Cleaning Dishes Quickly:
Before you start cooking, fill a sink with hot soapy water so that dishes can be dumped in and wiped off as they are used. To prevent stacked up sinks, load the dishwasher as dishes become dirty.
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Video: How To Load a Dishwasher
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Countertops:
Pretreat sticky areas of your countertop with a quick spray of all purpose cleaner. Or lay a warm, wet cleaning cloth on top of the sticky area for 1-2 minutes. The mess should wipe away without having to be scrubbed.
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Cleaning a Dishwasher:
Run your dishwasher empty with some vinegar and baking soda to clean out and freshen the inside. Be sure to pull out any food traps and clean them out.
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Cleaning a Refrigerator:
Wait to clean the refrigerator until the day before you go grocery shopping. The refrigerator will be almost empty, making it easy to spot out of date items, and wash down shelves. Line the bottom of your produce drawers with paper towels to absorb water and protect the bottom of the drawers from dirt. Store a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to remove odors for up to six months.
More Refrigerator Cleaning Help
Clean a Refrigerator
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Burned Food on Pots and Pans:
If your pots and pans have burned on food, don't bother wasting your time scrubbing them. For pots, fill with water and bring to a boil on the stove top. The hot water and boiling will help loosen stuck on food. Allow to cool thoroughly, and wipe away the grime. For casserole dishes and other pans, try leaving a dryer sheet in the pan to soak overnight. When you wake up in the morning the food will be loosened.
More Pots and Pans Resources
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Declutter the Kitchen:
Getting rid of clutter in the kitchen goes a long way to helping make the kitchen quick to clean. How many spatulas do we really need? When was the last time you used your bread maker, steamer, panini press? Keep items you use daily at eye level storage. Items that are used weekly go a little higher or lower. Items that are used monthly go at the bottom or the top. Items used less frequently can be stored away from the kitchen.
More Clutter Help
5 Clutter Questions
Mopping Tips:
A daily quick mop or even just wiping up spills and sticky spots daily will make your more intense monthly mopping a breeze. All-in-one mops make a great daily mopping tool. Pay special attention to food preparation and eating areas.
More Mopping Help
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Sponges, Brushes, and Cloths:
Make sure to rinse out your dish brushes and cloths thoroughly. Wring them out all the way to prevent them from becoming sour. Sponges can be great tools for cleaning the kitchen, but they can also harbor a lot of bacteria. Keep your sponge sanitary by keeping it wrung out and dry when not in use. You can sanitize your sponge by giving it a quick zap in the microwave, or running it through the dishwasher on the top rack. Don't be afraid to toss an old sponge, though. They may only last a few weeks to a month. Throw out right away if the sponge starts to discolor or develops an odor.
Use Baking Soda on Almost Everything:
Baking soda has a ton of uses in your kitchen. As a mild abrasive it can help clean sinks, countertops, and appliances. It helps remove odors from appliances, dishes, and drains. Dry baking soda can help absorb oil and other stains on countertops.
More Baking Soda Help
Baking Soda Uses
Trash Bags:
To keep the trash from smelling up the room, sprinkle baking soda into the trash can to help absorb smelly odors until the bag is full. Save yourself some time searching for extra bags, by storing a few bags in the bottom of the trash can. When you pull out the old bag, a new bag will be ready and waiting.
