The kitchen is the most used room in everyone’s home. From prepping to cooking then eating meals, your kitchen goes through a lot and requires frequent cleaning. Keeping your kitchen clean 24/7 can feel impossible no matter how often you wipe down the counter and vacuum the floor.
Luckily, there are a variety of kitchen cleaning hacks that will save you time and keep your kitchen looking good as new!
Kitchen Cleaning Hacks for the Sink: Keep it Sparkling & Smelling Fresh
It’s important to keep your sink clean and smelling fresh to maintain a hygienic kitchen environment. After any meal, you should always rinse your kitchen sink with hot water and wipe it down with a sponge or dishcloth. Include a couple sprays of multi-purpose kitchen spray or detergent. This will remove any food debris or left over marks before any stains or odors begin developing.
For tougher stains and odor, here are some kitchen sink cleaning hacks you should try once a week:
Cleaning the Kitchen Sink with Baking Soda & Vinegar
Mix baking soda and vinegar tol create a foaming consistency. Using the solution on a sponge or dishcloth, scrub your sink to get any stains or grease buildup out. Other than the kitchen sink, this powerful combination works on countertops, the stove, and oven interiors!
Deep Cleaning Kitchen Sink with Bleach
To kill bacteria and get out the hardest of stains, fill your sink up with cold water and the appropriate amount of bleach. Have a bleach-to-water ratio of ⅓ cup of bleach per gallon and let it sit up to 6 minutes. Afterward drain the sink and rinse thoroughly with a sponge and water. For more detailed instruction and best safety practices, read Clorox’s article on How to Clean a Kitchen or Bathroom Sink with Beach.
Cleaning Kitchen Sink Drain with Lemon & Vinegar.
Lemon and white vinegar make for great kitchen cleaners. Both are relatively strong acids that help break down grime and eliminate odors. Not to mention, you’ll probably have them around your home. They can also help remove any food and residue that tend to build up in your sink’s drain over time.
If you’re using a lemon, cut it in half, squeezing out the juice in the drain and rubbing the rest around the sink. If you’re using white vinegar, pour some down the drain and use a sponge to wipe it around the sink. Before rinsing with water, let either liquids sit for a couple minutes. This should leave your sink looking and smelling brand new.
Implement a Kitchen Sink Strainer.
Using a sink strainer is a great way to catch food particles and keep your drain from getting clogged. Especially for those who don’t have a garbage disposal, a sink strainer is a must. There are many different types of strainers to choose from with different sizes and styles. Be sure to get your correct kitchen drain measurements before buying.
Here are some top choices:
DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner
A garbage disposal offers a quick and easy way to clean out the food and waste left in your sink. You may not see it but gunk in the garbage disposal can build up quickly when not regularly cleaned. This can result in all sorts of issues including unpleasant odor.
Small pieces of ground up food can get stuck in parts of the machine, staying there until it eventually decays. Some foods will leave behind grease or other liquids that disposals can’t grind up, causing buildup and bacteria. To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh and working well, clean it every two weeks to avoid odors, clogs, and damage.
Here’s how to make a DIY garbage disposal cleaner that will save you money & time:
All you need is: 1 ice cube tray, lemon, white vinegar, ziplock bag, & a toothbrush
Fill ice cube tray with lemon juice and white vinegar, equal parts
Stick in the freezer overnight. Cover filled ice cube tray with a large zip lock bag to prevent spilling and the smell of vinegar in your freezer
Once frozen, put the lemon/vinegar cube in the drain and turn on the garbage disposal
For a more thorough clean, use a toothbrush and scrub the splash guards; this will help get off any remaining grime.
Deep Cleaning Stove Tops
With the spills, stains, and splashes that result from cooking on a stove top, it’s essential that the appliance has regular maintenance. Cleaning your stove top entails both a daily wipe down after use and a weekly deep cleaning. However, depending on your type of stove the cleaning may not be the same.
How to Clean a Glass Stove Top
While a glass stove top makes for an easier clean, it still requires special care to avoid any damages or scratches to the surface. Ingredients you will need include: white vinegar (preferably in a spray bottle), baking soda, hot water, and dish towels.
Before cleaning, make sure the stove top is cool and any crumbs are wiped away. Once cooled, spray vinegar (1 part vinegar) and sprinkle baking soda (2 parts baking soda) on the glass top. Let it sit for a few minutes to loosen stains and grease. Next, wet your cloth(s) with hot water, squeezing out any excess, then place over the stove.
After letting it sit for 5-10 minutes, remove the towel and use another to wipe down the cooktop. If there still are visible streaks and stains, spray on some more vinegar. Once you are satisfied with the results, wipe the glass stove top with a clean and dry cloth.
How to Clean a Stove Top with Gas Burners
Cleaning a gas stove top with burners and grates may take more effort. However, it is just as simple as cleaning a glass stove top. While an everyday clean would be a wipe down of the grates and stove top, a deep clean should be done once a week or every other week.
First, you will need to pick up and clear away the grates from the stove top, placing them in the sink. Use a toothbrush or other gentle cleaning brush to get any crumbs or leftover debris in the burner slots. Once that debris is gone, wipe down the stove top with a hot damp cloth and some detergent or any stove-safe cleaning spray you have handy.
When you are wiping down your stove top, soak the grates in the kitchen sink. Fill your clean and dish-free sink with warm water and a couple squeezes of dish detergent. Use a sponge or wet dish cloth to scrub any grime or stains off. All that’s left to do is rinse off, dry, and put back on your clean stove top!
Clean Oven Overnight
While most of your cleaning tasks need to be done when you're awake, try this kitchen cleaning hack that you can do in your sleep! Cleaning your oven overnight can be a convenient way to get out the toughest grease and grime without spending hours scrubbing.
What you’ll need:
½ cup of baking soda
⅓ cup of white vinegar
⅓ cup of warm water
Any dish detergent
Cleaning gloves
Paper towels or washcloths you don’t care about getting dirty
What you'll do:
Remove all racks, trays, or other accessories in your oven and place them in a sink filled with hot water and some dish detergent. Let these soak overnight or for at least a couple hours.
Create your oven cleaning solution by mixing baking soda, white vinegar, and warm water.
Put on gloves & apply the cleaning solution to the entire inside of the oven, avoiding heating elements. Focus on areas with built-up grease and stains. You’ll want to ensure those spots have a thick coat of the cleaning solution.
Close the oven door and leave it overnight. The cleaning solution will work its magic, breaking down any grime and grease.
After soaking, scrub the oven racks with a sponge or brush in case there’s any leftover grease or grime. Rinse them thoroughly with water and dry.
Wipe down the inside of the oven with a damp cloth or sponge to remove the cleaning solution and residue. After sitting overnight, the grease and grime should come off effortlessly. A scrubbing brush or scouring pad may be needed in case of trouble areas.
Finish with wiping down the outside of your oven with paper towels and a glass-safe cleaner
Deep Clean Microwave with Vinegar, Lemon, and Water
As a smaller appliance, the microwave doesn’t take much effort to clean. While a daily wipe-down is good for general upkeep, a weekly deep clean to the microwave will help avoid odor and stains.
Learn how to clean a microwave with vinegar, lemon juice, and water:
Place a bowl of water, 2-3 lemon slices, and a tablespoon of vinegar into the microwave and heat it for 2 minutes. The steam that comes from the heated solution will help loosen any grime inside the microwave and leave a fresh smell.
Wipe down the inside of the microwave with a clean, damp dishcloth. Use a sponge or cleaning brush to tackle any remaining spots. If your turntable is removable, take it out and wash them in warm, soapy water. Ensure the turntable is completely dry before placing it back in the microwave.
For the microwave’s exterior, wipe down the glass, handle, and keypad with a damp cloth. If there’s still a smell, keep a cup of baking soda inside the microwave for a couple hours to absorb the odor.
Tidy Up Your Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets can attract a good amount of dust and crumbs, especially when they aren’t regularly cleaned out. If you use a paper towel or cloth to clean this area, try a vacuum instead! Most modern-day vacuum cleaners come with smaller attachments to get into tight corners and gaps. These attachments allow you to effectively clean every surface in your home, including cabinets.
For regular upkeep and organization, get in the habit of cleaning out your kitchen cabinets once a week or every other. Start by removing all items from your cabinets, and going in with the vacuum starting from top to bottom. Once complete, use a damp cloth to wipe everything down. Take the time to put all items back in an organized manner.
Consider a House Cleaning Service
With these cleaning tips, you’ll be ready to keep your kitchen in shape. While these cleaning hacks are simple, you may not have the time and energy to get them done. If you’re struggling to find the time to maintain a clean household, you may want to consider hiring a house cleaning service. The right cleaning service will save you time and effort, and boost your home's value with regular maintenance.
If you live in Birmingham, AL or close by, check out Assure Cleaning Service as your trusted house cleaning service. Assure provides a dependable cleaning, whether you’re looking for a Deep, Standard, or Move-in / Move-out cleaning service. All Assure’s services come with detailed kitchen cleaning, using the highest quality and safest cleaning supplies.
Learn more about Assure Cleaning Services, and Book Your House Cleaning Service Today!
We understand that transparency and trust is key. To speak to someone at Assure Cleaning, email us at info@assurecleaningbham.com or give us a call at (205) 860-9383
コメント