Spring is Springing!

The sun is shining, and the birds are chirping- which means it's time for spring cleaning to commence!

We are often asked about our own personal "tips and tricks" for keeping kitchens spotless and organized. It's much easier (and less daunting!) to have a well-planned kitchen year-round than it is to have too many things crammed into unorganized cabinets and purge once or twice a year.

Here, we will start with our favorite organizational tools- the ones we appreciate the most!

"A place for everything, and everything in its place."

The spice drawer, the knife drawer, and the pull-out drawer for oils; these three items make it into 99% of the custom kitchens we design. While they aren't groundbreaking and new, they facilitate the everyday organization that keeps the kitchen humming.

The double pull-out trash and recycling is another option that we design into every kitchen. One of our favorite options is to install a hidden drawer above the cans, where you can store trash bags and paper towels. Having everything you need for the task within arm's reach makes the job much more likely to be completed.

Vertical storage is fantastic for cabinet organization in the kitchen. It feel treacherous to stack heavy boards on top of one another, plus you tend to only use the one on top! Vertical dividers, whether you use them for serving platters, cookie sheets, or cutting boards, will let you see and choose exactly what you are looking for.

Peg boards and adjustable dividers will also help guide you to put everything back where it belongs.

Now on to the Cleaning!

1) As painful as it may sound, take everything out of the drawers. (Ensure that the vacuum cleaner has new filters- otherwise, you are just moving around particulates.) Vacuum and wipe down the drawers and cabinet pull-outs. Use this time to donate or toss anything you haven't used in the last year.

2) Clean behind the kitchen appliances. Be careful with this and be sure to unplug the appliances. Carefully pull them out and vacuum and dust the crumbs and residue.

3) Rinse the drains.

Pour ½ cup of baking soda down each drain, and follow with 1 cup of vinegar. Let it fizz for 10 minutes, then pour very hot-to-boiling water down the drain. If you have a sink disposal, some cubed lemons and ice will do wonders to freshen that up.

4) Clean those windows!

Simply fill a clean 5-gallon bucket with warm water and add a teaspoon of mild dishwashing soap. If there is extensive grime build-up on the glass, use a one-to-one mixture of white vinegar and warm water instead of the dish soap solution. Vinegar is an aggressive detergent that will not streak or spot.

5) Replace (or scrub) the filters.

The HVAC filters, the microwave filter, and/or the hood vent filter can get neglected over time. Spring is perfect for replacing all of them! Some filters can be scrubbed or put through the dishwasher, which is more economical and earth-friendly, so check out the instructions first.

6) Change the batteries in the smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Change the burnt-out lightbulbs. Replace the AC filter.

It's great to accomplish these tasks while the weather outside is still questionable, and then when the sun is out, you can be out, too!