Keepin’ It Clean: The Top Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean
Do you feel like your kitchen is always a bit messy? If so, check out this guide to learn the top tips for keeping your kitchen clean.
It’s time to declare germ warfare. That means giving your kitchen a clean bill of health. Did you know that the kitchen harbors more bacteria than any other room in the home?
The germs that can cause flu and colds lurk everywhere. They could be in anything, from dishcloths to cutting boards. Here are the tips you need to protect your family and keep your kitchen clean and your Incredible Kitchens benchtops clean too.
Clean Up Straight Away
Don’t let spills linger. If you do, they can become sticky and start to smell. You might then find yourself putting clean items on top of an old spill. Wipe up any spills straight away.
Remember to clean the inside of the microwave too. It’s the perfect place for spills to go unnoticed and fester. Place a handful of wet paper towels inside and run the oven on a high setting for a minute.
The steam from the towels will soften any grime. Once the paper towels have cooled you can use them to wipe the oven’s interior.
Dishcloths and Sponges
When it comes to harboring germs, these are some of the biggest culprits. Using a dirty cloth to clean surfaces means you’re going to be spreading germs around.
You need to replace rags regularly. You should also let them dry out after using them because most bacteria thrive only in moist places. Run them through your washing machine or place them in a bucket of water and bleach overnight.
It’s not just your sponges and cloths that need to be kept clean. Dishwashers can become soiled too. Check out this cleaner. It’ll keep the machine that washes your dishes fresh and clean.
Handles, Doorknobs and Chopping Boards
These are great places for germs to linger. Clean faucets, refrigerator handles, and doorknobs with a disinfectant spray. Many people may be touching these objects. That makes them great places for germs to be picked up and spread.
If there are lime and mineral deposits on the faucets, wrap vinegar-soaked paper towels around them for about an hour. This breaks down the mineral scale. The faucets can then be buffed up with a dry paper towel.
Cracks in cutting boards are another place where bacteria grow. The boards you use in the kitchen need to be cleaned and disinfected after each time you use them. It’s a good idea to use separate boards for chopping vegetables and meat.
Clean and disinfect inside the fridge regularly. By removing the contents when you’re doing this you’ll also be able to check that all food is still fresh and safe to eat.
Everything Has Its Place
Instead of having utensils scattered around the kitchen, it’s better to organize similar items in the same place. Place the utensils you use most for cooking for example in one upright container on the kitchen bench.
Make some time to work out which kitchen items you use most often and keep these in the most accessible places. A little planning will go a long way to saving precious time that could be spent doing other things.
Don’t Forget the Drains and Stove
Use baking soda and an old toothbrush to get rid of stains, and grime around the kitchen drains. The sink also needs to be disinfected regularly. This is best done overnight by leaving a mild solution of bleach and water in it.
When drains are slow to clear, put half in half a cup of baking soda down them. Next, pour down half a cup of vinegar and cover. Let the mixture foam for a few minutes.
After this pour down eight cups of boiling water down the drain to flush it. You should not use this combination after using a commercial drain cleaner.
You can also shine up greasy grates on your stove. This is very easy to do by soaking them overnight with a little ammonia. Remember never to mix ammonia and bleach because that will create toxic fumes.
Clean the Coffeemaker
The glass jug that comes with your coffeemaker can often develop a brown, blotchy haze. This happens a lot if you leave it on the heat for long periods of time. There is a simple cleaning recipe. Grab some ice, salt, and a lemon.
Empty enough ice into the jug so that it’s a quarter full. Cut the lemon into quarters and squeeze two of them into the jug. Add two large spoonfuls of cooking salt. Swirl the mixture around in the jug for about two minutes.
You will see that the inside surface of the jug comes clean. Empty out the contents of the jug and then give it a good rinse.
Keep the Coffee Grinder Clean
Does your coffee grinder have multi-skilling talents? You may use it to grind spices as well as coffee beans. If so, the smell of one can affect the flavor of the other.
You can mitigate this effect by running a small handful of uncooked white rice through the grinder.
The Garbage Disposal
Put lime and lemon through the garbage disposal every few days to create a nice, clean smell.
To freshen the garbage disposal, put a couple of tablespoons of baking soda down the drain. Next, add two ice cubes and turn it on. Run the hot water for a few minutes while the disposal is still turned on.
Make a Plan to Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Keeping on top of things in the kitchen can be tricky, especially when you’re working hard. It will though help to reduce the time you spend cleaning. Make a list of the kitchen chores that need doing regularly.
These could be things like cleaning the floor, the inside of the cupboards or washing out the trash can. Set aside a time each week to schedule in these tasks. Once you get into a routine you’ll be surprised how easy keeping the kitchen clean becomes.
Enjoy Your Clean Kitchen
Kitchens are the heart of the home. Keeping your kitchen clean will mean you’ll enjoy spending more time there. It’s also going to help keep your whole house free from germs.
Continue reading our blog for more helpful lifestyle tips.
