Grease, grime, dirt and debris – no room of the home accumulates more of it than the kitchen. Keeping a busy family kitchen clean often feels like a full-time job, but can nonetheless be simplified with a few savvy shortcuts.
It’s the classic case of working smarter rather than harder – the following eight hacks representing a good starting point:
Get rid of sticky grease on cupboard doors
Stir fries, spaghetti bolognese, fried foods; using our hobs to keep with oil can mean that your kitchen cupboards become a bit of a magnet for grease stains. Thankfully there are some easy and inexpensive ways to get rid of those stubborn sticky stains – vinegar! Simply dampen a clean dry cloth with undiluted white vinegar – and wipe down the kitchen cabinets.
Washing up liquid can also cut quickly through grease, so fill up a sink with hot tap water and squirt a little washing liquid into the water. Then use a sponge to wipe down those grease marks.
Clean Wooden Chopping Boards with Lemon and Salt
This is a great way of restoring stained wooden chopping boards to their former glory. All you need to do is chop a lemon in half and smear it liberally all over the surface, before leaving it for a few seconds and giving it a rinse. If it’s still not clean enough, repeat the process, only this time sprinkle some salt over the surface of the board first.
Cleaning your kitchen cupboard handles
We often overlook the handles on our kitchen cupboards – but, just like our kitchen units they can become greasy and grimy over time. This is where an old tooth brush can come in handy! If your handles have become particularly dirty, it’s best to take them off and place them into your sink with a little washing up liquid and allow to soak. Then gently use a soft bristled toothbrush to remove any remaining dirt.
Steam Clean Your Microwave
One of the best hacks you’ll ever try out, which involves nothing more than popping a bowl of hot water with a few slices of lemon into your microwave. Set it going on high for around three minutes, and let it sit a while after it’s done. Repeat the process once again, allow to cool slightly and give the inside a quick wipe with a dry cloth.
Clean Your Oven While You Sleep
Not literally, but at least in the sense that it’ll be a breeze to clean come next morning. All you need to do is fill a spray bottle with a DIY solution that comprises 1/3 water, 1/3 white vinegar and 1/3 baking soda. Spray the solution all over the inside of your cooker (avoiding the heating elements), close the door and allow it to do its thing for the next 12 hours. Wake up, rinse it all away and admire your shiny-new oven!
Sadly, the answer is yes – you’ll still need to empty your fridge and remove the shelves. Thankfully, that’s where the hard work comes to an end. Spray a solution of vinegar and water all over the interior, before giving it a good wipe with a damp cloth. Quick, hygienic and great for getting rid of unpleasant odours.
The Best Way to Clean a Blender
It’s also the safest way to clean a blender, as you don’t have to put yourself anywhere near the sharp bits. All you need to do is add a few cups of hot water and a couple of drops of washing up liquid, before running it on a high setting or pulsing it for a minute. Empty it out, give it a rinse and it should be more or less spotless.
Remove Baked on Mess from Trays and Pans
Last up, save yourself the time and effort of scrubbing your trays and pans with this simple little trick. Fill them to the required level with some salty water (made with quite a lot of salt) and give it a few hours to do its thing. Then, bring the salt solution to the boil, let it cool down once again and take to it with a sponge. Even the most burnt-on mess should quickly and easily come away.
