Kitchen Cleaning Tips

As the spot for preparing and enjoying family meals, the kitchen is one of the busiest spaces in the home, and one of the hardest to keep tidy. Here are tried-and-true ways to clean everything from the teakettle to the refrigerator.
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The fundamentals
1. Assign sponges to specific tasks, such as washing dishes or wiping counters. Sterilize sponges by dampening and microwaving them on high for one minute, or by tossing them in the dishwasher.

2. Start with mild cleansers, then work up to stronger chemical varieties. Lemon and distilled white vinegar help deodorize, and baking soda is a good scrubbing agent.

3. Maintain freshness and order in the pantry by disposing of expired items. Many spices and baking staples lose potency in six months to one year.

4. Wipe up spills as soon as they occur, before stains have a chance to set. Choose the appropriate cleanser for the material.

Large appliances
COOKTOP: Wipe the stove after each use, as spills will harden. Wash glass cooktops with a cleaning pad designed for nonstick pans. Gently scrape away caked-on food with a razor blade.

Wash burner grates every week by hand with dishwashing liquid (unless they are deemed dishwasher safe by the manufacturer). Use a scouring pad on noncoated grates and a soft sponge on coated ones. For electric burners, wipe off debris with a damp sponge. If residue remains, run the exhaust fan, turn the burners on high, and let the food burn off.

OVEN: Soak racks in warm, soapy water for several hours. Scrub with a scouring pad, then rinse.

Deep-clean the oven every few months or if it smokes when in use. If you have a self-cleaning unit, remove the racks, and switch to clean mode. Once the cycle is complete, wipe away residue with a damp cloth. For all other ovens, make a paste using 3/4 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of salt, and 1/4 cup of water, and spread it throughout the interior (avoid bare metal, and clog any openings with foil first); leave overnight. Remove with a plastic spatula, and wipe clean.

VENT HOOD: Wipe the hood's exterior with hot, soapy water and a soft cloth once a week; rinse with a second hot, damp cloth.

Remove filters once a month, and soak them in a solution of hot water and dishwashing liquid. Brush them gently with a plastic scrub brush. Rinse and dry well before replacing.

REFRIGERATOR: Empty the unit every few months, and clean the interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart water. Wipe with a damp cloth, and dry with a clean towel. Remove shelves and drawers, and wash them in the sink. To avoid cracks and breaks, bring shelves to room temperature before replacing.

Clean condenser coils, commonly found at the back or front bottom of the unit, at least twice a year for maximum efficiency. Unplug the refrigerator first, then use a long-handled brush or the crevice attachment of your vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt.

Surfaces
CABINETS: Prevent grease from building up by cleaning cabinets weekly with a sponge and soapy water. (For wooden surfaces, use a product specifically designed for natural materials.) Wipe with a damp sponge, and dry with a clean, absorbent cloth to stop streaks.

FAUCETS AND SINKS: Clean crevices around the faucet with a soft toothbrush. Buff water spots with a soft, dry cloth. For mineral deposits, mix equal parts white vinegar and water; apply with a soft cloth, rinse, and dry.

Deodorize drains twice a year by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar; plug drain tightly. Let the mixture sit for five minutes, then flush with boiling water.

FLOORS: Sweep every night to prevent dust buildup and remove tracked-in grit, which can scratch floors.

Small appliances and more
KNIVES: Wash and dry knives by hand; a dishwasher can warp and dull their blades. Also avoid soaking knives, as this can cause wooden handles to shrink.

KETTLE: Dissolve mineral deposits in your kettle every few months by boiling equal parts water and white vinegar. Remove kettle from heat, and let it sit for several hours before rinsing.

COFFEE AND SPICE GRINDER: Run white bread or uncooked rice through the grinder to pick up remaining particles and the oils they leave behind.
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All Thanks To Shopping Malls

Beware of Sales!!

Trips to shopping malls are always exciting. What follows is something different from what we are usually expecting. It brings a series of both, positive and negative aftermaths. Frustration.. for the stuffs you want to buy, but you can't, for some reason. Maybe cost cutting or maybe you already have something similar to it. You have to force yourself to leave behind "But oh!! it's sooooo pwetty! i don't wanna let it go!"
This frustration is then followed by ideas, how you can substitute that particular thing. Sometimes it works, some times you make it work, for you still can't BUY it. Then follows encouragement. You encourage yourself to supplement family's income in some way. All thanks to "that stuff" which keeps bringing in inspiration to keep going. You then sign up on google adsense. Or start selling the graphics you made in PSP or Photoshop lately. Or anything similar to it. I'll give you a small example...
Last week i got an oil diffuser. Exactly the types i was looking for. We went to the Mall last night to buy a Breakfast Table.. the ones you can keep on bed too. We bought it for using laptop though. There i came across better diffusers and OMG! So many pretty candles and incense sticks! Candles are my weakness i must mention here. I don't know why i am so obsessed with candles. Ok back to the topic. I knew i can't buy them. Rather i knew i should not buy them. Come on! i just bought one. That night, i dreamed what all i saw there. And thats how these trips actually come to an end. With a whole new dream.

Some Time Saving Kitchen Tips

I simply can't have enough of tips. It's one of my favorite tags for googling. I keep surfing for them until i drop! Often i come across some really funny tips, but i wont be wasting time in mentioning those here. I sure will make another post only for those kind of hilarious stuffs. Right now, back to business. Here are some handy time saving tips that i follow:

Freeze left-over coffee in cubes. When you want a cup of coffee, heat a few cubes in a cup in the microwave. Especially like to do this with flavored coffees.
To chop onions the easy way, start by cutting off the stem end,then peel the skin back to the root, KEEPING THE SKIN ATTACHED. Holding the skin to steady the onion, cut in half nearly to the root end, then at right angles to the first cut, 3 or 4 more cuts nearly to the root end. Next, still holding the root end by the skin, slice finely across the onion from the stem end, the result will be nicely chopped onion. And it takes longer to explain than to do it!
I keep a dry mix of 1 part cornstarch and 2 parts flour in a container to use for making gravy. Just scoop out amount needed and mix with cold water. Also,I make my gravy in the microwave,I boil off my drippings from the pan and put it in a 2 cup or 4 cup measure and make in microwave stirring several times.
Rub a cut white potato over your hands to rid your hands of onion odor.

Keep a slice of apple with potatoes to keep them from budding.

I keep several recipe cards in my recipe box titled with my favorite cooking magazines or cookbooks. Each card headed w/catagories : desserts, soups, main courses, etc. I write the recipe name, magazine name, date of magazine & page number. It saves so much time when searching for recipes.
Don't toss out those small empty creamers and milkers after you've added the contents to your coffee or tea! Wash them out and keep them to use as moulds for your next batch of homemade chocolates. With a little squeeze on the bottom of the creamer, your chocolate creation will pop right out!
Freeze ground meat in 1 pound portions and place into freezer storage bags. Flatten out to the edges of the bag and remove all the air before zipping and sealing, then freezing. These flat bags of ground meats stack neatly laid flat or standing on edge in the freezer. If you want a smaller amount it’s easy just to break it off then reseal the bag. The meats also thaw quicker when stored this way
I use soda bicarb to clean my coffee cup and coffee pot. Just wet the item to be cleaned and pour in some soda bicarb. Clean by rubbing with a wet dish rag or damp paper towel. Some even use Salt for the same. Salt is cheaper than sugar as someone suggested and does a great job. Just be sure to rinse well after cleaning.

Some tips are from here, others are my own.

30 Thirty-Second Chores (part III)

Throw away empty cleaning containers.

Wherever you keep your cleaning supplies, you're bound to have a few that should be tossed. Make more space for the things you really use by throwing out old or empty cleaning bottles.

Go through prescription medication.

Throw away expired and unused prescriptions. Not only will you help free up space for other items, but you'll also reduce the risk of poision or accidental indigestion.

Prevent or help drain clogs with baking soda, vinegar, and hot water.

Baking soda and vinegar can be a great help to freshen and unclog drains. It only takes a moment to prevent major headaches.

Shake out your entry and exit floor mats.

It's best to have two door mats for each entrance of your house.One mat should be placed inside while the one with the bulk of the work to do goes outside. Remember to regularly shake out and clean these rugs to prevent dirt and debris from ending up in your home.

Toss trash and clutter from one small area.

Try cleaning out your junk drawer. Taking a few moments to clean trash and clutter out of one small area will give you motivation to accomplish even more challenging projects.

Dust down a ceiling fan.

Grab a duster and wipe off the blades of a ceiling fan. You'll prevent dust from building up, and keep the fan in good condition for use.

Wipe down the blinds.

You can use a used dryer sheet or microfiber dust cloth. Wipe accross the blinds to keep them dust free.

File today's mail.

We can get overwhelmed with the amount of mail we receive, but after you toss out the junk, take a moment to put away mail that needs to be kept.

Vacuum tops of doors and windowsills.

Take a half a minute to vacuum a windowsill or the top of a door. Dust often collects in these areas, but may go unnoticed during routine cleaning.

Make a plan.

If you have time for nothing else, take a few seconds to write out a plan of things that need to be done. When you find yourself with a few more moments to spare, you'll be ready to go.

Chores 1-10
Chores 11-20
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30 Thirty-Second Chores (part II)

Toss junk mail, catalogs, or magazines.

If stacks and piles of papers, magazines, and catalogs litter your home, try taking a few moments to throw out some junk paper.

Treat a stain.

It only takes a few moments to remove many common stains.

Dust or water plants.

Keep plants healthy by remembering to dust and water plants regularly.

Wipe down a countertop.

The newest disinfectant wipes make it easy to quickly wipe down a countertop to prevent germs from spreading or food from sticking to your surfaces.

Wipe down the forgotten areas.

Wipe down door knobs, handles, switch plates, remote controls, and telephones.

These often used items rarely get remembered when its time to clean. Take a few moments to quickly wipe them down.

Clean out the fridge.

Thirty seconds may not be time enough to do a thorough cleaning, but it is enough time to pour out the expired milk hidden at the back, or throw away the mysterious foil-wrapped package lurking in the deli drawer.

Replace the box of baking soda in your fridge or freezer.

Using baking soda in refrigerator is a great way to reduce odors, but the box of baking soda does need to be changed.

Clean the lint filter of your dryer.

Lint not only keeps your dryer from running efficiently, it can also pose a fire hazard. Take a few moments and double check your dryer's lint trap.

Sweep the entryways of your home.

Most of the dirt that ends up on our carpets and floors, gets tracked into our homes by unsuspecting guests. Sweeping the entryways helps keep more of it outside.

Clean out the cupholders and cubby holes of your car.

Don't forget to maintain the interior of your home on wheels. Clean out the hidden places where trash gets stowed.

Chores 21-30

Chores 1-10

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30 Thirty-Second Chores

Even if you only have a half a minute to spare, you can accomplish these important chores. With a busy, overscheduled life we seldom have extra time to take care of anything. These quick chores will only take part of a moment of your time.

Empty the trash in the bathroom.

The small trash cans in our homes can sometimes be overlooked until they are overflowing. Make this chore easier and more quickly accomplished by storing extra liners in the bottom of the trash can. It will only take a moment to wrap up the used liner and open up the new one.

Dust the TV screen.

The television screen seems to always need a good dusting. Try a used dryer sheet to help keep dust from resettling.

Change the vacuum cleaner bag or empty the dirt bin.

Whether your vacuum cleaner is a bagless or bagged a vacuum full of dirt puts more wear and tear on your machine. Take a moment and double check your bag or bin.

Clean a mirror.

Try using vinegar and newspaper to clean your mirror. The vinegar will help the mirror dry streak free. Newspaper will leave less fuzzy residue than paper towels.

Wipe down an appliance.

Take a moment and wipe down the outside of your dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, washing machine, or dryer. Don't forget about the outward appearance of the machines you depend on. Wipe up spots and spills quickly, and your appliances will only need an occasional thorough wipe down.

Change the towels in a bathroom or in the kitchen.

Prevent cross-contamination of germs and bacteria by frequently changing hand towels and kitchen towels.

Test your smoke alarm.

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced at least annually. Try testing the battery on the same day of the month to help you remember. Similarly you might replace the batteries yearly on a memorable date. Many people replace batteries when they change their clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

Dust air vents.

The vents and wall around the vents attracts dust. Take a few moments to wipe down the vents in a room or two.

Change the battery in a clock.

It may seem like a little thing, until you need to know the time.

Sprinkle baking soda into your trash can.

Occasionally sprinkling baking soda in your garbage will help prevent trash odors from overtaking your home.

Chores 11-20
Chores 21-30
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