How was it cleaned? What was the result?

Case Stdudy #01.

A Busy Kitchen

Size approx. 2.5mx4m | Cleaning time 2.5 hours | Written by Ming Yu Wang

Observations & Decisions

The observations and decisions are done during dusting. It helps me to decide what cleaners and equipment to use, as well as to add an extra step to the cleaning process or not. It is a crucial stage to an effective and efficient cleaning.

Observations along with dusting were done from ceiling to floor. Though the pictures are showing mainly the worktop level, because it was hard for me to catch an understandable picture else where…

Despite that, let’s take a look at my notes during dusting.

  • Ceiling condition

    Cobwebs here and there. No spiders, otherwise I will open the window and let them out.

  • Work top contidion and material

    There are lots of food bits and several sticky/ oily marks. The material is laminate.

    After dusting the bits to the floor, I need to hoover the floor first or the bits will follow me everywhere I go.

    Laminate material means I can safely use steam, vinegar and sodium percarbonate to clean the surface.

  • Stove condition and type

    Stove is covered in oily residue. It is a gas stove which means I need extra care not to splash water into the holes where gas comes out.

    Better scrub off most of the residue first, then use steam cleaner to finish off.

    To clean the grid and rings of the stove, I need to soak them in sodium percarbonate water in another tray.

  • Extractor hood condition

    Extractor hood is not very oily. Only some oil splash here and there.

    The material is wood, so I can safely use steam, vinegar and sodium percarbonate on it.

  • Wall and backsplash condition and material

    Wall is clay tiled. The areas nearer to the stove and condiments are covered with lots of oily spots.

    Backsplash is a glass panel linked to the stove. It is covered in oily residue in the same condition like the stove.

    Both the wall and backsplash are safe to be cleaned by steam, vinegar and sodium percarbonate.

  • Cupboard doors and shelves condition

    The cupboard doors next to the extractor hood have oil splashes here and there.

    The material is wood, so I can use steam and vinegar to clean them.

    Other cupboard doors are relatively clean. Wiping with vinegar is enough. Do not need a steam cleaner.

  • Sink area and kettle condition

    Sink is covered with a bit of oily residue. Scrubbing with soap is sufficient.

    The drainage holes are a bit mouldy. Spray some vinegar first, then use steam to push the mould down and clear the mould.

    Both the sink area and kettel have lime scale built up. Vinegar descaling should be done at the end.

    The window in front of the sink has some water marks. Wiping with vinegar should be sufficient.A

  • Floor condition and material

    Floor has some oily residue near the stove.

    It is clay tiled, which is safe to use vinegar on, so hoover at the end of the cleaning and then mop with a little bit of vinegar should be enough.

To sum up, I can safely use vinegar, sodium percarbonate and steam on all the surface in this kitchen. Also I need to do an extra hoover right after dusting. Besides that, the cleaning process should run as usual.

Cleaning & Results

After the observation, it’s time to make a cleaning plan. Although customisable, the plan should follow Soda&Soap’s cleaning process, which is dusting > wiping > scrubbing > vacuuming > Steaming > mopping > finishing up details.

To clean this lovely kitchen, most of the process was run as usual, so I’ve only written those that were different.

  • Dusting was usual.

  • Vacuuming

    This vacuuming was an extra step. I decided to vacuum right after dusting because there were too many bits on the floor,

    and would make a mess when I walk arouond.

  • Wiping was usual.

  • Soaking stove grids and rings was usual.

  • Scrubbing was usual.

  • Steaming

    My steaming kit was missing a part during the cleaning, so I had to use scrubing instead.

  • Vacuuming was as usual.

  • Mopping was as usual.

  • Details was as usual.

To sum up, the most challanging part to cleaning was oily areas around the stove, following by sticky residues on the work top. These tough dirt would be easily cleaned off by a steamer, which I wasn’t able to use that day. Instead, I used copper scurb with sodium percarbonate liquid to reach similar result.

Since the oily stove, sticky spots and hard to reach corners were cleaned, the kichen became easy to maintain. Its owner can simply wipe it down after daily use and hoover from time to time. The oil residue will eventually gather up, but that will be after several weeks later. That is when Soda&Soap can come in to clean.

I wasn’t sure how good natural cleaners can clean, but after seeing the result, I knew they clean as well as conventional cleaners. They don’t harm the environment, so even better.

— Klaidas D;