Our kitchens are filled with nice aromas from the dishes that we prepare, especially as we are nearing the festive season when our loved ones gather around to share stories and laughter.
Once the celebrations end and your guests head home, you are left staring at your kitchen that looks like a tornado has just swept through.
Let’s help you devise a game plan to make post-holiday cleanup manageable, and even enjoyable. It will include all kitchen cleaning tips and tricks for every specific instance you might face later on.
Pre-Holiday Kitchen Preparation
First, Declutter
We only have a few weeks left before Christmas, so before you even think about holiday cooking, you must first have a plan for how to deal with clutter in your kitchen.
Remember that a disorganised kitchen is more than an eyesore. It is a recipe for disaster during busy holiday cooking sessions.
Start by going through your cabinets one by one. When was the last time that you used that bundt pan or that set of cookie cutters shaped like dinosaurs? Pack away items you won’t need during the holidays. Doing this will free up valuable space for ingredients, serving dishes, and the tools you’ll actually use.
A good idea to implement is creating a “holiday zone” in one of your cabinets. This is where you’ll keep your cookie sheets, cake tins, serving platters, and any utensils that you only bring out during special occasions. It would be easy to look for an item because you’ll have everything you need in one place.
Set up Work Zones
You can organise your space into distinct zones. Even in a small HDB kitchen, you can have three areas for different purposes: prep zone, cooking zone, and cleaning zone.
Prep zone: this should be located near your sink to easily wash the vegetables and for quick upkeep. The cutting boards, knives, and prep bowls should be within reach.
Cooking zone: this is where your stove is located. It should contain all frequently used spices, cooking oils, and utensils like spatulas and ladles.
Cleaning zone: the sink is usually used as the cleaning zone. So you should keep dish soap, sponges, and dish towels readily accessible.
Following this approach reduces time and energy wasted going back and forth. Everyone in your home would also know exactly where things belong.
Maximise Vertical and Counter Space
Think vertical, especially if your kitchen has spatial constraints. For example, you can install adhesive hooks on the inside of cabinet doors to hang measuring cups and spoons. Or use magnetic strips on walls to hold knives and metal tools. Another great use of vertical space is getting a pegboard for a wall; it’s like giving your kitchen an extra cabinet without taking up floor space.
If you are living in a rental property where drilling is prohibited, you can use tension rods and install them vertically in corners to hang dish towels and oven mitts. If the space is adequate to install them horizontally, put them under cabinets to hang spray bottles and cleaning supplies.
Keep your countertops as clear as possible. The only items that should take up space on your counter are the things that you use on a daily basis. Everything else goes up or away. This gives you maximum workspace for holiday food prep and makes cleaning so much easier.
Smart Storage Hacks for Small Kitchens
Pull-out shelves are game-changers for base cabinets. No more crawling on your hands and knees to reach items at the back.
For those annoying corner cabinets, pull-out drawers or swing-out trays make every inch accessible. Don’t forget about the space between your cabinet tops and ceiling — this is a perfect spot for storing items you only use occasionally, like your stock pot.
Consider getting a kitchen trolley that can slide into a narrow gap when not in use. During holiday cooking, wheel it out for extra prep space or you can use it as a mobile station for drinks and snacks.
Stock Your Cleaning Arsenal
This is one of the most crucial parts because, in here, you will finalise what’s included in your cleaning toolkit.
Essential Cleaning Tools:
- A good set of microfibre cloths (get different colours for various purposes to avoid cross-contamination and make cleaning more hygienic)
- Non-scratch scrub pads and soft-bristled brushes
- Plastic scrapers
- Detailing brushes (get a set of different sizes to remove grime accumulated in small crevices)
- Nitrile gloves
Must-Have Cleaning Products:
- For daily cleaning, opt for a good citrus or plant-based degreaser because these are gentler on your hands and better for the environment.
- For the heavy-duty post-holiday cleanup, you will need an alkaline degreaser with a pH of 10-12. Note: test it on a hidden spot first.
- Keep these natural cleaners handy too. Baking soda and white vinegar. Mix baking soda with water to create a paste for scrubbing or use vinegar to cut through mineral deposits and light grease.
- And don’t forget specialised cleaners like oven cleaner, dishwasher cleaner (if you have a dishwasher), and anti-mould spray.
Smart Kitchen Cleaning Tips and Tricks During Holiday Cooking
The CLAYGO or “Clean As You Go” Philosophy
Embracing this philosophy even during holiday cooking makes you feel in charge of the kitchen space and you’ll be able to maintain order throughout the process.
Implementing it is easier than you think. While your curry is simmering for a couple of minutes, you can use this time to wash the prep bowls and knives that you used. Or while the cake is in the oven, you can wipe down the counters and put away ingredients.
These actions may seem small but they save you a significant amount of time cleaning them up later.
Pre-Cooking Kitchen Setup
Never start cooking with a sink full of dishes or messy counters. You are setting yourself up for frustration. Allocate a few minutes (10 to 15 minutes) to clear and clean your workspace.
If you have a dishwasher, empty it first so you can have space to put dirty items into instead of stacking them in the sink.
Read through all your recipes and gather every ingredient you will need. You won’t want to frantically search for them with flour-covered hands.
Have everything prepped and ready in small bowls before you start cooking (mise en place). Chop all veggies, measure out spices, and prepare marinades in advance. You’ll use more bowls initially but the efficient cooking process more than makes up for it.
Setting Up the Trash and Prep Station
You can put a large bowl or small bin right next to your cutting board to put vegetable scraps and packaging into, so you don’t have to walk to the main trash bin. Line it with a newspaper or a plastic bag for easy disposal.
If you are tight on space, get collapsible silicone prep bowls. They only take up minimal storage space, and they expand when you need them.
Lastly, organise the prepped ingredients by the order you’ll use them. First ingredients at the front, last at the back.
Batch Cooking and Tool Reuse
Here is a pro kitchen cleaning tip or trick that will cut your dishwashing in half. Rinse and reuse tools between similar kitchen tasks instead of grabbing new ones.
The spatula that you used for stir-frying veggies can be given a quick rinse and reused for the next dish. A single mixing bowl can also serve several uses.
Keep a container of warm soapy water on your counter. Put used utensils in there to soak so they will be easy to clean when you have a spare moment.
Maintaining the Cleanliness of Kitchen Surfaces
After every cooking task, take at least 30 seconds or a minute to wipe down your work surface. It is much easier to clean fresh spills than dried ones. Keep a damp cloth and a dry cloth handy at all times. Use the damp one for cleaning and the dry one to dry surfaces.
Return items to their designated spots immediately after use. This habit alone will save you hours of organising later.
Quick Organisation for Easier Cleaning
While organisation isn’t cleaning per se, having ingredients and tools properly stored makes your cleanup much faster.
Use clear containers when possible so you can quickly identify and put away items.
Label leftovers with dates to avoid mystery containers later.
The less time you spend hunting for where things belong, the faster your post-cooking cleanup will be.
When to Call in Professional Help
After an exhausting day of preparing dishes, cooking for hours, and entertaining your loved ones, the last thing you want is to face a mountain of cleanup. Your energy is spent, your guests have had a wonderful time, and you deserve to rest.
This is where professional home cleaning services come to the rescue. Instead of spending your next day scrubbing away at stubborn grease and tackling every corner of your kitchen and home, you can actually recover from hosting duties.
Consider engaging professional cleaners when:
- You’ve hosted multiple gatherings back-to-back and the cleanup feels endless
- Your entire home needs attention, not just the kitchen
- You’d rather spend the day after your party relaxing with family instead of cleaning
- There’s stubborn grease on your stovetop and oven that needs professional-grade products and techniques
- Your guests have left, but the evidence of a great party lingers everywhere
Conclusion
Professional cleaners can handle everything from your kitchen’s greasy aftermath to your home’s general post-party chaos.
Getting professional assistance is often the smartest decision you can make. The kitchen cleaning tips and tricks discussed above will definitely help as you prepare for the holiday season.
But when it comes to post-holiday cleanup, why not engage a home cleaning service provider in Singapore, like KungFu Helper? Let the experts handle the cleaning while you savour the memories of a successful gathering with your loved ones.
