Tuesday, December 29, 2015

How to Start Fresh for the New Year in Your Northern Virginia Kitchen

As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home— but it's also the place that can become the messiest! With the new year just days away, NoVA residents are preparing for a fresh start and what better spot than in this busy area of your home?

Follow these easy tips for creating a clean slate in your kitchen just in time for 2016:

Clean out the cabinets
First, start by removing any odds and ends that belong in other places of your Northern Virginia home— mail, books, electronics. Next, empty every cabinet, drawer and shelf, clearing out any broken or rarely used pieces to make more room for the others. Tackle the pantry and toss out any expired items or anything you're trying to steer clear of in the new year ahead.

Clean off all of the shelves, the inside of drawers and cabinets and begin to place the items back inside. Just make sure the items you use most often or those close to expiring are well within your reach!

Clear away grease and grime
A well-used kitchen can be quite messy, so it's time to give everything a good cleaning! Remove all oven knobs, drawer pulls and appliance handles and soak them in a soap and water mixture. While they are soaking, wipe down every surface with a kitchen degreaser, including tile grout and backsplashes. 

Be sure to dust spice racks, pot hangers, light fixtures and clocks that may be high enough to forget about!

Mind the appliances
Two of the most frequently used items in your kitchen are likely the oven and the refrigerator and they can quickly build up residue and grease if not cleaned often. Treat these just as you did the cabinets earlier— pull everything out, toss out expired or old items, soak racks and shelves and wipe down with a degreaser or specific appliance cleaner. 

Soak the burners if possible and clean any fallen food that may have collected underneath. Before you put everything back together, make it a point to dust coils and fans behind the appliances.

As always, if you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia, do not hesitate to reach out! I wish you a happy and safe new year!

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 

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