Do you ever wonder why it seems like some moms can always keep their kitchen clean? How do they do it? Magic? A fairy comes at night?…….I wish!

I used to be super overwhelmed trying to cook meals and snacks for my family. AND then I had to deal with the mess afterwards.

I use ALL these awesome tips EVERYDAY. They are a big reason my kitchen is easy to clean and stays clean (for the most part!)

These tips will reduce the time and effort needed to keep your kitchen clean. You can start implementing them into your routine to help cut down on cleaning time.

Why is the Kitchen so Overwhelming?

• Grease, crumbs, piles of dishes, stuck-on gunk, maybe even mold in the fridge. With all the other mom responsibilities, it is draining to even think about. Especially after spending an hour or more cooking. Now you need to find the energy to clean the entire kitchen!

Tips to Kickstart Your Clean Kitchen

If you are struggling to keep up with your kitchen, these tips will help change that right now! Use these tips to simplify cleaning your kitchen and help make it less overwhelming.

Tip 1: Change Your Mindset

• What is your mindset around keeping your kitchen (and your home) clean? What kinds of thoughts are swirling in your head?
  • “I have young kids, work, and don’t have time to keep my kitchen clean.”
  • “My family won’t help me and will just mess it up right away.”
  • “I’m just not good at keeping up with a clean kitchen.”
• These are all negative/victim/scarcity mindsets. You have the power to change your thoughts AND actions.
• It starts with a POSITIVE and SOLUTION-based mindset.
  • “I can make time to keep my kitchen clean every day.”
  • “I can talk to my family and make a plan for them to help in the kitchen.”
  • “I deserve a clean kitchen. I will learn how to keep it clean in a way that works best for my family and me.”
• Your actions are strongly influenced by your thoughts. Pick 1 or 2 mindset changes you can have in the kitchen. Focus on positive changes. These will help you find solutions to the main issues that are between you and a clean kitchen.

Tip 2: Make a Plan for Family Help

• Talk with family members about your new expectations.
  • Can your husband take 5 minutes and help clean up after some meals?
  • Can you have a routine to rotate kitchen jobs?
  • Are the counters being used as a catch all for clothes/keys/toys?
  • All family members can help!
    • Everyone can bring dirty dishes to the sink.
    • Everyone can help clean up spills/crumbs RIGHT after a meal.
    • Everyone can help with wiping and putting away most dishes.
    • Everyone can help get toys and unnecessary items out of the kitchen.
  • Switch around a few dish cupboards so the child-safe dishes are lower. That way, toddlers can help get out and put dishes away.
  • Keep a basket near the kitchen for toys/clutter and have someone help put the basket away each day.
  • Make it fun by picking a fun cleanup song or listening to a good book/podcast!

Tip 3: Declutter

Do not stress about a total kitchen over haul. Simplifying a little bit and finding a few items to get rid of goes a long way.

• Focus on MIA– What are the Most Important Areas? Where are the biggest messes?
  • Is there paper/items that don’t belong piling up on the counter?
    • Invest in a basket/system to reduce paper clutter or find another spot for it.
    • Stick to the new expectations you set with your family. They can help so the kitchen doesn’t become your home’s catch all.
  • Set a 10 minute timer,grab a box, and do a quick cabinet check.
    • Do you have doubles of similar serving spoons/utensils?
    • Do you have gadgets you haven’t used in ages?
    • Water bottle/cups cabinet busting at the seams?
    • Tupperware drawer a legit nightmare?
    • **Move and think quickly-grab some items you feel you can do without. Don’t do any second guessing. Just grab items and put them in the box.
    • **You can leave this box in storage/garage for a week if you aren’t sure about some items. REMEMBER to set a reminder or leave a note in your car to check on the box later and donate!

Check out this post for more details on decluttering your kitchen.

Tip 4: Clean as You Go

• Keep a garbage can/scrap food bowl nearby.
  • Toss garbage/big crumbs in the can right away as you chop/cook.
  • Scraps and crumbs add up fast, which adds to the dirty kitchen overwhelm.
• Keep a piece of parchment paper/clean rag/small plate out for setting stir and measuring utensils on.
  • These utensils leave gunk on your counters that can dry up and be super annoying to clean later.
• Keep a bowl of warm soapy water in the sink
  • Dunk small items in the bowl/give larger items a quick rinse as soon as possible.
• Clean spills RIGHT after they happen.
  • The longer they sit and dry out, the longer they take to clean up.
  • It can be so easy to say “I’ll get that later.” Trust me…take 1 minute and DO IT NOW! Messes usually don’t take as long as you think to clean up. Your future self will thank you.
• Use small time chunks to tidy.
  • It is amazing how much you can get done in a couple of minutes. Try it out! After a while, it is almost like a game to beat the clock.
  • Microwaving something for a minute? Waiting for a few minutes until the pot needs to be stirred?
    • Unload or see how many dishes you can put in the dishwasher.
    • Throw away trash.
    • Wipe the counters and appliances.
    • Sweep or use this awesome vacuum to clean the floor for a minute or 2.

**Check out this post on keeping your fridge clean.

Tip 5: Set Timers

• Plan 5 minute after meal clean-ups during the day.
  • This goes along with getting family to help. Set a timer for 5 minutes or pick 2 songs. See what can get done if everyone helps.
• At the end of a long day—Set a timer for 5 minutes and DO Something NOW!
  • It’s easy to think, “I’ll just do it tomorrow.” But tomorrow morning, you won’t feel like doing it either. It is mentally draining to wake up to a messy kitchen.
  • You can get a lot more done in 5 minutes than you think. Again, your future self will thank you.
  • If you feel like stopping after 5 minutes, go ahead. At least you will feel better that you got something accomplished before watching tv, scrolling, or reading a book.
  • You will be surprised after getting started for a few minutes. You might even want to do more!

**Feeling like your dishes are piling up super fast?! Check out this post on simplifying your dishes routine.

Use these 5 tips to kickstart your clean kitchen!

It can be tough to get into a good routine. Getting your family to help and starting new habits takes some time. A little practice and effort go a long way. You can take the steps to get there without all the stress and overwhelm. You deserve a clean kitchen!