Some of us can live with a few greasy spots in our kitchen or the occasional curry spills. And then there are those who need their kitchen to be spic and span 24X7. It’s one thing to clean your kitchen regularly and quite another to keep it clean all the time. So we channelled our inner Monica (from Friends), and dang! We figured out that the secret to a clean kitchen that stays clean is in designing it right.
How to Design an Easy-to-Clean Kitchen
So if you want to keep those OCD attacks at bay by having a clean kitchen at all times, here’s what you need to consider in the designing phase.
#1: Opt for acrylic/high-gloss laminate finishes
Glossy finishes are just easier to wipe than matte ones, making kitchen care so much simpler. You have to tread carefully while cleaning a matte finish because you might end up damaging it. But for glossy ones, especially acrylic, it is a clean sweep. So, if you are fussy about cleanliness, a great clean kitchen design option is glossy finishes.
#2: Plenty of storage frees up space on the countertop
A clean kitchen design is also a function of how much ‘stuff’ is lying around. Typically, these things are miscellaneous items like jars and vessels that consume counter space. And they lie around because you don’t have dedicated storage space for them. Hence, enough storage space for all items in your kitchen would eliminate this problem.
#3: Include a roller shutter unit for appliances
In the same vein, appliances like the mixer grinder or toaster that are used regularly are often not put away every day. This is mainly because you can’t be pulling them out of wall cabinets or lofts; you need them all the time. The easiest way to overcome this problem and have a clean kitchen is to opt for a tambour unit with a roller shutter that accommodates these useful appliances and also ensures that they are accessible.
#4: Task lighting throughout makes the kitchen look cleaner
Wondering how to keep the kitchen clean so that you can always see it sparkling? Kitchens that have optimum lighting look cleaner simply because of visibility. Task lighting is most helpful in this regard because it focuses on your work areas. Also, you can clean everything down to the last spot only if you can see it.
#5: Have a seamless backsplash with no grout lines
It’s official: grout lines are definitely one of the most difficult areas to clean in any space. So instead of breaking your back on them, just do away with them for a clean kitchen. Seamless backsplashes are in vogue so ditch tiles and go for guilt-free back-painted glass or stone backsplashes. They are just so much easier to clean!
#6: Keep open shelves to a bare minimum
It’s a fact that open shelves increase accessibility in your kitchen but they also increase work. An easy solution for how to keep the kitchen clean is opting for closed storage. Because unlike the later,, open shelves need to be cleaned every few days (if you are neat) or twice every day (if you are Monica). If you want to have a clean kitchen all the time, it’s best to opt for bare minimum open shelves or have none at all. After all, you won’t just have to clean the shelves but also what you keep on them.
#7: A strong chimney keeps grime away
You must have noticed that even when you exercise the utmost caution, don’t spill anything and keep everything in its place, the kitchen still gets grimy over a period of time. It is because oil and fumes combine to form a layer of stubborn grime on cabinets and the counter. A strong chimney that absorbs the smoke will give you a longer grime cleaning window as well as a clean kitchen design.
Wondering which chimney to buy? Here’s our ultimate chimney buying guide.
#8: Pick a non-porous material for the countertop
Natural stones are porous and can easily absorb stains, making kitchen care difficult. So pick fortified or artificial stone like quartz or Corian stones for your kitchen counter. These stones have higher heat resistance than natural stones like marble and granite. They are also more resistant to stains, particularly oily ones. Darker colours are also better for a clean kitchen design if you are afraid of stubborn stains like turmeric.
You can also learn to get rid of turmeric stains here.
#9: The garbage bin should be under the sink
If you have dropped potato peels on the way to the garbage bin in your kitchen, you’ll appreciate why it is important to have one close at hand. Install a holder for your garbage bin and keep it under the sink. Also, keep as many garbage cans as you need in your kitchen so that you can have a clean kitchen all the time.
#10: Keep fancy lights away from the hob
Fancy electrical fixtures like pendant lights add that extra edge to your kitchen. However, they also tend to get really grimy if they are too close to the cooking area. Keeping such decorative items away from the hob, and in effect, from the flame is an important aspect of kitchen care.
What else can you do?
- Clean after every meal or at least at the end of the day
- Create zones in your kitchen and work accordingly; for instance, chop only in the designated area so that you have to clean only that area later
- Cover and cook as much as possible
- Have a cleaning routine and follow the steps religiously
- Have a house-cleaning day every month to be at the top of your game
Now that you know how to design an always-clean kitchen, avoid these Kitchen Design Mistakes too.
How Can Livspace Help You?
We hope you found our ideas useful! If you want beautiful interiors for your home, then look no further. Book an online consultation with Livspace today. Delivering safe home interiors has been our No. 1 priority. Click here to find out how interiors are being delivered following all safety protocols.
Wondering how our customers feel about working with Livspace? You can check out the Livspace kitchen reviews here!
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