Buzz
Cleaning your kitchen can be a lengthy process, and tackling larger items often leads to more clutter than you started with. While a spacious, sturdy sink might make this easier for some, many struggle with washing bulky pots, pans, and racks.
A practical solution is to take your cleaning tasks outside, especially when the weather permits. Here’s everything you need to know.
Kitchen Essentials That Are Best Washed Outdoors
Depending on the items you’re cleaning and their level of dirtiness, gather essentials like dish soap, a large clean basin or bucket, and cleaning tools such as sponges, towels, and scrub brushes. Head outside, lay down a clean tarp, and set up your cleaning station within reach of your garden hose.
Here are four kitchen items that are much easier to clean outdoors:
Stock pots
Most kitchen sinks are too small to handle these oversized pots, so take them outside. If soaking is required, bring the pot outdoors, add dish soap, and fill it with hot water using a bucket from your indoor sink.
Once the stubborn food residue loosens, use brushes or sponges to complete the cleaning. Empty the water, preferably into a garage floor drain or similar, and rinse the pot thoroughly with a hose.
Floor mats
Most kitchen floor mats are designed to withstand water and are simple to clean. Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines, but for foam anti-fatigue mats or indoor/outdoor rugs, take them outside, shake off debris, vacuum both sides, and rinse with a hose.
For a deeper cleaning, mix dish soap with warm water in a bucket, and use a soft-bristled brush to tackle stains or gently scrub the entire surface. Rinse thoroughly and let the mat or rug air dry outside.
Oven racks
As mentioned in a prior Mytour article from May, oven racks are often too large for kitchen sinks, making them better suited for outdoor cleaning.
Beyond rinsing fresh spills with a hose, you can also prepare a bucket of warm, soapy water and use a scrub brush to handle stubborn residues like baked-on grease. If that’s insufficient and you decide to use oven cleaner, applying it outdoors is far safer.
Cast iron cookware
Cast iron pans and skillets are hefty and can damage certain types of sinks if accidentally dropped. To prevent this, clean them outdoors using your preferred method. If you’re unsure, refer to our earlier guides on how to properly care for cast iron, how to season cast iron, and why the best approach is to use it regularly.
