If you have an outdoor kitchen that is only used during spring and summer, here is how to maintain it and keep it functional for years.
Make sure to declutter
First and foremost, the number one; the most important step in making any area look clean and organised is decluttering. Cooking can be quite a messy process. We all know how hard it can be to cook and keep moving everything out of the way and cleaning stuff as you go. However, once you are done cooking and eating, it’s important to take everything back to its original place. Make sure to put away the spices that you were using. Clean and wash the dishes and store them away. Don’t forget to throw any cloths away to be washed after they were being used in the process of cooking. These are just some of the basic steps in decluttering that will make the space look put together and tidy.
Maintain your counters
Speaking of which, kitchen counters tend to be crowded and cluttered the most. If you want your outdoor kitchen to look nice and neat at all times, even just taking care of the counters can help a lot. First of all, declutter as we have mentioned in the previous point. Then, make sure to wipe all of the counters clean to make them stay shiny and tidy at all times. A little goes a long way and it can be applied to this situation as well. When you are tired and don’t feel like cleaning, even polishing the counters really quickly will make the kitchen look clean as a whole.
Wash the kitchen sink
The next one on the list is the kitchen sink. Due to all of the food waste that goes down the drain, the kitchen sink can get quite dirty, clogged up and smelly. Every once in a while, you need to get your cleaning gloves and cleaning supplies and dig deep into cleaning out and unclogging the kitchen sink. Not only will this help you keep the sink clean and smelling fresh, but it will also help you prevent a potential spread of bacteria and germs that tend to grow in places where it’s moist and dirty. Also, make sure to get the water pipes checked every once in a while to ensure that pipes are in working order and there are no water leaks that can turn into much bigger and expensive problems to take care of.
The grills won’t clean themselves
If you have an outdoor kitchen, the chances are that you own a grill. It’s a perfect addition to the lovely patio kitchen. Everyone loves a good grill and hangout. Sadly, the grill needs to be maintained and cleaned regularly if you want to keep using it for many years to come. So, make sure to always clean and wash the grill thoroughly after using it. This will prevent the grease from sticking around and causing much bigger problems later. If you try to clean it days after it’s been used, the grill will probably be in a worse state and a lot harder to clean.
Maintain your equipment
Though we all think of cleaning and tidying up when we talk about taking care of an outdoor kitchen, it’s also important to keep everything in good function so that you can actually use the kitchen. This means that you need to learn how to maintain your appliances so they can last longer and help you save money. If you suspect any potential damage at some of your kitchen appliances, you should definitely get in touch with Total Appliance Repair Centre to get your appliances checked and inspected properly. The experts will be able to detect the problem and what’s causing it and then tackle the issue and fix the problem that will save you money so that you don’t have to buy new stuff.
Don’t Go Nuts Cleaning Outdoor Appliances
Speaking of kitchen appliances, one of the aspects of maintaining them is to clean them regularly. However, it’s important that you don’t go absolutely nuts on these appliances and clean them more than they need to be cleaned. First of all, you don’t have to clean them every day, except when it’s an equipment piece that is used way to often and tends to get greasy fingerprints all over it all of the time. Secondly, you have to know your cleaning supplies. Every cleaning supply is made for a specific surface material and you should use adequate cleaning supplies for specific appliances. Try not to use supplies that are too harsh and try not to rub too aggressively when cleaning the appliances in your kitchen.
Don’t Neglect the Fireplace
If you have a fireplace, don’t neglect it. Though it may seem like it doesn’t need to be cleaned you do need to clean and maintain the fireplace so that it can keep working properly. There are easy ways in which you can do so. It may never be perfectly clean but as long as you get rid of the debris, it’s okay and good enough.
Protect Your Outdoor Furniture
Lastly, make sure to keep your outdoor furniture clean and protected in the off-season. To protect your kitchen island from the harsh winter you can use a large tarp and bungee cords to cover the counter and protect it from the weather. You also need to protect the grill and the rest of the furniture and appliances that can be damaged due to bad weather.
Conclusion
In conclusion, keeping the outdoor kitchen tidy is all about maintaining the appliances, cleaning the counters, and making sure that everything is in its place and protected.