Kitchen tips...

I think my kitchen stays the messiest of any room. I spend most of my time in here and I don't get much accomplished at all. We tend to be over run with trash.. Nothing worse then stinky trash.. The kitchen is small so even a little mess makes it look like a disaster. I think we seriously have more trash from the 5 of us then anyone else in AMERICA!!! Where does it come from.. Kitchen tips that help me, that I really need to stick to are..
Have your main trash can for regular trash, Keep a grocery bag from the store handy.. The brown paper bags are the best. I think of it as my way to recycle that bag instead of throwing it out. Sit it in from of your sink. Scrape left overs or any food through out the day that could stink up your regular trash can. I can fill a large one up in 24 hours. While our other trash can stays less full with only paper items.. Think of the money saved using bags from the store for your trash and you will only need to replace your reg. trash bag once a week. Nothing smelly in there so why bother? Just take the paper bag you've used all day and chuck it outside in the trash before you head to bed...
I don't know what I would do if I didn't have a dishwasher. I find the best way to keep the sink from being cluttered with cups and dishes is to unload the dishwasher every morning each time we use a cup or a plate we put it in the dishwasher. I fill up a large cup with soapy water and keep it on or in the sink and throw the silverware in it to soak all day.. Those tend to get crusty just sitting in the dishwasher. While I'm cooking dinner I just fill it up with the dishes I use to cook with... Scrape the left over food into that brown paper bag rinse and stick the dinner dishes in the dishwasher. I try not to run it until after 8 pm.. They say it's cheaper on your utility bill. Rather that's true or not I have no clue... But what's it going to hurt? By 8 your most likely done with the kitchen anyway. I put that silverware that has been soaking all day in there and let it run.
Keeping seventh generation disinfectant spray on the window seal to spray the counter tops down at the end of the day help keep those germs away.
I'll admit I'm a paper towel fanatic. We go through them like they are free!! That has to stop.. Keeli has to wash her hands often in order for us to do blood sugar checks. Clean fingers equal a more accurate reading. Just for her alone she goes through about 15 paper towels a day. NO MORE!! From here on out she will have her own hand towel sitting beside the sink for her to use instead. Plus that will cut back on the trash over load too.
I don't change out my swiffer pad everyday.. Those are too costly for me to get one use out of them. If we have a spill I clean it up myself. I've switched to an off brand wet wipe to go on the swiffer. The smell isn't a great as the other but who cares that smell fades as soon as the floors dry. It also doesn't have that rough scraper on her edge but I never used that anyway. These are just fine. I need to check to see the price difference. I sweep everyday and I run the swiffer over the living room, dinning room, hall and kitchen when I'm done. I've noticed the wet pads don't stay wet through that cleaning they start to dry up after a couple of rooms... The good kind and the off brand. I just spray my Mr. Clean febreze on the floor and mop away. I use that pad for about 3 days. Is that gross? Oh well. It works for me. Personally I think a mop is more gross it never gets changed out ;)...