So, as promised, on to cleaning the kitchen cabinets. Ugh! Kitchen grime. Dust with glue in it. Fortunately it dissolves! Unfortunately, it is on everything we don't wipe down very often.
I have found that the best way to tackle an overwhelming job, is to piece it out. Pick one cabinet, or section of cabinet, to do each day. This way, it is not a big job.
Dawn dish soap is a great grease cutter. I like to put some directly on an old dish cloth that has been wrung out under hot water. Don't wring it out too much, you'll need enough water to mobilize the grime, and make the soap nice and sudsy. (careful, the concentrated Dawn makes a LOT of suds, which will take extra time to rinse.)
Remove everything from the cabinet or shelf you are cleaning and place in the dishwasher or sink to be washed. Remove old shelf liner if you use it, and are replacing it. Now, with your warm sudsy cloth wipe down the top shelf, and, if your cloth is not too saturated with gunk, move on to the next shelf down. Rinse the cloth as needed and add another bit of soap. Rinse the cloth a final time, when all is clean, and wipe all the suds off, leaving clean shelves behind. Let them air dry.
Wipe around the handles and front of the cabinet, and turn your attention to the things removed from the cabinet. If they are still enjoying their spa day in the dishwasher, do something else while you wait for them. Otherwise, turn your attention to the items sitting all alone with their shame. Give everything a good cleaning and let dry thoroughly.
Now that the reputation of your glassware, platters, gravy boats and stored appliances etc. feel squeaky proud again, don't put them back just yet. This is the time for shelf liner. I like the rubbery kind with holes in it. There is a nice, non-slip cushion under everything.
Now, before you put all of that back in the cabinet, does it all need to go back in the cabinet? This is the time to get rid of unused and unliked vases, sippy cups, never used salt and pepper shakers etc. As you put everything back, know that with this method, you will be done in a handful of days. The same principle applies to the lower cabinets and drawers, one at a time. Never overwhelm yourself. Pace and consistency make for success!
