Best way to tackle a messy kitchen.
By
on
October 28th, 2008
Hello 
I have a little story for you.
I do co-op at a 60 year old womans house, she teaches yoga. In return for basically free classes, I help her organize her things and clean. She is very messy and I am her gear to change. She tells me that she hasn’t been in her kitchen in seriously a year, and that there’s even mice in there. I am not being asked to do this, but her house is gorgeous so I have this weird knack to clean it. I need your ideas on tools I’m gonna need and maybe some techniques you can think of that would help me tackle this situation.
Thanks.
pickingausernamesucks says:
Get rid of the mice first.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Tia says:
Wow.
Well, first, put some thick kitchen gloves on. Make sure you have lots of cleaning products, disinfectants, and scrub brushes before you get started. Get a big garbage bag or barrel and throw out all of the junk.
A big thing for people like her is clutter. Get rid of it, big time. Simplify everything so that there aren’t as many opportunities for messes. Get rid of whatever she doesn’t absolutely need. You’ll probably need to clean up mouse droppings and then take care of the actual mouse problem - there are remedies at places like Home Depot for getting rid of them. They will probably not be as much of a problem once the place is cleaned and food is put away and trash taken out.
Good luck.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Kaliu3W says:
Start with one area at a time, the furthest point away from the entrance. (for me that would be the Pantry) Begin at the top and work your way down. You can use a solution of bleach/water (a small amt. of bleach to a larger amt. of water) to wipe down. This will kill any bacteria from mouse droppings or pee. As you move through the room, repeat the top to bottom procedure.
You will probably have to address the mouse issue, either with traditional snap traps, glue trays or the more humane ‘catch and release’ traps.
Do the counter tops and the floor last. Make sure all foods are up high where mice can’t reach them. Or put foods in heavy plastic food containers to keep the mice out.
You’re a good friend to offer to do this, it is a big job to do it right. I live on a farm and as soon as it gets cold out, I have the same mouse problem. I bought those heavy duty plastic containers online from United States Plastic Corporation (in Ohio) and they work great.
Happy cleaning.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Evil Laurie says:
House hold rubber gloves, bleach, toothbrush and plenty of rags. It also helps if you listen to music while your cleaning. Have you heard the song Whistle while you work. Once the kitchen is clean the mice will go away.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:15 am
roiiji says:
yes
October 28th, 2008 at 11:06 am
mother2two says:
1. Get rid of the mice. I prefer mice cubes.
2. Wash, dry and put away any dishes.
3. Remove out-of-date or spoiled food from fridge and cabinets.
Then, start at the top and work your way down to the floor:
4. Clean top of top of upper cabinets (if it’s open above) and wiped down the doors, clean top of fridge and front surface of fridge.
5. Wipe down walls between upper cabinets and counter tops.
6. Clean counter tops and other flat surfaces
7. Wipe down lower cabinets
8. Wipe down remaining walls
9. Finish up with the floor.
If it really needs heavy duty cleaning, I find bleach and water in a spray bottle does a nice job but may be too harsh for some surfaces and some peole do not tolerate the fumes well. Clorox Greenworks sprays and dilutable solution work well for most surfaces but are not recommended for wood. If she has really nice wood cabinets I would recommend using Guardsmen Wood cleaners and polishes.
Don’t forget to clean the oven.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Liz says:
Well first call an exterminator to get the mice out
You might have to invest in some money
Then get some supplies and utensils:
Thick Rubber Gloves
Paper Towels
Plenty of clean rags
Some clean sponges
A clean scrub brush
Dishsoap, I like Ajax
A antibacterial kitchen cleaner or all purpose spray, I use Lysol antibacterial kitchen cleaner or formula 409
A strong
Windex. if she has any glass or mirrors or stainless steel appliances
Cerma Bryte. if she has a ceramic stove top, if not you dont need it
Now since there is mice, this is going to require some disinfection
such as using a cleaner with bleach in it also, or letting everything sit for like 10 minutes when using the kitchen or all purpose cleaner
Take everything off the countertops and
dining table
And clean with the kitchen cleaner
Wash the dishes with the sponges and dishsoap, rinse, dry and put away
Clean the sink with soft scrub or comet, kitchen cleaner, scrubber, and paper towels
If you have a ceramic stove top clean it with the cerama bryte and a sponge
Wipe down the outside of the refigerator with the kitchen cleaner and a paper towel, unless it is stainless steel, then clean with windex
Sweep and Mop with Pine Sol
October 28th, 2008 at 12:36 pm