Kitchen Cleaning Tips
As I was doing the weekly “deep-cleaning” of the kitchen today and performing some of my favorite cleaning tricks, I thought I’d share them here with you, dear blog reader. Some of these might be habit for you, but perhaps they will assist a young bachelor or two.
Microwave cleaning: Take a lemon and slice it into quarters. Put it into a coffee mug and cover with water. Microwave for 2 minutes. When it’s done, use the steam and lemon-ness to wipe it out. (You can also use the lemons to clean and freshen your garbage disposal.) No lemons? You can do the same with a cup of water. Or, if you use a kitchen sponge for dishes, wet it and wring it out, microwave for 2 minutes (this also disinfects your sponge) and use the steam from the sponge to wipe up your microwave.
Out of cleaning products? Really poor? Regular white vinegar does a great job on the counters, without all the chemicals. Baking soda shaken in your sink also makes a good, mildly abrasive cleaner (again, no chemicals) to use to scrub your sink.
I never realized how many crumbs and junk accumulate under the stove, you know the part where the broom doesn’t quite get? One night, while cooking with Josiah underfoot, I noticed he was quite absorbed with something at the bottom of the stove. He was reaching his little hand under there and pulling out all the crumbs and stuff! Yuck! Thankfully, he didn’t eat any. I tore him away from it and he cried, he was having such a good time. I used the vaccum hose attachment to get ALL of it out from under there.
On deep-cleaning kitchen day, I like for the kitchen and house to smell nice. However, with a baby in the house, I don’t want to use any chemical air fresheners and some candles even seem too strong. Here’s a great trick: get a potpourri-size crockpot or small pot on the stove. Fill it with spices: cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, corriander seeds (we have these in a spice rack we got as a gift) and orange peels. Cover with water and simmer. Your house smells like you just baked something wonderful, and no chemicals!
Great tips Rachel! Also, a quick way to get rid of a kitchen odor (like fish) is to boil a few tablespoons of white vinegar with a cup of water. It only takes a few minutes for the odor to go away.
Great idea, Shae! Anyone else have a tip to share?
Along the lines with baking soda and vinegar, you can boil vinegar, sprinkle baking soda in the sink and pour vinegar on top. It gets rid of the sink odor and it makes a volcano erruption which the boys think is so much fun.
I am printing out these tips.
oops! I accidentally printed your whole website out. Got some great pics of Josiah!