Your kitchen is kinda the nerve center of your entire house.
It’s where your family gathers to enjoy meals, have meaningful conversations, and where you enjoy so many different occasions.
But somehow it’s also become the place where you spend your time cleaning, while the rest of your family is in the living room having a good time.
Cleaning the kitchen doesn’t have to be a daunting, time-consuming task. You just need to learn how to clean the kitchen fast!
The secret to getting it done in 15 minutes is good preparation and a good cleaning routine.
Use this speed clean your kitchen checklist and follow this routine and you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish in just 15 minutes. This list isn’t for deep cleaning the kitchen like washing the appliances, but it works perfectly for keeping your kitchen clean on a daily basis. Start with number one and work your way through the process.
Follow these tips on how to clean the kitchen fast and you’ll have a clean kitchen in no time, so you can get in on all the fun with your family!
How To Clean The Kitchen Fast When You Only Have 15 Minutes
This isn’t a deep cleaning guide that will help you get your house sparkling and ready for every situation. Nope. This isn’t a deep clean, spring clean or a total overhaul.
This is simply just a quick and simplified speed cleaning checklist and kitchen cleaning tips to get your house presentable for guests FAST, or for when you’re just sick of cleaning and want to spend less time cleaning and more time with your family.
Step 1 – Gather Your Supplies (1 minute)
Don’t underestimate the value of having your supplies in order. Trying to find cleansers, sponges, cloths, etc. will not only eat up your precious cleaning time, but you’ll risk getting distracted and start a new task instead of finishing the one you just started.
Keep your favorite cleaning tools and kitchen cleaning spray in a caddy under your kitchen sink so you can grab them and clean them anytime. Here are a few things that are good to have in your cleaning caddy:
- Kitchen sink scrub
- Scrub brush
- All-purpose cleaner
- Disinfecting cleaner
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Microfiber Cloths
- Bar mop towels
- Sponge
- Dish soap
Step 2 – Declutter And Throw Away Trash (4 minutes)
Collect anything off the counters and kitchen table that doesn’t belong there. Don’t put away the things right now, just put them out of your kitchen right now. If you start putting every item back where they belong, chances are you’ll get sidetracked!
Throw away any trash you find on your countertops, floor, and kitchen table.
Time hack: Have your kids do this! Easily have your son take the garbage and recycle to speed up your process even more!
If your kitchen is overcrowded with clutter, this step will take some time, but you’ll be able to make a big difference by clearing out any surface-level trash like old coupons, takeout bags and anything else that’s lying around your countertops. If the trash is full, take the trash outside and re-line the trash container so that it is ready for trash day.
Step 3 – Tackle The Dirty Dishes (3 minutes)
If you have a dishwasher, then unload it and put the dishes away. It will only take 3-5 minutes so there’s no point in procrastinating on this one. If you have dishes on the counter or sink, load them in the empty dishwasher.
If you don’t have a dishwasher or prefer to do the dishes by hand, then start by putting your dirty pots and pans in water to soak to make it easier to clean. If your pots and pans don’t fit in the sink, they can be filled with hot soapy water and be left to soak on the counter.
Leave your dirty dishes to soak in water for a few minutes while you take care of the next task. Then come back and give them a good but quick scrub! The process of washing dishes by hand will take some time. Ask your kids to help rinse, dry and put away the dishes to make the process go faster.
Step 4 – Wipe Down Surfaces (4 minutes)
Spray down the counters, kitchen table, and stovetop and wipe clean with a cloth or sponge. Wipe away any residual food, dust or suspicious spots with your cleaning product of choice and a paper towel or soft cloth. Do this every day and you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to clean your stovetop when you do your weekly clean!
Finish this step off by giving your sink a little scrub and get it ready for the next day. Don’t skip this step! You can’t turn something that has been ignored for a long time look brand new again in a matter of minutes.
Step 5 – Quick Sweep Or Vacuum (2 minute)
If your floors need to be swept or vacuumed, then give your floor a quick sweep. Vacuuming often is recommended to keep things tidy and looking fresh. If your kitchen floors are hardwood, get a Shark sweeper and it’ll go even FASTER! Here’s the one I have on Amazon and love it!
Step 6 – Put Out Fresh Towels (1 minute)
Finally, your kitchen is clean! Put out some fresh towels as you’re making your final sweep! The towel is dirtier than you think and a clean towel will be the finishing touch to your spotless kitchen.
That’s it! Start putting this quick kitchen cleaning checklist routine into practice every night and your kitchen will be so much easier to keep clean.
Speed Cleaning the kitchen can be a little stressful. But if you take 10-15 minutes each night to clean up after dinner, you’ll soon realize that it’s worth it. By spending only a few minutes a night to clean the kitchen, you won’t feel embarrassed when spontaneous company comes over.
If you apply this cleaning routine each night, your house will never be a disaster zone again and you get more time to spend in the living room, hanging out with your family.
Your house doesn’t need to be perfect, but using the steps on this speed cleaning checklist will help you keep up.
