning solution -- water, water & vinegar, whatever you like -- safe for kids and pets.
Cardboard Box Test: Empty all the contents of your utensil drawer into the box. Over the course of a month, each time you use a utensil from the box, put it back into the drawer. After the four weeks, whatever items are left in the cardboard box, you might want to consider tossing.
Magic Triangle: There are two strategies for keeping your kitchen lean and clean. The first is to establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, your refrigerator and your sink. Anything you use most often, keep it in the triangle. Anything you use less often, outside the triangle. It will save you a ton of time.
Cull the cookbooks: If you have too many cookbooks for your kitchen, try this simple test: Every time you use a recipe from a cookbook, mark the page with a sticky note. At the end of 18 months, get rid of books that have no notes.
Must-have marker: The most essential item to have in your freezer? A black marker. Use it to label and date what's inside freezer bags so you aren't stuck wondering what that 6-month old grey mass is.
If these simple steps won't help, you may need professional guidance. You can enter for a chance to win a personal consultation from Peter. Submit your video to the Home CleanOver Video Contest. Peter will give the winner's home a CleanOver! Go to www.homecleanover.com for all the details. The contest runs September 1 through January 31, 2011
For more information on organizing your home, visit Pete's website at www.peterwalshdesign.com or the website of National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) at www.napo.net
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