How to have fun while Cleaning the Kitchen.
Lucy and Ethel cleaning!
Those who can....cook
Those who can't...clean the kitchen! Wouldn't it be nice if it worked that way?! I love to cook but I don't love cleaning. Because of this, I have devised a system through the years that works well for me. I work full time and have been a single mom for the past 8 years. This has given me the impetus to streamline.This hub is going to be a combination of organizing and cleaning tips that I learned in Miriam's kitchen. I hope it will help you, too! For really goodcleaning tips check out Mom Kat's Clobber the Clutter
Everyone can join in the Cleaning!
Cleaning at Miriams is a whole day affair. Everything goes out of the house, gets hosed down where applicable and set in the sun to dry.The counters get cleared. Then you take your rag and bowl of cleaning solution* and you climb up the cabinets to clean! It doesn't matter how much water you slough on. In fact, the more the merrier. Remember, you've already cleared the countertops and you haven't yet done the floors. So splash and clean away!
*Miriam's cleaning solution
A mixture of bleach, water and dish soap. No particular amounts but lots and lots of bleach.
You can use any cleaning solution you choose. Our house is filled with kitties. I rarely break out the bleach. I also try to go with as many environmentally safe products as possible.
A little miracle!
Time to do the floors!
This was absolutely my favorite chore in Israel and one of my least favorite chores here in America. Why? Because they, number one, have drains in their kitchen floors (yes, they do!) and number two, they have a sponga. Now, some of you who don't live here in the US of A may know what I'm talking about but this, to me is the ultimate in floor cleaning. Even the kids loved to help. Here's what we did:
1)Roll up your pant legs
2) Wear flip flops or go barefoot
3) turn the music up very loud
4) get your bucket of cleaning solution ready (make sure the water isn't too cold, you are going to be dancing in it!)
5) throw water on the floor and start pushing it around with your sponga.Get it into all the corners.
6)Bring all the water back to the drain, pick up any thing too big for the drain, then repeat steps 4 and 5. Some of us will have to repeat step 1 several times. It's easier to just wear shorts!
7) Once you have sloughed away all the excess dirt, you are ready to finish. Throw away the dirty water and take out your sponga cloth. This is the part where you use floor cleaner or wax and you "mop" it on.
Unfortunately, though I was able to purchase a sponga, without the drain, it looses it's appeal. One of the best parts of this system is that you can use so much water. I have even been known to bring the hose inside!
finishing touches!
Time savers
Because of time and space constraints, I try to do the bulk of my cooking once a week. I get all my meat defrosted the night before and have everything I will be using within arm's reach. Have containers at the ready. Check recipes that have the same ingredients. I prefer to start with things like onions and garlic because I hate the way my hands smell. this means I will have plenty of opportunity to wash my hands after! If i am making something like soup or spaghetti sauce, I make enough to freeze. I also recommend that if you make a really good soup stock or homemade tomato paste, freeze them in icecube trays. It is so convenient to have these to add to other recipes. Another little trick with ice cube trays. Fill them without whatever alcoholic beverages you are serving, and when the ice cube melts, your drink isn't watery!
Music to clean by!
Comments
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on November 06, 2012:
Eddy, thank you so much! I appreciate your warm comments and votes so much!
Eiddwen from Wales on November 06, 2012:
A wonderful read ,so interesting and useful!!!!
Voting across the board and sharing.
Have a great day.
Eddy.
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 28, 2012:
@Colin..I am jealous, not of the rain but of your perseverance. I wish I could keep the momentum going. Oh well maybe a little more tomorrow!
@Marie..thank you so much for stopping by! Yes if I had my choice, I'd be out walking somewhere. Oh well! Wasn't that video funny? My 19 year old daughter had much to say about it!
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 28, 2012:
Faith Reaper,
Thank you so much for following me faithfully. I wish I could say I cleaned like that all the time but that is only a once in a great while cleaning! Thank you for your votes!
Faith Reaper from southern USA on October 28, 2012:
Randi,
You have manged to make one actually want to clean one's kitchen! This is great and your enthusiasm is contagious. I love to put on music while cleaning too. When you clean, boy do you mean business - you clean, I mean to tell you dear one. Thanks for the great info here and making this a fun read. Enjoyed every bit of it, and the video as well.
Voted Way Up In His Love, Faith Reaper
Martie Coetser from South Africa on October 28, 2012:
Oh my, I am one of those who rather do the cleaning than the cooking. But, of course, I have to do both. Fortunately, thank heavens, no longer every day of my life.
Excellent hub and video, btrbell!
epigramman on October 28, 2012:
...now I am bravely and boldy moving onto .....another room .
Confidence is on my side.
It's amazing what two rainy days back to back can do.
And yes the loud music definiely helps. lol
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 28, 2012:
lol. ditto. definitely great minds, thinking alike!
epigramman on October 28, 2012:
...yes I have kissed and hugged the kitties for you and I am really behind because I am doing my spring cleaning .....from two years ago ...... lol lol
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 28, 2012:
Good for you, Colin! I actually stirred up more of a mess in my house. I am doing my "spring cleaning" now as it is finally cool enough to work around the house! I hung a mirror, fixed a broken drawer (Yes, single woman wielding a hammer!) and baked, lol! It is getting much colder here but today will still hit 88 degrees farenheight! Thank you for stopping by and your as always fun comments! Have a wonderful Sunday! Kiss the kitties for me!
epigramman on October 28, 2012:
...so ironic Randi that you talk and write about kitchen cleaning - is that an oxymoron for a man - lol lol - well apparently not for this (un) confirmed bachelor because that is what I did yesterday - cleaned my kitchen using your handy tips (although I just read them now confirming that great minds do think alike) and when I woke up this morning then I realized what a great job I actually did yesterday - now because it's a rainy day - onto another room in my 14 room mansion in my wee cottage by the lake - lol - sending you warm wishes on this day which looks and feels more like a preview of things to come in November - lake erie time 11:30am
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 27, 2012:
Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I appreciate your fun comments and votes!
tinamariemiller from Peoria, AZ on October 27, 2012:
I laughed so hard while reading this! My kitchen is for the most part pretty clean...I have an online bakery and I bake out of my kitchen so my kitchen tends to be the cleanest room in my house. But you now have me wanting to steel clad my kitchen walls and counters so I can spray everything with a garden hose! To funny. Voting up!
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 27, 2012:
Leslie...It's really funny because life is very different there. It's much harder in some ways and much easier in others. The home life, to me, was a much more relaxed and happy atmosphere than here. After all, I managed to stay married for 20 years when it should have ended shortly after, I do! Work and economics, pretty tough:( Sorry, I don't think Miriam will be doing much cleaning anymore, that's why she had 10 kids! lol! Have a great weekend! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Karen Silverman on October 27, 2012:
Randi..a good friend of mind lives in israel and if you say that cleaning floors is easier there - it's got to be one of the fewer things that is..
she adores living there, but she has regaled me with stories of the vast cultural difference and the difficulty in getting done the small things we take for granted here...
While cleaning is not my forte - i DO cook - and Miriam is welcome over anytime for din-din - AND clean-up duty..lol..
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 27, 2012:
So she cooks and cleans! Good girl! Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!
Martin Kloess from San Francisco on October 26, 2012:
My kitchen cleaning solution was my daughter. She loved doing dishes, but she left a mess behind... A mess of water she did the dishes with. Clean the water and most of the kitchen was clean.
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 26, 2012:
Thank you Bill for your always fun and interesting comments. To be honest, if I didn't cook ahead we probably wouldn't eat! When I get home from work, the last thing I want to do is cook a meal. Now throwing a good, homecooked meal in the microwave, I can handle! We do have afun house, a little crazy but fun! i imagine you guys are pretty fun, too! Have a wonderful weekend!
Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on October 26, 2012:
I love that you do most of your cooking once a week. We have done that for years because quite frankly, there is no way either of us feels like cooking on a Wednesday evening. I also love that you have the music cranked up while you are doing the cleaning. What a fun household you have, Randi!
Randi Benlulu (author) from Mesa, AZ on October 26, 2012:
@Carol and Susan...the drain was great. I am looking at my floor now and thinking...I don't want to do this. Sunday used to be my cooking day but now I am in retail:( It's whatever day I have off. I hope you both have a lovely weekend. Thanks gfor reading and commenting!
Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on October 26, 2012:
The drain in the floor works great. When I worked for a kennel/dog groomer she had a drain in the floor and it made it way easier after bathing the dogs to clean up.
I used to devote Sundays for cooking when I worked in an office all week. I'd cook most of the meals for the week.
carol stanley from Arizona on October 26, 2012:
I like the drain idea. You can really have fun sloshing the water around. Actually it all sounds pretty fun at least as much as cleaning can be. Thanks for sharing this cleaning hub...still would rather someone else did it.
