Who has the time to scrub and clean all day? If you are like so many of us busy moms, then you didn’t raise your hand. Cleaning your kitchen should be fast and easy, giving you time for other things…like enjoying your family. Granted, there will be times when you will have to give your kitchen a good scrubbing and deep cleaning to get it sparkling clean, but in general, once that initial deep cleaning is done, your future cleaning should be maintenance only.

 

Kitchens are often the hub of a home and one of the busiest rooms in a house. It’s no wonder that it can also be one of the messiest rooms in the house, too. However, ridding your kitchen of grease spills and grime is as easy as following a few of the simple tips and technique listed below.

 

1. To start, you will need the following cleaning materials: buckets or other containers, brushes, rubber gloves, and cleansers.
2. Create your own kitchen cleaner and kitchen brighteners to clean up grease, grime, baked on stains and spills and to brighten countertops and back splashes.
3. Use straight vinegar for shiny countertops daily. For a nice, fresh smell, try cider vinegar.
4. Apply a baking soda and water paste to remove stains from laminate countertops. Apply, allow to dry, then rub off and rinse.
5. With a paste of one part bleach and 3 parts baking soda, you can easily tackle tough stains.
6. Use a tile and grout cleaner and a toothbrush to remove dirt and mildew from tile grout.
7. Help your white appliances or enamel sinks that are starting to yellow with a little kitchen brightener.
8. Remove skid marks on linoleum floors with a spot of toothpaste just before mopping the floors
9. Remove hard water build-up in a teapot by pouring in 2 cups of vinegar and then bringing it to a boil. Let the vinegar simmer for 10 minutes and rinse the teapot thoroughly.
10. Use olive oil to clean stainless steel kitchen sinks.

 

 

 

Looking for more useful household cleaning and organizing tips? Visit http://www.nowthatsorganized.com to get your FREE “50 Solutions for Organizing Your World” idea-pak.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2008 Kyna Woollery—Now that’s Organized, LLC™

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Kitchen Cleaner

Materials:

5 drops peppermint oil or any other essential oil fragrance

¼ cup vinegar

1 squirt dish washing liquid

Water

32 oz. spray bottle

 

1.      Add oil, vinegar, and dish soap to bottle, then fill rest of the bottle with water

2.      Shake well before each use. Spray cleaner on countertops and appliances, and then wipe off with damp cloth or sponge.

3.      Be sure to keep cleaner clearly labeled and out of reach of children and pets.

 

 

All Surface Kitchen Cleaner

Materials:

1 tsp borax

½ tsp baking soda

2 tsp vinegar

1 squirt of dish washing liquid

2 cups hot water

5 drops of peppermint oil or other essential oil fragrance

32 oz spray bottle

 

1.      Mix ingredients in spray bottle.

2.      Shake well before each use.

3.      Be sure to keep cleaner clearly labeled and out of reach of children and pets.

 

Use on virtually any surface. This cleaner is especially good for cleaning stovetops and ovens. For caked on stains, spray on mixture and let sit for 15 minutes. It can be sprayed and left in oven overnight.

 

Additional Uses: Bathroom counters

 

Grease Remover (Degreaser)

Materials:

3 cups baking soda

2 cups white vinegar

1 cup ammonia

1 gallon hot water

Bucket

 

Mix in bucket or other container and apply to surfaces as needed.

 

 

Kitchen Brightener

Materials:

¼ cup baking soda

½ cup bleach

1 quart warm water

Bucket

 

Mix in bucket or other container and apply to surfaces as needed.

This brightener is especially good for white appliances and enamel sinks that are yellowing.

 

Tile & Grout Cleaner

Materials:

½ cup vinegar

1 cup clear ammonia

¼ cup baking soda

1 gallon warm water

Bucket

 

Mix in bucket. Use cleaning mixture with an old toothbrush to clean tile and grout.