Below you’ll find tips and tricks that I use to make Spring Cleaning FUN, my version of a fun game! The best part, not only do you get to have fun in the process, but you get a clean home! There is no better prize than that, right?
Assignment: Conquer Your Kitchen
Your mission is to clean your kitchen like a pro. I’m going to share with you some tips and tricks that will give you a competitive advantage over the mess AND allow you to have fun in the process!
1. Counter-Act the Clutter
My mother-in-law has a thing to always keep the kitchen counter and islands clear and free from clutter. It’s easy for clutter to quickly build up, but after adopting her practice, I found that it makes a huge difference on the overall appearance of the room. It also provides you with a working space to put away clean dishes, organize the pantry, clean out the refrigerator, put away groceries, and prep your meals. Once the counters are cleared off, wipe them down with Lemi Shine Glass + Surface Cleaner. Did you know that Lemi Shine is ammonia free? It’s also powered by 100% natural citric extracts. This surface cleaner is smudge and dust resistant, which works perfect on counters! It also works great for fingerprints, spills, grime, grease, residue, tile, glass, sealed stone, wood, and appliances. (So I also use it to clean the sliding glass door off the dining area, which ALWAYS has cute but messy little hand prints and the refrigerator which also has lots of cute, messy little handprints!)
Make it fun tip:
Get a workout in by putting on your favorite music and having a dance party while you clean!
2. Dish It Out
Next, it’s time to tackle the dishes. I’m going to be honest with you about two things. My husband is the best cook in the house. He’s amazing! When I cook, I seem to make a huge mess! So that means a sink full of dishes. Sometimes I will run the dishwasher once for dishes and a second time for the pots and pans and cooking utensils. If I don’t have time to run it twice, that means running a load of dishes while washing the pots and pans by hand so they can all be cleaned at the same time. Lemi Shine Dishwasher detergent pacs easily lift away stuck on food, tough stains, spots, and film. They are made with enzymatic agitation that breaks down even the most stubborn food residue and rinses it away! The dishwasher is my friend and Lemi Shine Dishwasher detergent makes our friendship even better! They help save time by cutting out the need to pre-rinse and pre-soak due to the proprietary blend. As a mom, I’m happy to hear that this formula is also sippy cup safe, chlorine free and made with non-toxic ingredients. I always love the dishwasher more. But when it’s time to wash dishes by hand, Lemi Shine concentrated Dish Soap is long lasting with suds even in hard water. The Just Lemon scent smells fresh and pleasant and isn’t too overpowering. This dish soap is also pH balanced, non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate free, and septic system friendly. One cool thing about the bottle design is it’s ReadyFlo no drip valve. It sits flat on the counter and the opening is at the bottom, which allows you to get all the soap out when you need it and you can even keep it open because of the no-drip feature!
Make it fun tip:
Grab your iPad and put on your favorite Netflix show or a movie while you wash the dishes. It helps take your mind off of your least favorite task while also allowing the time to pass quicker!
3. Help Those Who Help You
So far we’ve cleaned the counters and washed all the dishes. I’m kinda tired, are you? Let’s make sure the next step allows us to put our feet up a bit. My dishwasher works hard every day to make sure my family has clean dishes. Just like cars need an oil change, it’s important to give your dishwasher an extra boost here and there so it can operate at it’s best! With Lemi Shine Dishwasher Cleaner, you can clean, deodorize, and optimize the performance of your dishwasher, even in hard water! It dissolves away hard water buildup for cleaner dishes. It’s super easy to use! All you have to do is pour the contents of the pouch into the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run as normal. It’s also powered by 100% natural citric acids and oils. Your garbage disposal takes all the yucky stuff out of your sink. At some point, it may start to smell not so good. Cleaning your disposal can be a bit tricky because no one should ever stick their hand down there. Lemi Shine has created a solution! Their Disposal Cleaner eliminates odors, removes buildup, and optimizes performance. It cleans the disposal and also the drain pipes! Each packet contains 2 pods for 2 cleanings! It’s recommended to clean your garbage disposal once a week. The process creates a foam in the sink and once the foam is completely gone, you know it’s all clean! It takes about 1-2 minutes. This product is also all natural and safe for a septic system.
Make it fun tip:
Budget 15 minutes for this task. You should be done with both in 3-4 minutes. That means you get 10+ minutes to do whatever you want! Grab a magazine or lay on the couch.
4. Get Organized
Spring cleaning is a great time of year to organize your kitchen. I try to organize the pantry every other week so it doesn’t get crazy. When it comes to spring cleaning, here are the extra steps that I take:
- Check the spices and throw away anything that may be expired.
- Go through all the canned items and all other food items and discard anything expired.
- Check your staples and make a list for any items you may need to replace. (We tend to shop in bulk so we have a large supply of things like brown sugar, rice, flour, etc. We also have a supply of non-food items like paper plates, straws, plastic bags, etc.)
- Clean the microwave, stove, toaster (yes, you’d be surprised how many crumbs can build up inside!)
- Wipe down the blinds on the window and wash curtains if you have any.
- Clean out the refrigerator like you normally do but also check dates on items that sit in there for awhile like condiments and anything in the freezer.
- Organize the pots and pans with their respective lids. Reorganize your food storage containers with their lids.
- Wipe down the silverware drawer.
- Dust off the space above the cabinets
- Clean hard to reach places like behind the stove, underneath the refrigerator, and wipe down the inside of the cupboards.
- Clean out the junk drawer.
- Replace items like sponges, old cleaning towels, etc.
- Perform maintenance checks on all appliances to make sure everything is in working order. Change light bulbs and replace filters as needed.
Make it fun tip:
Buy yourself a delicious treat and let that be your reward for a job well done! I also like to buy myself flowers. Once your kitchen is completely clean, take a break. While you can certainly clean your entire home in a day, you could also focus on one room each day so you can give your best efforts to each room. The overall results will end up cleaner and more thorough since you are devoting the time needed to each and every task.
Learn More about Lemi Shine natural cleaning products:
I love that Lemi Shine products are both effective and safe for my kids! You will too!
- Visit the Lemi Shine website to see the full line of products available.
- Connect with Lemi Shine on Facebook and Twitter
Spring Cleaning Tip: Clean Out the Grime, Not Your Wallet!
Click here to find printable coupons for several Lemi Shine products and learn how you can get a FREE Lemi Shine product!
Where Can you Buy Lemi Shine?
Lemi Shine is available in Wal-Mart and many grocery stores like Publix, Safeway, and more! Once you print out your coupons, click here to find our where you can get Lemi Shine in your area!
What are YOUR Spring Cleaning tips?
Leave a comment below and let me know what kinds of tips and tricks you use to make cleaning more fun! ]]>

Lynda
May 6, 2016If you saw the kitchens we have in Japan, you would be in shock. I miss the big, fitted kitchens back home in Ireland. Here our counterspace is minimal as the kitchens are generally small. Our house is big by Japanese standards, but the kitchen is about the size of my Mom’s dining room table!! Well maybe just a tad bit bigger. 😉 What is the process you use to declutter the counters? Thanks.
Emily @ Em Writes
May 6, 2016I agree that putting a show or podcast on helps make doing chores easier!
tp keane
May 7, 2016Love that your kitchen is so clean looking and Lemi Shine looks like a fantastic product. I’m going to have to get some vouchers.
Matilda Togiai
May 7, 2016I love these tips! Especially the music and Netflix ones. I love putting on music while doing any of my chores :). Really helps the mood!
Kathy
May 8, 2016Sometimes I actually enjoy cleaning. It all depends on my mood though. I find music to be very helpful when cleaning. Gets you in the cleaning mood.
Lindsay
May 9, 2016Hi Lynda! I would love to see your kitchen. I’ve seen the tiny kitchens in Europe and they are so much different than American kitchens, especially the tiny refrigerators! I would love to see yours in Japan! Do you have photos? My husband and I love to watch House Hunters International so I’ve seen so many different ones, even one with a shower in it! My process for decluttering the counters is to just go through one side at a time. Most of the clutter is mail so I can recycle it. Then, I put the kids’ stuff back where it goes and return other items to their place.
Doran @ Haute Beauty Guide
May 9, 2016Great post! Your kitchen looks amazing. I need to find that dishwasher cleaner!
Lisa Rios
May 9, 2016It is always going to be an easy job when you can have some fun all along with your cleaning stuff as well & these are some wonderful tips. I love hearing some music while I step in to cleaning & sometimes I involve my kids in to the work so it is more exciting.
Lindsay Satmary
May 17, 2016I can’t believe it took me so long to figure this out. It really helps! 🙂
Lindsay Satmary
May 17, 2016Thank you, TP! Definitely print out the free coupons. You can save money and score a FREE Lemi Shine product!
Lindsay Satmary
May 17, 2016Thanks, Matilda! What’s your favorite cleaning music?
Lindsay Satmary
May 17, 2016You are so right, Kathy! Sometimes I’m totally in the mood for cleaning. Other times, the shows and music help 🙂
Lindsay Satmary
May 17, 2016Thank you, Doran! It makes such a difference in just a few seconds! I like things that are easy and quick 🙂
Lindsay Satmary
May 17, 2016Thanks, Lisa! I can’t wait til the boys are old enough to help out! haha What’s your favorite cleaning music?