The kitchen -- it's the one room where at any given time you can find a family eating, working on homework, talking on the phone or just hanging out with friends. So it comes as no surprise that as the centerpiece of the home, the kitchen is also one of the dirtiest and toughest rooms to clean. In fact, according to www.organizedhome.com, the average kitchen sink, not the bathroom bowl, contains the most concentrated combination of harmful microorganisms in the house. Yuck!

Obtaining a spotless kitchen can seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn't have to be. According to Mark Kalinowski, former director of engineering for the Good Housekeeping Institute, "a clean kitchen can be achieved if streamlined, routine kitchen tasks are performed on a regular basis. Using time-saving techniques, as well as the proper cleaning tools, can also significantly reduce the time spent completing the dreaded kitchen chores."

Kalinowski goes on to say that whether your kitchen needs a complete cleaning overhaul, or just a quick pick-up, these tips can help you achieve sparkling results in no time at all.

before you clean

- To help your kitchen shine, make a clean-up checklist. Taking stock of your cleaning needs and supplies before you begin the task will ensure you'll have everything on hand and ready to go. Mapping out the chores you want to complete will also help keep you organized so nothing is overlooked.

- Think teamwork. So you don't have to do everything yourself, enlist the help of your family, including your children. A good work ethic can be easily learned at an early age. Besides, it's a great opportunity to spend time together and get some work done!

- Set aside a particular day each week to take care of household chores. Having an organized system will allow you more energy to sit back, relax and enjoy the time with family and friends.

during cleaning

- Get motivated. Although you should limit the number of distractions as you clean, it's important to use motivators to "pump up" your cleaning routine. A bit of music can transform the drudgery of kitchen cleaning into an almost enjoyable experience. In fact, one of the fastest and easiest ways to make the tedious task of spring cleaning less taxing is to pop in a CD while completing your chores.

- Tackle clutter first. Tossing away everything you don't use before you start the heavy duty scrubbing is the first step to cleaning any room -- especially the kitchen where papers and mail can pile up quickly on countertops. By de-cluttering the kitchen you'll have less mess to sort through while cleaning and it will be much easier and quicker to wipe down surfaces.

- Another time-saving tool can be throwing away that old straw broom and dustpan. The new Dirt Devil(R) Sweeper Vac(TM) with Swiffer(R) combines two innovative technologies into one easy to use and convenient cleaning tool. The Swiffer allows you to sweep and dust your floor free of dust and allergens. And if you come across some larger debris, such as cookie crumbs or cereal pieces, just press a switch on the handle and suck up your mess with the unit's rechargeable vacuum.

- Always clean from top to bottom and from one side of the room to the other. In taking this approach, there won't be any time wasted in criss-crossing the room or wiping down the same counter twice. When you're finished look critically to see what you may have missed.

- Don't waste your time cleaning something if it isn't dirty. Vertical surfaces like walls are almost never as dirty as horizontal surfaces, such as cupboards and countertops. Upper shelves and molding have less dust than lower ones. Watch what you are doing so you don't spend time cleaning an entire area if it doesn't truly need it!

after cleaning

- Take all of the kitchen items you don't use and donate them to a local charity of your choice, or have a garage sale. Permanently cutting down on kitchen clutter will make it much easier to keep this room of the house clean.