Fall is here! The leaves are starting to change, the cool, crisp air at morning and night has returned, pumpkin-flavored everything has arrived, and you can’t forget about the warm, baked fall goodies that everyone loves. During the cooler months, the smell of your kitchen is one not to be missed, and with cooler weather comes the holidays.
The holidays can become a stressful time, especially if Thanksgiving is at your place this year. But fear not, we have put together a helpful list to help you prepare your kitchen for fall and the upcoming holidays. Continue reading to learn more.
FALL CLEANING
We’re sure you’ve heard of spring cleaning, but a deep cleaning between all seasons is a great way to maintain a clean, fresh kitchen for all different times of the year.
Create a checklist
Deep cleaning a kitchen is much more than a quick sweep and scrubbing. Taste of Home created a great checklist you can refer to when deep cleaning your kitchen:
- Clean and scrub stovetop
- Clean oven
- Wipe drawers and shelves in refrigerator and freezer
- Defrost freezer
- Clean inside and outside microwave
- Clear countertops
- Degrease cabinet doors and backsplash
- Remove items from cabinets and thoroughly clean inside
- Clean refrigerator
- Clean fridge/freezer seal
- Dust top of high surfaces including fridge, microwave/range hood, cabinets
- Clean dishwasher
- Deodorize and degrease the kitchen drain
- Wash dish rags and clean sponges
- Wipe walls
- Wipe baseboards
- Mop floors
- Shake out dust or dirt from floor mats
Clean out your fridge and freezer
Switching between the seasons is the perfect time to clear out your fridge and freezer. Now is an excellent time to purge those leftovers that have been hiding in the back of your fridge for a month and throw out any expired condiments, meat or dairy products. Make sure to check your freezer, too. A lot of food can get freezer-burnt or lose its flavor if it’s been sitting in there for too long.
Purge and declutter
Another great thing to do in between the seasons is to go through your kitchen and appliances. If there is anything that you rarely or never use, make a point to either sell, donate or trash it and clear up space for all the preparing and baking you will be taking part in.
Bring tools back to life
It’s time to grab your crockpot that is shoved in the back of your shelves, dust it off and bring it back to life. The same goes for any other fall or winter appliances that you had put away for the summer. Moving these tools and appliances to easy-to-reach areas will cut off your prep time and make cooking and using these tools much more convenient.
Disinfect
Remember to disinfect! With the cold of winter comes the spread and contamination of viruses. Please read our blog How to Disinfect Countertops Safely for tips to disinfect your countertops properly!
PROTECT YOUR COUNTERTOPS
With the holidays around the corner, it’s important to remember to protect your counters. Protection and prevention of chipping involve regular cleaning and sealing your countertops. Check out these tips to help keep your countertops in good condition:
- Avoid allowing acidic products to sit on the countertop for extended periods (lemon juice, vinegar, etc.)
- Do not slam heavy pots down on countertops
- Do not slide cutting boards and dishes across countertops
- Avoid extreme temperatures when sitting items on the countertop
- Use trivets whenever possible to protect surfaces
- Do not chop directly on the countertop during food preparation
- Be mindful of how edges are used (limit leaning or climbing)
To learn more about protecting your countertops, read our blog, How to Prevent Countertop Chipping.
REFRESH WITH NEW COUNTERTOPS | BAD LIZARD GRANITE & QUARTZ
There is no better way to refresh your kitchen for the holidays than with new countertops! At Bad Lizard Granite & Quartz, our team is here to help you make the best decision possible! And while we do not build out full new kitchens, we believe that having a countertop that works with the rest of the kitchen design is essential. We are home to West Virginia’s largest indoor countertop gallery, and since our inventory is located inside, our customers can visit us rain or shine. Also, keep an eye out for our Slab of the Week on our Facebook page. Each week, we share a beautiful, new slab that is sure to give you some countertop inspiration!
We proudly serve a two-hour radius from Clarksburg, West Virginia. This includes Morgantown, Bridgeport, Buckhannon, Fairmont, Weston, Elkins, Jane Lew and everything in between.
If you need help finding the right countertop for your home, would like to visit our gallery or have any questions, please give us a call at 304-472-6483 or contact us here. To provide quality assistance to our clients and eliminate wait times, please remember that all clients must schedule an appointment before visiting our facility.
Wishing you a safe and happy fall and holidays from your friends at Bad Lizard Granite & Quartz!