Zone 2: Kitchen Duty

    This week, I'm working in Zone 2: Kitchen, a procedure in the Flylady Method of housekeeping.  It's not really exciting; but, it is necessary to get into the real nitty-gritty at least once a month in that area of my household.

     First, I dusted a Venisan blind above the sink and washed the inside of the window the best I could while standing on a step ladder.  Sometimes it's best to put safety before perfection.

     Then, I began taking out stove trays to soak in a sink full of soapy water for 15-minutes and then, I took an, on the hour, rest period.  After a short rest, I got up again and scrubbed all the stove trays.  One of my stove trays had a bit of tough residue which wouldn't come clean.  I tried soaking it with vinegar and baking soda while I cleaned rings of gunk off the stove around the tray openings with baking soda.  After thoroughly cleaning my stove top, I tried to scrub off stubborn residue from that one stove tray.  It wouldn't come completely clean so I rinsed and dried all of the stove trays and put it all into place again--the one that didn't quite come clean, on the back burner.  Maybe, I could think with a better solution next month.  Anyway, my stove top is clean and shinny.  The oven is okay because I cleaned it in March before the weather began to get hot and humid.  If it ain't dirty--don't clean it!

Then, I proceeded onto the sinks and counter tops where I keep my microwave, coffee craft, toaster, electric can opener, set of knives, etc., all needing to be cleaned, including the kitchen sinks.  This time, I set the stove timer for 15-minutes.  I began wiping down and/or scrubbing each appliance, removing it all as I went along until everything was off the counter tops and onto my table which is in the dining area, Zone 1.

     The timer went off as I was nearly finished moving everything onto the table.  I reset my stove timer for another 15-minutes and began shinning microwave, toaster and sinks with Zep Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish.  After the sinks were clean and shinny, I cleaned counter tops with Zep Granite​ Cleaner and Preserve.  I used these products sparingly because it's quite costly and not​ necessary to use every month.  I have had both products for nearly two years now.

     The timer went off the second time just before I finished.  We all know to finish the job anyway.  It took me about one hour altogether to get that much done today.  I plan on cleaning my refrigerator, inside and out, tomorrow morning; that way, I could take inventory and write a grocery list of what's needed to meal plan for a couple of weeks or longer.

     If I have time tomorrow, I will sweep and mop the kitchen and dining areas and clean the trash can.  I'm planning to grocery shop by Thursday.  Friday, I really should spend some time in my garden planting the seedlings I started in pots in March.  The fun never ends--I just don't know where to find it, nor have time!

I must run over to my son's house now, before his girls get home from school.