Keeping the kitchen clean on a regular basis isn't complicated, even if it's not the most favourite chore around the house. Having clean dishes and countertops are the goal for most, but deep cleaning of your kitchen is much-needed from time to time. Grease and grime collect on floors, cabinet doors, small and large appliances—it sounds like the most challenging cleaning chore ever, but it doesn’t have to be that way. On the contrary, with the right set of tricks, some cleaning solutions, and a lot of patience and attention to detail, you can have a spotless kitchen with little effort!
You don’t need to go through your own trial and error with cleaning the kitchen. Try as many hacks as you can from our list down below. Rest assured that each of them spares you time and energy—which all lack nowadays!
1. Go with baking soda all the way
If we talk about magical ingredients in the kitchen, baking soda is the absolute leader. You can use it when baking cakes, bread, but also when you’re whitening your teeth. On top of everything else, baking soda is a practical, cheap, and eco-friendly cleaner for the stove and kitchen appliances, or even a cleaner for the grill. Stop using chemical cleaning solutions and switch to baking soda—you won’t regret it!
2. Clean the kitchen worktops
Ideally, you should clean the worktops as you go, especially if you have spilt acidic substances such as vinegar, alcohol, lemon juice, or staining liquids like coffee and tea. As various materials are used for worktops, you should use specific methods and products for cleaning. Here are some tips:
Wooden worktops
Wooden worktops suffer from getting wet, so keep them dry as much as possible. Wipe them down after use with hot soapy water. Turn to an all-purpose kitchen cleaner with disinfectant to kill germs and dry with a kitchen roll. As for stains, you can try some vinegar or lemon and stay away from harsh cleaning solutions. Clean chopping boards with salt and lemon (go back), and remember to oil the worktops four times a year.
Stainless steel worktops
Light scratches and fingermarks are the main concern with stainless steel worktops. You can add a bit of cooking oil and rub it across the worktop with a lint-free cloth. For cleaning, use warm soapy water, rinse, and let it dry.
Stone and manmade worktops
Whether it’s stone, composite, Corian, or laminate worktops, you only need hot soapy water for cleaning. You can also turn to an all-purpose kitchen cleaner with added disinfectant. Use a clean cloth to buff it dry. Stay safe and check out the manufacturer’s recommendations on which kitchen cleaners to use for your worktop.
3. Clean the oven fast and naturally
Different types of ovens require certain cleaning methods and products. For example, you shouldn’t use cleaning solutions for models with self-cleaning features. The easiest and safest way to clean an oven is baking soda. Mix it with water until it becomes a spreadable paste and put it all over the insides of the oven.
Ideally, it would help if you let it work for the whole night, so you don't repeat the process any time soon. You can spray some white vinegar over the pasta in the morning and rinse it with a damp cloth. Leave the door open so that the oven completely dries.
4. Clean the fridge
There are numerous tips and tricks to clean the refrigerator, and one of the most popular goes as follows:
- Take out all the food and throw away everything that is expired
- Take out the shelves and drawers. Wash them in the dishwasher, if possible. Otherwise, you can wash them with soapy water in the sink.
- Spray a solution of distilled vinegar and water inside the fridge and let it work for several minutes. Afterwards, wipe and rinse the refrigerator with a damp cloth.
- Let the fridge dry before placing it all back in
- Clean the exterior with soapy water. Use specially-made solutions for stainless steel models.
5. Use vinegar to clean the dishwasher
It may sound surprising, but the inside of your dishwasher is one of the gunkiest areas in the kitchen. Pout a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack. You can also pour it right into the dishwasher’s bottom. Set the temperature on a full, hot cycle to disinfect and make everything shine. The solution also washes away grime and grease and kills unpleasant odours.
6. Make the stainless steel sink shiny
Stainless steel sinks are widely spread in modern houses as they're easy to clean, long-lasting, and pretty affordable. They are easy to take care of and a wise investment in the long run. It doesn’t mean that they don’t get greasy and dirty. Here’s how to make them spotless and shiny:
- Place the stopper in the sink, pour some club soda in and rub with a soft cloth.
- Dry with a soft cloth to prevent rust and water spots
- Clean the sink with a paste of baking soda and water. Rinse with vinegar as it disinfects the sink and removes hard water stains as well.
- Add an extra shine with a couple of drops of olive oil. Apply the oil to a lint-free cloth and buff the sink until it sparkles.
7. Use lemon to clean the microwave
Microwave oven interiors become dirty from baked-on food splatters. The best cleaning method is to wipe the inside after each use and use a microwave food cover to place in the dishwasher when dirty.
Most of us won't do that, so cut a couple of lemons, place them in a bowl of hot water and put it inside the microwave for 3-4 minutes until they make lemony steam. Don’t open the microwave and run it once more. When done, open the door and wipe off the loosened food. Use some soapy water, rinse, and dry the microwave with the door open.
8. Use ammonia to clean the grates
The stove burner's grates collect a lot of dirt and grease, and cleaning can become tricky. Many people would instead replace the grates than cleaning them. You can clean them with dishwashing soap or a mild liquid cleaner in warm water. Let them soak before scrubbing with a sponge. Again, you can use the paste made of baking soda and water to clean the grates. Don't use steel wool but a non-scratching scrubber to scour away the residues.
Place the grates in a bag to lock in the ammonia fumes that loosen the gunk. Place every grate into a plastic bag with ¼ cup of ammonia. You don’t need to cover the grates with ammonia; the ammonia fumes inside the bag will do the trick. Seal the bag to trap the fumes and let the grates sit throughout the night.
Open the bags and rinse the grates in a very well ventilated kitchen. Wear gloves and wipe the remaining food with a sponge. You need to rinse the grates until all the ammonia is gone.
9. Clean glasses with vinegar
If you live in a hard water area and put your glasses in the dishwasher, your glasses may come out cloudy. You can all solve it with some vinegar. Soak your glasses in white vinegar for five minutes, rinse, and dry them with a lint-free cloth.
10. Use a paintbrush to clean the toaster
The insides of your toasters are full of crumbs that burn every time you use the toaster. To clean it, you should unplug it, take it outside, and turn it upside down to give it a gentle shake. For the crumbs lodged inside, you can use a small paintbrush (a pastry brush will do too) to remove them. Keep in mind to also remove and clean the tray; wipe down the toaster's exterior with a damp cloth.
11. Clean the toasted sandwich maker
Unplug the sandwich maker, wipe it down with a damp cloth while it’s hot, and then wipe it with a kitchen roll. It’s the best way to remove oil, crumbs, and gunk. Dampen several dishcloths in hot soapy water and place them over the plates. Some sandwich makers have removable plates, which makes cleaning a lot easier.
Wipe the plates and rub away all baked-on food. Remove the stuck food in the grooves with a toothpick wrapped with soapy dishcloths. Wipe the soapy water away with a fresh, damp cloth.
12. Clean a wooden chopping board with salt and lemon
Wooden chopping boards can get stained and smelly after some time. You cannot place them in the dishwasher, but you can make them spotless with a lemon. Cut a lemon in half and run it over the board’s surface.
If you're not happy with the results, you can sprinkle some salt over the board (bicarbonate of soda will do too) and rerun the lemon. You should rinse it and let it dry before use.
Don't forget that wooden boards need oiling from time to time. Four times a year is ideal.
13. Clean the coffee and tea stains from teapots and mugs
It's challenging to enjoy a nice cup of coffee if the mug is stained. For a natural approach, you can use washing up liquid, add baking soda, and scrub the mugs and teapots with a rough sponge. Rinse and let them dry.
14. Descale the kettle fast and easy
If you live in a hard water area, limescale may built up inside the kettle and the deposits will get in your coffee/tea. Also, limescale makes the kettle work harder and louder and stop working long before its time.
Remember to clean the kettle’s interior every couple of months. Avoid scrubbing because you can damage the lining. You can use a store-bought de-scaler or turn to natural solutions. You can fill the kettle with equal parts of water and vinegar/lemon juice. Let it soak for an hour before boiling the kettle. Empty the kettle and rinse it thoroughly. Fill it and re-boil. Empty and rinse once more.
15. Remove baked-on food off trays and pans
There are several methods to use. You can fill the pans and trays with salted water and let them soak for several hours. Bring the pots to boils and place the trays in the hot oven for the same purpose. Let them cool and scrub them with a rough sponge. Rinse and dry them before use.
You can also soak tumble dryer sheets in water in the trays and pans. Let them sit for a few hours and remove the baked-on food. Rinse afterwards.
16. Use oil for the range hood
The range hood attracts grease, dust, and grime and cleaning the surface with ordinary sprays will be difficult. Use vegetable oil for best cleaning results. Add several drops of olive oil to a paper towel or cloth, wipe the surface down, and remove grime.
17. Soak the range hood filter
The filter of your stove’s hood vent becomes dusty, greasy, and filthy quite fast. Boil water in a large ppt and add ½ cup baking soda. Place the filter in the pot and let it soak. The filter may not fit in the pot completely, so you need to soak every side. Once one side is spotless, turn the filter around and do the same with the other side. Use gloves, as the water will be hot.
18. Clean the blender fast and easy
The following method is the perfect example when it comes to a fast and effortless way to clean the blender. Pour two or three cups of hot soapy water into the blender, run it for a minute, and empty it afterwards. Rinse the blender before use.
19. Make pots and pans sparkly
Even if you wash your pots and pans after each use, they still need a deep clean from time to time. Here’s how to do it fast and easy:
- Sprinkle some baking soda on pots and pans
- Add a couple of cups of water
- Boil the pots for 10 minutes. You might have to add more water if it evaporates.
- Clean the pots and pans as you typically do. It will be easy to get rid of scorched bits and stains.
- Use coarse salt and a dry sponge before the boil if your pots and pans have heavy-duty grease. Don’t forget to add some vinegar. It will work its magic again.
20. Bananas and potatoes for clean cutlery
Remove watermarks on your cutlery with potato peel or banana. It’s one of the best tricks to use in the kitchen.
21. Clean the kitchen floors asap
Even the highest quality flooring takes a lot of beating when it comes to spills and thrills. A good cleaning routine is mandatory for a clean kitchen.
You should vacuum up crumbs as often as necessary to keep the household pests at bay. Mop the floors with the recommended floor cleaning solution. Wooden and hardwood floors require unique methods and solutions for durability and best looks.
22. Don’t forget about knobs, handles, and switches
High-touch surfaces are always dirty, and in the kitchen, handles, knobs, and switches are the most germ-ridden hot spots. Wipe them all once a week with a cloth dipped in the cleaning solution. Add disinfectant to keep it hygienic.
The rule of thumb is to wipe anything you touch every time, especially when working with vegetables and raw meat. As usual, vinegar comes to the rescue for both cleaning and disinfecting such areas.
23. No more scratches on plates and bowls
Metal knives and forks will leave scratches on white pottery, and you can easily remove them with various products. Cream of tartar, baking soda, or products in-store is the most common. Sprinkle the abrasive cleaner of your choice, add some water, and rub gently with a wet dishcloth. Spread the cloth all over the surface and let it sit for a couple of minutes. You need to do some scrubbing with the dishcloth until all scratches are gone. You might need to put some elbow grease into it for the heavy scuffs. Wash the paste off the dish with soap and water, dry, and enjoy the results!
24. Clean the kitchen windows
For a nice clean kitchen, you should make time and clean windows as often as possible. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wet the windows and use a dry cloth to dry them off. You will also get a streak-free finish by doing so.
For greasy windows, you need to use a solution made of warm water and washing liquid. Damp an abrasive sponge in it and go over the windows. Use clean water to rinse the windows and a squeegee to remove all soapy deposits. Use a microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish.
25. Use tumble dryer sheets to clean the wooden kitchen blinds
You can use fresh/used tumble dryer sheets to lift the dirt and clean the wooden slated blinds for spotless kitchen blinds. Close the blinds and work across to remove all dust.
On a side note, look for blinds made with PVC that are easy to clean and resistant to mould and moisture.
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