What do lemons, uncooked rice and a chopstick have to do with spring cleaning? You might say it’s the kind of stuff you find under your refrigerator when you do some large scale kitchen cleaning. And in your case, that might be exactly the case. But here, those are three rather unexpected tools that Kate Riley recommends for getting the kitchen spic and span. Kate writes the popular design and decorating blog, Centsational Girl, so we were thrilled when she agreed to share with us her top ten kitchen cleaning tips.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and like most families we spend many hours together in ours. With so much daily use, it’s a space that gets dirty quickly, so I use a combination of natural solutions and retail products to clean our kitchen so it’s both sparkling and sanitary.
To follow are ten of my little tricks for keeping my kitchen clean!
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 1
Grinder Grunge No More
To clean a coffee grinder, run a small handful of uncooked white rice through it to remove coffee bean oils. Repeat if necessary and wipe grinder with a clean terry cloth or paper towels.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 2
A Range Free From Debris
To remove grime from under a refrigerator or range, wrap a chopstick in a moist paper towel sprayed with Method All Purpose Cleaner and swipe underneath for a crumb-free floor.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 3
Lemon + Baking Soda = Clean Cutting Board
To disinfect and deodorize wood cutting boards, combine a few tablespoons of baking soda and the squeeze of lemon to make a paste. Spread it all over the board and let it sit, scrub with a scrubber sponge, then rinse after five minutes.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 4
A Sanitary Disposal
Sanitize the garbage disposal by grinding frozen cubes of vinegar (made in an ice tray) and pouring boiling water over them as you run the disposal. Thinly sliced pieces of lemon will also remove odors from a garbage disposal.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 5
Sparkling Stainless Steel
Clean stainless steel surfaces with a Rejuvenate Stainless Steel Polish & Cleanser and always with a soft cloth, never anything abrasive or the surface will scratch.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 6
Microwave Maintenance
To clean your microwave oven every week, mix together 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 cups of water in a 4 cup glass microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, then microwave on high for four minutes. Carefully remove the bowl and wipe down the steam-covered interior of the microwave with a soft microfiber cloth.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 7
Cast Iron Care
Clean a cast iron pan with coarse salt and a scrubber sponge to preserve the surface yet remove any food residue. Rinse with warm water. Cure it with a small amount of olive or vegetable oil.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 8
Stylish Display
For a prettier presentation, leave a clear bottle designed for olive oil with a spout next to the sink to display colorful dish washing soap and to keep the cleanser readily available.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 9
Residue Removal
To eliminate soap buildup in a dishwasher, run an empty cycle with hot water. Mid-way through the cycle, add a combination of 2 cups of vinegar and a squeeze of lemon to the hot water in the bottom of the dishwasher. To dislodge residue, wipe away with the soft side of a Scotch-Brite Sponge Scrubber when the cycle is complete.
Kitchen Cleaning Tip No. 10
Cleanser for Ceramics
Bar Keepers Friend Liquid Cleanser is your friend too. Use it to remove scratches from plates or make a dingy ceramic sink sparkling clean.
Have fun with your spring cleaning! You’re going to love your sparkling clean kitchen.
Check out The Home Depot’s online Cleaning Supplies page for everything you need for your spring cleaning. And take a look at more spring cleaning tips here on The Home Depot Blog.
