Let’s face the fact that while entertaining family and friends can be rewarding and filled with multitudes of laughter and memory-making, it can also leave a mess behind. This means after all your friends and family have departed after a day or evening of festivities, you’re left with the aftermath and mess to clean up, especially in the kitchen.
In previous blogs, we discussed the design concept of the work triangle and how it is a great guideline to use when redesigning your kitchen. However, as today’s’ kitchens continue to grow in size and open up into connecting rooms it’s only natural for the work triangle to evolve into separate functioning work zones/areas. Those primary zones are the Prep Zone, Cooking Zone, and Clean-up Zone. In addition, other separate zones such as a Baking Center, Command Center Zone, or an area for pets might also be included in the kitchen depending on its size and available space.
Today we are going to focus on the Clean-up Zone.
Kitchen Design by Revival House, Minnesota, showcasing a beautiful example of a Clean-Up Zone.
The kitchen Clean-up Zone generally consists of an area that includes a sink and dishwasher that is separate from the Prep and Cook Zone and is often where items that were used during the cooking process are cleaned.
When designing your new kitchen, the Clean-up Zone should be centered around the kitchen’s primary sink. While the size and shape of the actual sink may vary, a deep sink is ideal for both washing large items and for hiding dirty ones from guests until they can be washed. In addition, ample countertop space should be provided on both sides of the sink. Plan for 24” on one side and a minimum of 18” on the other. This provides ample countertop space to be utilized as a landing area for dirty dishes or other items while hand washing or loading the dishwasher.
Locating the trash, compost, and recycle bins within reach of the Clean-up zone is beneficial as well, to allow for easier access to scrape off any remaining food or waste into those bins prior to washing or loading the dishwasher.
If your kitchen has a dishwasher, it is recommended that it be located within 36” of the sink. Ideally, the dishwasher will be located adjacent to the sink for easier hookups to plumbing and close proximity to the primary sink.
Kitchen design by Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair featuring Dura Supreme Cabinetry in a kitchen Clean-Up Zone. Kitchen photographed by Ryan Hainey.
One of the questions I often get asked is which side of the sink should the dishwasher be located? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, it comes down to a matter of preference on where the user prefers the placement of the appliance. However, in some cases the exact layout and position of the kitchen sink and available space next to it will determine the location of the dishwasher and whether it is placed on the left of the right side of the sink.
Of course, no work zone would be complete without adequate storage for commonly used items, such as cleaning supplies, garbage, and recycling bins, and dish towels.
Kitchen design by Molly McCabe, AKBD, CLIPP, CGP, CAPS of A Kitchen That Works, LLC, Washington featuring Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
Here are some examples of how you can create a functional and organized Clean-up Zone with kitchen storage solutions from Dura Supreme that will leave your kitchen in tip-top shape.
A convenient pull-out with double bins for trash and recycling is one of Dura Supremes’ most popular cabinets and it now comes standard with touch latch motion, since we know that it is the most used cabinet in the kitchen when our hands are dirty, full, or wet.
Dura Supreme Base Recycling Center with double bins (BRC).
Organize cleaning supplies in our convenient pull-out caddy with detachable, portable basket (SBPOC).
Neatly conceal all your scrub brushes and dish scrapers when they are not in use with this tip-down sink tray (TDFS).
What about incorporating this thin, pull-out next to your primary clean-up sink that has a towel bar, so dish towels can dry after use (BPOF-TB or BPOC-TB).
Spare sponges and brushes can be stored at the top shelf of a pull-out towel bar cabinet while soaps and cleaning supplies have a dedicated space on the bottom shelf.
Dura Supreme kitchen design by House to Home Solutions, Maryland.
Or how about a convenient sink base door rack (SBDR) for quick access to cleaning supplies you use on a daily basis.
Talk to your Dura Supreme designer today to discover the best clean-up zone options for your kitchen remodel.
