Cleaning Tips for your Kitchen

- To rid the yellowing from white appliances: Mix together 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups of warm water. Apply with a sponge and let set for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

 

- To clean a greasy blender: Fill with a little hot water and add a drop of detergent. Cover and turn it on for a few seconds. Rinse and drain dry.

 

- To rid cutting boards of onion, garlic or fish smell, cut a lime in two and rub the surface of the board. You can also apply a paste of baking soda and water and rinse.

 

- To clean copper and brassware, dip lemon halves in salt and rub. A solution of vinegar and salt sprayed liberally will also do the trick.

 

- For a fast and thorough clean-up of the grater, use a toothbrush to brush lemon rind, cheese, onion or whatever out of the grater before washing it.

 

- Before washing a meat grinder, run a slice of bread through it.

 

- To open a clogged drain: either use a couple of denture tablets, or pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve and open the drain.

 

- Following a spill in an oven or on a stove, sprinkle with salt immediately. When oven is cool brush off burnt food and wipe with a damp sponge or cloth.

 

- Burners of gas stoves can be cleaned by soaking them in a solution of warm water mixed with ammonia. Use a wire brush to clean the burner holes. Rinse and dry.

 

- Coffee or tea stains from plastic cups can be scoured out by rubbing with baking soda. Rinse and dry.

 

- To rid plastic containers of foul smell, place crumpled newspaper (black and white only) into it.

 

- Cover tightly and leave overnight. Wash and dry in the normal way.

 

- To prevent mildew from forming in a refrigerator, wipe with a cloth dipped in vinegar. The acid effectively kills the mildew fungus.

 

- After the freezer has been defrosted, coat the inside with glycerine. The next time you defrost, the ice will loosen quickly and drop off in sheets.

 

- To help eliminate odours in the refrigerator, fill a small bowl with charcoal and place it on a shelf in the fridge. It absorbs odours rapidly. An open box of baking soda will also absorb odours from the refrigerator for at least a month or two.

 

- For a sparkling white kitchen sink, place paper towels across the bottom of your sink and saturate with household bleach. Leave for an hour or so. Scrub and rinse.

 

- Spots on stainless steel sinks can be removed with methylated spirit or with white vinegar. Club soda can also shine up your sink in minutes.

 

- To renew and freshen a cleaning sponge, soak overnight in salt or baking soda water. Wash out in the morning.

 

- To remove lime deposits from a tea kettle, fill with equal parts of vinegar and water. Bring to a boil and allow to stand overnight.

 

- To keep a thermos flask free of foul odours while storing, wash with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry well in the sun if possible. Place a tablespoon of sugar granules in it and store.

 

- To remove rust from tin pie pans, dip a raw potato in cleaning powder and scrub.

 

- To eliminate strong or pungent odours from a microwave, heat four tablespoons of vanilla for a minute in the microwave and leave overnight.

 

- To remove the smell of burnt food from a pan, simmer a few slices of lemon in water in it.

 

- If a cup of coffee is placed in the refrigerator, it helps in keeping the fridge smelling fresh.

 

- To avoid strong smells of fish, garlic etc from filling up your home, place white vinegar in a small bowl next to the stove while cooking.

 

- To clean and freshen dusty artificial flowers, put them in a paper bag with a handful of salt and shake well. The flowers will look as good as new.

 

About the Author

Michael Douglas - Visit Diyhometips.org to learn more about your home, discover how to keep your home maintained and how to do some easy diy jobs yourself. Here you can also find information on home construction, remodeling and home improvement for homeowners.