Diwali is that time of the year when the world lights up with earthen diyas and fairy lights, every home shines and sparkles, and everybody indulges in delicious Diwali-special snacks and dishes with friends, family and loved ones. This year, Diwali 2023 will fall on November 12, which is a Sunday, making it the perfect day anyways for get togethers and feasts. At the very centre of these Diwali 2023 celebrations is your kitchen and it does need your attention before you begin your Diwali preparations.
One of the most important rituals associated with Diwali is cleaning the house, and for foodies and homecooks, kitchen is certainly the area that needs to get a lot of attention during this time. This is the area where you will not only prepare delicacies for your Diwali party, but also one that you will be using throughout the winter season until spring arrives next year. In fact, many believe that the ritual of cleaning homes before Holi and Diwali is Indian culture’s traditional way of preparing for a new, harsh season.
So, if you want to get your kitchen clean, shiny and ready for both Diwali and the winter season, here are all the essential tips you need. Use these to deep clean your kitchen this week, then cook up a storm for Diwali 2023 and beyond.
Video Credit: YouTube/MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria
1. Empty Out The Shelves
The first thing you need to do is empty out all your shelves, even the ones that are high up or too deep. What happens often is that people forget about the ingredients they have as these can often get stored out of sight and slip out of mind. So, emptying out the shelves completely, checking everything for cleanliness, freshness and expiry dates is very important.
2. De-Clutter And Donate
Once you have emptied out all your shelves, the next step is to declutter your kitchen. Products and ingredients that have expired must be thrown out safely and so should the ingredients that have spoiled. For ingredients that are fine but you don’t want to use, donation instead of disposal is a good idea. The ones that are still good to use and fresh should be kept separately as you focus on cleaning the shelves.
3. Deep Clean First
Before you think of restocking your shelves, deep clean them. You can do this with fresh, clean cloths and wipers doused in cleaning liquids. Once the wet dousing is done, wipe down the deep shelves with a clean and dry cloth. Repeat this process a couple of times to ensure everything is spick and span.
4. Get Insect Repellents
While you are deep cleaning your kitchen, it might be wise to check your shelves and kitchen areas for pests, insects, mold, etc. Getting these cleaned up thoroughly is very important, and it is best that you do this with insect repellents. If the infestation is too severe, call in experts and get your kitchen insect-free for winters.
5. Shine Up The Sink
Your kitchen sink witnesses everything from oily leftovers in utensils to grease and grime from under cooking equipment, not to mention the dirt off plates and serveware. This Diwali, give your kitchen sink some TLC for all the things it has to handle all year. Clean it with strong cleaning liquids, clean out the drain systems and pipes and pay attention to the taps and handles.
6. Sort The Shelves
Now that your kitchen is almost completely clean, it’s time to put things back in their place. Restock your shelves properly and make sure the most-used items are handy and easy to access. As for your utensils, stack them up and store them in the lower shelves so that you can get to them in a hurry. Make sure your spices, grains, lentils and other staples are stored in dry places in sealed containers.
7. Focus On The Fridge
Empty out your fridge completely, switch it off and then deep clean every inch of it. You will find that unless regularly cleaned, refrigerators become storehouses of germs, leftovers, spilled ingredients and more. So, use a good cleaner to thoroughly clean every inch, wipe it down with a clean dry cloth and restock the fridge with only the good stuff. The rest can be thrown out or disposed off safely.
8. Clean Surfaces Last
Once everything in your kitchen is in its right place, it is now time to clean all the exposed surfaces ranging from countertops to shelf doors. Leaving this step for the very end of your deep cleaning process means that you have the satisfaction of working from inside to out, covering every area of the kitchen and not just the surface. Once this is done, stand back and see how your kitchen is now ready for you to cook up a Diwali feast!