The holiday season can bring a lot of chaos to the kitchen including extra dishes for cookie-baking and cooking extravagant meals for guests. Though most clean as they go, there’s still a need for a deep clean when the holidays come to a close. Aside from putting away the decorative cake stands, big roasting trays, and giving the kitchen a typical scrubbing, there are other ways to give your kitchen a fresh start for Christmas that doesn’t include cooking or eating!

Our article will give you several great tips to help with your kitchen recovery after the busy holiday season, and provide your kitchen with a fresh start to the new year.

1. Deep Clean or change your stove vent fan filter

No matter what type of vent fan you have, range hood or a typical apartment style vent fan, you should give attention to it! This task can sound daunting, but all you need is some hot water, a dish brush, and dish soap. Think about the last time you changed the filter, can’t remember? It’s time to pick up a new one and replace it, you can find them at local hardware stores or online. To figure out what type of filter your vent needs, you can check the owner’s manual or there should be a serial number of the vent replacement type within the range hood.

2. Deep clean your entire oven

There’s likely to be some spills within your oven whether it’s pie filling oozing over, or grease splatters from the Holiday turkey. Some ovens have a self-cleaning cycle to assist with the cleaning process, but that’s not always a good idea as it can cause a lot of smoke in the house. Rather, you can pair a solvent solution and some scrubbing. For example, pick up some all-natural grill and oven cleaner, or pair baking soda and vinegar. If there are extremely tough spills that aren’t budging, you can use ammonia.

3. Give some attention to your kitchen drawers

Drawers are notorious for catching crumbs swept in from the counter. Take this time to pull out every utensil from the drawers and wipe them down thoroughly. This is also a good time to get rid of any tools you rarely use and can part with. Also, this is a great opportunity to reorganize drawers putting things you use often within hands reach, and the other tools such as candy thermometers or cherry pitters in a separate drawer. You’ll find that your drawers will be less cluttered and finding utensils will be a breeze.

4. Get a new water filter

New year, new filters! The new year is a great time to replace things that need to be changed out occasionally, like the filter in a water pitcher. Also, take this time to completely scrub the pitcher itself. Set an alert in three months to remind yourself to change the filter again, then.

5. Scrub the dishwasher

Having a dishwasher saves you from countless hours of handwashing dishes during the busy holiday season. Now is a great time to refresh your dishwasher, even if it’s not the most fun task. Take time to clean the filter, wipe down all the crevices that are typically missed, and put a cup of vinegar into it while empty and run a cycle.

6. Give your refrigerator and freezer some attention

This task can seem daunting as it is mundane, and it may not be best to take on this task after a long day, but the outcome is worth the time. Take the time to pull every single item out of the refrigerator and freezer (making sure to put temperature sensitive foods in a cooler). Go through and throw away expired condiments, past due leftovers, and anything that you will never end up eating. Do this with both the refrigerator and freezer. While all the food is out and the shelves are bare, wipe up any spills and crumbs and finish off with a fresh box of baking soda in the door. The baking soda will keep any food odors at bay.

7. Deep clean the garbage disposal and microwave

Cleaning the microwave is easy! Microwave a bowl of water with lemon and then wipe down with a dishtowel. Then use the same lemon in addition to ice cubes and salt to clean your garbage disposal. Quick and easy to cross off of your list during your kitchen refresh!

With a freshly cleaned kitchen ready for Christmas, you can start to think about redecorating. Here are some inspirational photos of gorgeous kitchens to get you thinking about decorating for Christmas!

Pictures sourced from Pinterest

RESET FOR CHRISTMAS