Hands up who loves cleaning!  OK, neither do we.

However, wet rooms - particularly the kitchen - are an ideal breeding ground for pests and germs if dirty dishes and used pots and pans are left overnight or longer. In addition to health hazards, it just isn’t a pretty or appetising look.

A daily or mid-week speed clean can help freshen up the kitchen in as little as 10 minutes, and makes the big cleans much more bearable.

These are our top tips for a quick tidy up of the kitchen. Have other ideas that work for you? Tell us about them in the comments section below.

The Daily Clean

• Immediately rinse or soak dishes, cutlery, pots, blender jugs and other cooking paraphernalia as you go.  This makes the washing up – whether you use a dishwasher or the sink – a much easier chore, with baked on foods and sticky mixes already loosened or softened.
• Use a damp cloth or paper towel to clean the exteriors of bench top appliances as well as stovetops, benches, splashbacks and other prep areas. Unless there are stubborn food splatters or grease stains from cooking, it isn’t necessary to reach for strong cleaners.  Hot water and elbow grease can work wonders.
• Dust and dirt can accumulate quickly. A brisk sweep of the kitchen floors each day makes the home a healthier and safer place.  Removing flour, sugar and other fine food scraps also helps to prevent unwelcome nasties making the kitchen their new home.
• Make sure the strainer in the sink and dishwasher filters are regularly emptied.
• It’s also a good idea to take out the rubbish each day. Remnants of raw and cooked foods stewing in the bin for days can leave unsettling odours in the home.

The 'nice to have' touches 

• Fresh floral - little vases with one or two flowers make the kitchen a happier space
• Place herbs in the kitchen window as a practical and beautiful decoration
• Light a candle with essential oils (or scented candles if handy) to help remove unwanted odours. Alternatively, place a wide spouting jar of vinegar filled with orange peels to neutralise odours.