Keeping a clean kitchen is not that easy when you’ve got other responsibilities. Work, kids and even school usually take so much time that cleaning your kitchen on a day-to-day basis is sometimes too much to handle. Even if you’re living alone and need to maintain your kitchen neat, you’ll find it difficult.
Luckily, we can design the spaces in which we live in a certain way and kitchens too. Therefore, making your kitchen low-maintenance is the best choice to save time in the long run and, even financial resources because the materials used are qualitative.
Here are some kitchen design tips on making your kitchen easier to maintain.
Start with flooring
Choosing the flooring model is more than thinking about colours. You must consider that some areas in your kitchen are more likely to get dirty or scratched, such as undercooking appliances or next to your sink. Some low-maintenance flooring options include the following:
- Engineered hardwood is durable, provides various designs and also increases property value;
- Porcelain is water and moisture-resistant and best for high-traffic areas in your kitchen;
When purchasing your flooring, selecting larger formats is best to reduce the amount of grout required or sealing. Look for options of which colours are not very light or dark tones because they show dirt the most. Finally, avoid textured linoleum and flooring with wide seams and gasp as they are low quality.
Kitchen cabinetry options
Kitchen cabinetries usually get more dirt around the handles, which is why you may want to look for hands-free options and soft-close doors to minimise touch points. Another feature of the perfect cabinetry is flat doors with few to no embellishments on the doors. Glass doors are the best choice for reducing dust, so you won’t have to worry about it anymore; plus, glass is easier to clean and maintain in the long run. If you want the inside of your cabinetry to show, you can leave your glass doors where they are, but opaque finishes are also available if you wish to hide utensils or Tupperware.
Another excellent investment includes Matt Textured Kitchen Units because they’re easy to clean, and the designs are varied so that you can complete the aesthetic of your kitchen while having qualitative kitchen units.
Mind the backsplash and countertops
Considering that the sink is where most water gets everywhere, the materials used for the countertops are essential. For example, porous models might require more maintenance in the long run, so if you want to get granite, marble or butcher block word for countertops, it’s best to try other materials.
For a cleaner kitchen, non-porous finishes are best and are easy to maintain. Some examples include quartz, porcelain and glass, which also work for the backsplash design. However, remember to seal the grout to prevent it from wearing out in time. On the other hand, some materials and textures you need to avoid include laminated and painted drywalls, as they stain and will be damaged by water intake.
Look for bigger sinks and faucets
Sinks and faucets are the most used in the kitchen, whether for washing or preparing food. They’re also the most underrated, as people usually choose smaller designs to fit into different types of rooms. But more oversized sinks and longer faucets actually help get less water around the kitchen. Regarding the materials, non-porous ones are best here because they’re easy to wipe and can’t get stained easily.
At the same time, faucets need to be prioritised too. Brass, stainless fittings and ceramic ones can prevent expensive leaks and repairs. In comparison, closed coils are easier to clean. If you have the budget, hands-free faucets minimised touch points, which means fewer spots to clean.
Get smart appliances
An excellent trend in kitchen design is including appliances behind cabinetry, as it makes them easier to clean and makes your kitchen look more spacious. Appliances made of stainless steel, such as mixers, toasters and blenders, are the best to get, and some companies offer a larger option of products that are fingerprint-resistant stainless of high quality.
Instead of the regular stove tops, you can get induction ones, as they are easier to clean when you’re spilling something over. Of course, a ventilation hood is necessary to get rid of unpleasant odours, but it also helps avoid dust. There are also self-cleaning ovens that reduce bubbles which is quite interesting.
Other tips to keep your kitchen clean
Of course, getting these innovative appliances and products doesn’t mean your kitchen will always be neat. You still need to do maintenance from time to time and ensure dirt is not piling up to the point where it damages your health or the room.
For example, to reduce the amount of dust in your kitchen (or house), you need to have a daily cleaning routine where you dust and wipe down surfaces to avoid dust rack up. Microfiber materials are best for getting all the dust in one wipe, so maybe consider purchasing them. Plus, vacuuming daily will also reduce the amount of dust that rises on the countertops and cabinets.
If you’re always in a rush and don’t have time for cleaning, you can also get a dishwasher to help you organise things. However, in this case, it would be best to adopt a minimalistic style and have less cutlery and stuff around the kitchen because this means less cleaning.
But struggling to find time for cluttering your kitchen might be solved through a plan made at the end of the week where you write down the time of the day when you’re able to do a five-minute cleaning, such as washing your dishes, dusting or sweeping around.
Bottom line
Kitchens can be challenging to be kept clean and organised at all times as work-related tasks and other activities are tiring. But if you want to do the most for a neat kitchen, you can design it with durable and stain-resistant materials. Always choose qualitative materials and try to invest in sustainable options.
