No one would think of eating food that fell in the toilet bowl but it turns out it may still be cleaner than if you dropped it in the kitchen sink. That’s because few of us disinfect our sinks as often or as well as we do our toilet bowls.
So, how do you ensure your kitchen stays spotless and germ-free? Here are some of our favorite suggestions:
- Fresh fridge: Cleaning your refrigerator can be a big job but it doesn’t have to take long. From coil brush to stainless steel doors, here’s how you can get it flawless in under 20 minutes.
- Bulk disinfection: The surest way to clean stove knobs, brushes, plastic utensils, refrigerator drawers, drain catches and sponges? Fill up your dishwasher.
- Wipe it up: The sponge in your sink may be crawling with critters. Instead, use Clorox or Windex wipes to clean your counter and stove tops, as well as fridge handles, toaster and microwave. If you have a built-in microwave/fan above your stove, remember to wipe underneath it and throw greasy fan filters into the dishwasher once a month.
- Microwave mess: Place a wet paper towel in your microwave for 3 minutes to soften the grime, then wipe it down with a wipe.
- Oven odor: Fishy or greasy smell in your oven? Wipe up drips with a vinegar-soaked towel, then fill a baking dish halfway with water and a teaspoon of vanilla extract, lemon juice or vinegar and leave it in the oven on low heat for half an hour. Prefer self-cleaning your oven? Here’s why you probably shouldn’t.
- Garbage leaks: Keep an open bag at the bottom of your trashcan to avoid leaks, and rinse out the can once a month with soap and water.
And that dirty kitchen sink? The best way to keep it truly clean is to wash it with bleach and water every day.
What are your tried and true tips for keeping your kitchen clean? Share them now in the Shop Talk Blog community forum!
Did you know: Alka-Seltzering your vases
Can’t get your hand down a vase to clean the dried residue? Fill it halfway with water, drop in a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait a few minutes and rinse. (Source)
Thanks for the information. I plan to be proactive and follow through neither your suggestions.
I clean homes for a living. These were very good remarks for cleaning. Vinegar does wonders too
Was this brought to us by Clorox? Why on earth would you tell people to ditch the sponge or dish cloth and use wipes, which are already clogging up city sewers and ending up in our landfills??? Not very green or responsible of you. All you have to do is microwave wet sponge for one minute, soak it in bleach for a while, or put in dishwasher.
Enjoyed all the hints. Many thanks
Informative
How do you clean a black top range from burnt on messes
OK-Clorox bleach wipes are great except for granite and copper. Any suggestions to disinfect those those areas?
Thanks
T
I wash the stainless sink down with dish soap and hot water using my plastic bristle dish brush. Never owned a germy kitchen sponge. Ew. I can use scalding hot water with the brush [hands out of the water], and rinse with the sprayer. Stainless steel scrubber (not the soap infused kind) for stubborn scrubbing – when rinsed out under hot soapy water, it harbors no bacteria.
Use disposable disinfectant wipes on kitchen everything that needs wiping up. A wipes dispenser is a fixture in our kitchen & in every bathroom for immediate clean ups. Bleach the garbage disposal once a week. Formica countertops shine using a cloth sprayed with furniture polish.
Re:cleaning vases or glasses that don’t look clean:
Drop several denture tablets into hot water in vase or glass and let stand overnight. The tablets will foam so don’t pour water up to the top. You can add more water after the foaming stops.
Another option is to place the glass or glass vase into a plastic basin or a glass or ceramic casserole dish and add very hot water and then the denture tablets.
I buy the denture tablets at a local dollar store so this is a much less expensive treatment than Alka Seltzer.
Using an Alka Seltzer to clean a glass vase and need idea
I have many problems getting my microwave oven clean, I can’t get the coffee stains out good enough.
Thank you for all the tips, these are helpful. I means a lot to find different ways to clean up messes that are hard to clean.
THIS IS NO FUN COMMENTING IAM GOING BACK TO CLEANING YOUR ALL ON YOUR OWN BYE
I believe if you take care of your Home, it will take care of you.
Clean as you work in the kitchen keep a sink of hot water with a good dish SOAP like “Dawn” Ulyra with Olay hand renewal.
I love clorax.but i have more cloths that have white spots.
Remember, clean as you go . Nothing worse after a good meal is a dirty kitchen.
A CLEANING MASTER, AUNT NITA
So many good ideas
I really liked the tip about cleaning flower vases. I can’t tell you how many I have thrown away because I couldn’t get them clean. I will get some Alks-Seltzer today!
Love Home Improvement/Cleaning ideas/suggestions! I areas disinfectant my sink & kitchen with bleach mixture on bi-daily basis (Trained Professional Cook). Also my bathroom bi-daily as well, including tub! Nuerotic about it being clean, always triple or at least double bag ALL my garbage containers (got in habit a child, like I said, I’m Nuerotic about certain things) & bleach outside on weekly basis. HATE a dirty garbage can. Thanks for tip on “Cellphone charging!
Very interesting way to clean your kitchen and keep it clean.
Sounds like a very helpful website. I can’t wait to clean my oven. I have the glass top stove and hope the soaking vinegar rag will help men clean it too
Omg i never thought it was that bad .