Honestly, with all this rain, what else is there to do but clean the fridge?
There is something deeply satisfying about tackling the cold, slightly chaotic heart of the kitchen. The fridge is where good intentions go to wilt. Half a lemon. Three mustards. A jar of something unidentifiable that once had promise.
Start by emptying it completely. Yes, completely. Pop everything on the counter. Check dates. Be realistic. If it has been lurking at the back since Bonfire Night, it is time to let it go. Then remove the shelves and drawers and wash them properly. Warm water, a soft cloth, and scented vinegar.
Scented vinegar is one of those quietly miraculous things. Properly effective, beautifully fragrant, and without that eye watering harshness. It cuts through sticky shelves and mysterious drips, leaves everything gleaming, and replaces fridge fug with something fresh and botanical
Wipe down every surface, including the rubber seals. Dry thoroughly. Then comes the pleasing part: putting it all back in an orderly fashion.
Group like with like. Dairy together. Condiments corralled in a tray so they are not staging nightly migrations. A small basket for cheeses. Clear containers for leftovers so you can actually see what you have. Organisation in the fridge is not about aesthetic perfection. It is about saving yourself from buying your fourth tub of crème fraîche because you could not see the other three.
And then the cupboards.
Large kitchen cupboards have a tendency to become deep, shadowy caves. You put something in and it simply disappears. The trick is to create zones. Baking in one section. Breakfast things together. Cleaning cloths and sprays in their own basket under the sink so they are not rattling about.
Once everything is emptied, give the shelves a proper wipe with multi surface spray. That faint, clean scent when you open a cupboard is an underrated joy. It makes even the most ordinary Tuesday feel faintly civilised.
I also like to tuck diffusers into larger cupboards. Nothing overpowering. Just a gentle, steady fragrance that keeps things fresh and quietly lovely. Open the doors and instead of stale air you get a soft waft of something uplifting. It transforms storage into something that feels considered rather than chaotic.
The rhythm of it all is strangely soothing. Rain tapping at the windows. My favourite play list on in the background. You, reorganising jars and lining up tins like a benevolent domestic general.
Natural cleaning products make the whole process feel less like a chemical assault and more like care. Care for your home. Care for the air you are breathing. Care for the surfaces you touch every single day.
By the time the fridge is sparkling and the cupboards are calm, the rain feels less oppressive. You have created order in a small corner of the world. The kettle goes on. The kitchen smells faintly of botanicals instead of forgotten leftovers.
And really, on a grey Norfolk afternoon, that is quite enough triumph for one day.
