Your Guide to Cleaning Your Kitchen after a Major, Messy Accident

Your Go-To Plan for Cleaning Major Messes Up Quickly (And Safely, And Effectively)
Take a moment to breathe. When faced with a kitchen covered in bits of food, hot cooking utensils and other carnage, it’s tempting to panic. Close your eyes, take three deep breaths and get ready to handle this. It won’t be as bad as you think.
Your first step is to make sure that your kitchen is safe to walk around. If you were using any heating elements before the messy accident, turn them off. Go put on shoes if you don’t already have them on. If you have young ones or other people in your home with you, make sure that they’re otherwise occupied (or at least aware of the situation). Next, survey the scene and determine whether anything broke during the accident (e.g., a glass bowl). Pick up the pieces carefully and sweep or vacuum up any shards. Keep the vacuum out—you’ll repeat this step at the end to make sure you didn’t miss anything.
Your next step is to get rid of the bulk of the soil, so you have a working surface. To give your cleaners a chance to work their magic, you’re going to have to clear the way. Using paper towels, old rags, or even a dustpan, scoop and clear away any large piles of messes that may be sitting on your floor or countertop. Try to scoop, dab, or blot up as much extraneous substance as possible without grinding anything into your surfaces.
Now, it’s time to put your products to work for you. This is where a frustrating, out-of-hand messy kitchen disaster can become manageable. You’ve put in the hard work; now it’s time to work smart! Select a kitchen surface cleaner that’s safe for your floors and countertops. This is not the time to pull a Pinterest cleaning hack out of desperation; instead, rely on products you know will actually work. Spray the cleaner liberally on your surfaces and wait for a few minutes to allow the product to cut through your oil and grime. (Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if there are any specific recommendations for wait time.) Then, use a lint-free cloth or paper towel to wipe your surfaces dry. If needed, repeat. Once your surfaces are clear, take a break. You’ve taken care of a lot in the past few minutes! Then, sweep or vacuum a final time to make 100% sure your kitchen floor is free of anything painful or dangerous, and you should be good to go.