Like other rooms in the house where your family spends a lot of time, the kitchen is best conquered with small, daily cleaning steps. Because it's the hub of your home, daily cleaning should probably start here.

1. Place a batch of extra garbage bags at the bottom of the trash can. Take out the trash, and you've got a replacement bag waiting for you!
2. Try cleaning as you cook. The easiest approach is to fill up the sink with hot water and dish soap and place items in as you go. They'll be a lot easier to scrub down after you're done fixing the meal.
3. A great daily routine is to wipe down the fridge exterior, cabinets, and appliance exteriors with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes*. You can do this while you're on the phone or cooking.
4. Search the refrigerator for any expired items and toss them. You might be surprised by what is hiding out in the back of the bottom drawer. Afterwards, spray down with Clorox® Anywhere® Hard Surface™ daily sanitizing spray, using it as directed.
5. Replace sponges once a week or sanitize them with Clorox® Regular-Bleach to reduce the bacteria levels. Wash your dish towels once a week, preferably with bleach.
6. If you've got extra dishwasher space, you can always add burner covers, small shelves from the refrigerator, sink stoppers, and other items that need washing.
7. Disinfect with just a few quick spritzes*. Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner with Bleach kills 99.9% of common household germs – such as E. coli, Staphylococcus (Staph), Salmonella as well as viruses that can cause colds and flu – in literally seconds*.
8. Cooking utensils like spatulas, wooden spoons, and whisks can be stored in open crocks so that these frequently used items are visible and easily put away.
9. Keep a tidy pantry. Toss empty chip bags and cereal boxes, clean up spills, organize cans, and wipe down shelves when you've got a few free minutes.
10. After breakfast, remove coffee filters and empty the coffee pot to avoid stains and stale coffee odors. (It's easy to forget about this until the next morning, when you'll want a clean coffee station for that next pot of coffee!)

The turmoil that occasionally finds its way into other rooms of the house will be less overwhelming when the kitchen, perhaps the most important space in your home, is looked after on a daily basis. If you treat the kitchen as your launching pad, you'll be happy with the results.

*Use as directed on hard, nonporous surfaces.