A mess in the kitchen can be demoralising and mentally draining. I can’t cook in a dirty kitchen, and having to clean it up before I can even get started drains all my energy. So I find the kitchen needs to stay in a basic state of cleanliness and order all year round. As the hardest-working room in the house, and the place where the messiest messes are made, this is a battle best accomplished with some principles that are kept firmly in place. 

With this in mind, we've put together some of the best ways to keep your kitchen in perpetual tip-top shape, no matter what. Continue reading to learn the 12 smart ways to keep your kitchen clean below!

Clean as you go

Don't put your dirty utensils on the side

Why create any unnecessary messes?! Grab a piece of paper towel or a small dish to set down your wooden spoon or the serving fork you used to dish out the leftovers you’re microwaving. A spoon rest that’s always out is also a great option. LIFE HACK: use the hole at the bottom of the handle of your saucepan as a holder for the stirring spoon you're using. It'll hold it for you, keep it upright and stops you from create extra messes you'll need to clean.

Organise the cupboard underneath your sink

Having your cleaning products and tools accessible is key to maintaining a squeaky clean kitchen. You probably store a majority of them under the sink, right? And that’s great — you just need to make sure it’s organised, so that you can easily grab what you need, when you need it and get on with the job at hand.

Strive for an empty sink

It’s subconscious, but even one dirty teaspoon in the sink makes it easier to stack your dirty bowl in there rather than sticking it in the dishwasher or washing it up right away. NOTE: Messes beget messes. But the opposite is also true. An empty sink is more likely to stay that way. Get in the habit of keeping an empty sink (and ask your family/housemates if they could join your efforts). It's easier than you think - I promise!

Hoover or sweep everyday

Kitchen floors can get dirty real quick, especially if they aren’t maintained. Add a nightly vacuum or quick sweep to your routine to keep floors from ever getting too bad — and to keep from tracking crumbs and any other kitchen messes throughout the house. Bonus is that it'll help you add to your daily steps - get fitter by cleaning!

Clean out your fridge regularly

Yes, you’ll still have to deep clean your fridge every once in a while, but if you want to maintain a clean kitchen, you’ll need to regularly check for any foods that have gone bad and leftovers that need to be thrown in the bin ASAP. Tying this activity with to your weekly food shop will remind you to do it and will also help cut down on wasted food and unnecessary spending. WIN, WIN!

Rethink what’s in your cupboards

Jam packed cupboards are no fun (and a giant time suck if you have to unstack and restack various pots every time you need to get you the correct dishes to be able to cook the meal you're wanting). Go through your cupboards and keep only what you really use and love. This way, getting what you need — and putting it back — will be a much smoother process for you and anyone else that cooks in your household.

Give small appliances a once-over every time you use them

Each time you take something out of the microwave or toaster, wipe up any splatters or dropped crumbs. This way, your small appliances are always clean for when you go to use them. 

Clean your oven OFTEN

Having a tried-and-true, effective, and easy way to clean your oven means you’re less likely to put the task off until it’s a gigantic chore. Add oven-cleaning to your monthly cleaning routine so you never have to deal with the horrible buildup of grime and nastiness in your oven.

Empty the bins every night if you have to

You know what truly ruins a nice clean kitchen like nothing else? A stinky , overflowing bin in the corner of the room. Don’t let your rubbish just sit there. Take it out every night (or every other night). If you feel like you’re emptying trash bags that aren’t full enough, consider a smaller bin for your kitchen waste.

Label, label, label

OK... you may know where everything goes, but does everyone else in your household? Help them out and make sure the right things stay in their places by adding little labels to the shelves of your cupboards, fridge and freezer. 

Create routines and stick to them

And finally, plan your way through keeping a clean kitchen. Being able to switch into automatic pilot mode is the surest way to keep up with your kitchen-cleaning chores. Create routines for cleaning up after every meal cooked/ordered in, including things like clearing the table first, then wiping it down, putting leftovers in the fridge, and soaking any pots that need it etc. Also create specific routines for shutting down the kitchen every night and for the weekly cleaning chores.