For many of us, the post-holiday stretch of winter is a time to hunker down, entering survival mode to get through the last weeks of dark, cold days. Resets can wait until spring cleaning, we think.
However, professional cleaners say that now is the perfect time to clean a kitchen. Tackling a deep January reset allows you to declutter, reorganize, and create vital systems before the year gets busy – making everyday cooking smoother and less stressful.
Here are their tips for getting it right without burnout during the seasonal low point.
Why You Need to Deep Clean Your Kitchen in January
Make your kitchen one of the essential areas you clean in January to save you hassle later.
And we are not talking about cleaning a kitchen after dinner, here. That should be a given to maintain a normal standard of hygiene and prevent cross-contamination in a kitchen when cooking.
Rather, our cleaning experts are urging a thorough deep clean this month, designed to scrub away the evidence of a hectic hosting season from your kitchen and restore order.
Leaving it till you look at your spring cleaning checklist will only allow current build-up from an 'overdrive' period of use over the holidays to build and get worse, making cleaning now essential to avoid a tougher job down the line.
'The revolving door that is the Christmas and New Year period leaves little time for cleaning as you go,' begins Adriana Azi, operations manager at MaidForYou. 'This extended time in the kitchen, cooking, preparing meals, and cleaning up means appliances are being used in overdrive.
'For example, we always find that the rangehood and filter get extremely dirty during this time, and you'll then have to wait another three months before you clean it in spring. That delay will make your spring cleaning job that much harder as you continue to add to the problem.'
When deep cleaning a house, working out where to start can make it feel a little less daunting. In the kitchen, Adriana suggests working on your most commonly used appliances first.
'That includes things like removing breadcrumbs and burnt bits from your toaster, cleaning your rangehood and filter, cleaning the dishwasher, especially the filter, which can impede efficiency and trap a lot of grease and gunk,' she explains.
We always suggest following a non-toxic cleaning approach, especially in the kitchen, where you handle food. The Attitude kitchen degreaser, from Amazon, is great for this, offering a powerful clean with no toxic chemicals. The Seventh Generation All Purpose Spray, also from Amazon, is ideal for daily counter cleaning.
Adriana adds, 'Always check the manufacturer's instructions for best practice on cleaning and beware of sensitive surfaces like natural stone and stainless steel.' For these tasks, a more specialised cleaner, such as the Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner from Target, and the MORE Stone & Quartz Cleaner and Protector from Amazon, is your best bet.
'Where possible, clean underneath the fridge and behind the fridge cavity. I personally only recommend that this be done if your fridge is easy to move and has wheels.' Don't fret if it isn't, we have some great tips for cleaning behind appliances without moving them, should you need them.
If you need the added boost, there are also plenty of ways to get motivated to clean when energy is low in January, too. Body doubling, for example, can help to hold you accountable, while the Domino method can be the perfect springboard to launch you into a tricky task.
If you struggle to focus, pick a smaller zone, such as the pantry or counters, and do the Sunday Butterfly method, which encourages you to lean into your flow state rather than sticking rigidly to particular steps.
What to Shop
Microfiber cloths are machine washable, meaning you can reuse them for years with proper care. Simply wash after use on a warm water cycle and a gentle detergent to sanitize. Skip the softener to retain its moisture-wicking properties.
Made with all-natural ingredients, The Pink Stuff paste is truly miraculous. It breaks down all sorts of grease and grime without damaging the surface beneath, making it ideal for glass, stoves, windows, and mirrors.
The Scrub Mommy sponge softens under hot water and toughens under cold water, allowing you to adjust the level of abrasion you need for the task at hand. Either way, it doesn't scratch surfaces, making it versatile and effective.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has certified Attitude products as non-toxic, meaning they contain no harsh chemicals or artificial compounds.
After emptying the dishwasher filter, these dishwasher cleaning tablets loved by shoppers can help to break down grease, grime, and limescale on a standard empty cycle, reducing the need to scrub.
This seven-in-one steam cleaner has attachments to clean everything from hard and carpeted floors, to appliances, soft furnishings, tiles and grout, and more. It is the best multi-functional tool for any home.
Meet the Expert
Kitchens aren't the only task you should tackle in January. There are five key winter deep cleaning tasks you should focus your energy on to keep your home healthy and hygienic.
