31 Brilliant Kitchen Cleaning Hacks You'll Regret Not Knowing

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A highly notable aspect of the kitchen is hygiene. After an entire day’s cooking with spices, flavors, and aromas, we tend to forget how unclean our kitchen becomes with the preparation of a single dish. Imagine preparing a 5-course meal for lunch. Your kitchen is bound to get unhygienic and overlaid with stains and these stains are not simple to remove.

Cleaning a kitchen is not just cleaning the counters or doing dishes—you need to clean all kitchen appliances, cabinets, floors, etc. at least twice a month. Now you might think cleaning your kitchen is an extremely boring task but it’s necessary. And there are always shortcuts that make kitchen cleaning easy.

So here’s a kitchen cleaning guide using shortcuts to make the dreaded task of kitchen cleaning easier.

Outline

31 Brilliant Kitchen Cleaning Hacks

1. Blender

There are a lot of methods to clean a blender, but the fastest and easiest one is to fill it half with warm tap water and then add a few drops of dish wash. Then whirl it for some time and rinse it with cold tap water.

If your blender still looks dull, add a few drops of lemon and repeat the process. This method is sure to fix your blender.

2. Toaster

To clean your toaster, you should first clean the bread crumbs from the inside followed by cleaning the outer area.

It is a bit difficult to clean bread crumbs in the toaster if you have not cleaned it in a long time. Remove the crumb tray from the bottom of the toaster and clean it thoroughly using both wet and dry cloths.

Use a toothbrush to clean the wires beneath the crumb tray.

Now mix one part vinegar with two parts of water, dip a cloth in it and, wipe the exterior with it to get your toaster clean inside out.

3. Coffee Maker

Has your morning coffee started to taste different? are there stains on your water reservoir? If yes then it’s an indication that it requires cleaning. This is the easiest method to clean your coffee maker.

Make a mixture of water and vinegar in equal parts and fill the water reserve with it and start your machine. This method cleans your device in places where you cannot reach and removes stains.

Start your coffee maker. When the cycle is over pour hot water and run it till you are sure that there is no vinegar left. Wash the basket thoroughly with liquid soap, use a toothbrush (if necessary) to remove coffee residue.

Make yourself a cup to check the taste and, if the problem persists repeat the process or try one of these genius coffee maker cleaning tips.

4. Kitchen Cabinets

In my kitchen, there is no place for dirt. I make sure all cabinets are spotless by using this method which was suggested by a friend.

Concoct a mixture of 2 parts of coconut oil and 3 parts of baking soda. Apply this thick paste to the cabinets. You can apply it with a cloth or a sponge but, I like to apply it using rubber gloves and for the corners, you can use a brush.

Use a damp towel to remove the mixture and dry the surface with a dry paper napkin. This works best for wooden cabinets.

5. Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner

Use baking soda to get rid of tough stains, hard water deposits, grease, and food particles on your stainless steel sink.

Make the baking soda and water mixture we mentioned above and apply it directly to the steel and leave it for five minutes. For some extra shine, rub olive oil on it after cleaning.

For routine cleaning, you should rinse the steel with hot water every day to make your sink ready for the next use.

Tip: Do not use a steel brush or steel wool to clean because it can damage the texture.

6. Dishwasher

Imagine cleaning your dirty dishes in an appliance that itself is dirty.

Unclean dishwashers are very unhygienic and it looks very time-consuming to clean them, but with this trick can clean your dishwasher without using much time and effort.

Remove the bottom rack and clean the gunk and food particles from the drainage. Fill a dishwasher-safe cup with white vinegar and place it on the upper rack and run the dishwasher with hot water to sterilize.

Sprinkle half a cup of baking soda on the lower rack and run it for a short cycle to remove all the stains from the inside. In a matter of 10 minutes, you are done.

7. Electric Kettle

If you live in a hostel, an electric kettle can prove to be a lifesaver. You can easily make coffee, tea, make cup noodles, among other things using it. So you need to make sure that you always keep it clean.

Prepare a blend of 2 cups of lime and 3 cups of water. Boil it for 20 minutes and empty it. Let it cool and pour a small amount of soda on a soft cloth and wipe it. Rinse the kettle with warm water 6 to 7 times before using it again.

8. Floors

To clean the floors, all you need to do is, make a solution of one cup vinegar with tablespoons of dishwashing soap, paired with 1 cup washing soda, and 3 gallons of water.

Use a mop to mix the solution, and start mopping your floor with it. When I used this technique, I thought it will leave a residue, but it did not, my kitchen floor looked clean and, grease-free.

Tip: Do not use this technique for waxed floors.

9. Deep Clean Your Stove Burner

Wash with warm water and dishwashing detergent to remove the film of dirt. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water apply it all over the stove, keep it for 20 to 30 minutes and then scrub it with a brush and rinse it with cold water thoroughly.

For routine maintenance, apply vinegar and keep it for 20 minutes before wiping it with a lint-free cloth. This method does not let the grease settle. Use this method after deep cleaning your stove burner with the first method.

10. Microwave

Lemon has great cleaning properties and it’s all you need to clean your microwave.

Take a bowl to fill it half with tap water, cut the lemon in half, and squeeze the juice in the water, and leave the half lemon in the water.

Place the bowl in the microwave on high power for up to 4 mins. Do not open the microwave door, let the bowl stay inside for 5 to 10 mins. The lemon loosens the stains and junk from the microwave.

Take the bowl outside carefully and use a soft cloth to clean the stains from the inside of your microwave. Start rubbing from the top then sides, and then the bottom if you have, but do not forget the door.

If the stains are still not coming off, just dip the cloth in the lemon water solution and rub it on the stain.

11. Cutting Board

To get rid of germs and odors from your cutting board, using vinegar is a good option.

Vinegar can not only disinfect the board, but it also can prevent sickness as it has acetic acid.

Take a clean rag, dip it in vinegar and rub it on the board. Rinse the board thoroughly with lukewarm water, and you’ll see the stains and odors vanishing.

If any stain is still left, put vinegar directly on the stains and then rub it with a clean rag.

Related: 24 Vinegar Cleaning Hacks

12. Trash Can

Wear your rubber gloves to protect your hands from getting dirty, empty the trash can, and remove all large pieces or particles of food stuck inside.

If you have access to a hose, take the can outside and clean it or you can do this in your bathtub too. Use a paper towel to pat dry it.

Spray a disinfectant on both sides of the lid and use a long-handled nylon bristle brush to scrub it. Allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse it thoroughly. Set it out to dry.

13. Sanitize Sponge

Place the water-saturated sponge in the microwave for 3 minutes at full power. Be careful while removing the sponge from the microwave because it can be hot and do not use it immediately.

Tip: Do not microwave sponges and brushes that have any kind of metal.

14. Clogged Drain

Gunk builds up near your sink and, this makes the drains stink. It’s best to avoid using chemical cleaners because they can be harmful to the pipes as well as your health, instead use a natural drain cleaner.

RELATED: 15 Surprising Uses for Ketchup

Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda down the drain and 2 cups of vinegar. Let the solution sit for a while and then pour warm water down the drain to clean it. So easy, isn’t it?

15. Cleaning Dirty Baking Sheets

It’s difficult to clean a dirty baking sheet, especially if it has built-up grease and food particles.

This method takes time, but it works wonders. Make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and then apply it on the top of the baking sheet, and let it sit for 4 to 5 hours. Wipe the mixture away with a clean towel and water.

If the stains still won’t come off, apply the mixture, and scrub the area.

16. Dissolve Hard Water Stains

The acidic property of lemon is well-known for fighting hard water build-up. Squeeze a few lemons in a spray bottle. If you want, you can dilute the solution by adding 1 part of water.

Spray the solution on the marks and let it stay for 15 minutes and then rinse it with cold water. Dry the area with a cotton cloth.

With this simple trick, you can get rid of hard water stains from your kitchen sink or fridge.

17. Removing Coffee Stains from Your Mug

Do you like having coffee? If yes, then you might have noticed the coffee stains on your frequently used coffee mugs.

Sometimes the coffee stains are so stubborn that just a wash in a dishwasher is not enough to make it clean.

To remove these stubborn stains, you need hot water, white vinegar, and a scrub. Fill the mug ¼ with white vinegar and the rest with water, mix it and, let it stay for 15 mins.

Drain out the vinegar-water solution, and then scrub it with a soft scrub and let it dry.

18. Bottle Cleaner

The bottles with different shapes and smaller rims can be difficult to clean, but with this trick, you can clean them just right.

Fill the bottle half with water and add a few drops of a dishwasher and a little uncooked rice. Put on the lid and shake it vigorously. The uncooked rice is hard enough to reach in the corners and scrub out any residue inside the bottle.

19. Glass Baking Dish Cleaner

I love baking cakes and cookies, but the cleaning part is tough. But not that much, as the word means.

If you are cleaning your dishes after a long time, you should know that glass is delicate, and if you use something hard to clean, you might damage it.

To clean your dish carefully, take a tub, and fill it with hot water. Add half a cup of baking soda and add a few drops of dish soap and leave it for 20 mins.

The stains will come off quickly. Use a soft sponge to scrub the dish and rinse it.

20. Fix Burnt Pans

I use cream of tartar to clean my burnt pans. It acts as a scrubbing agent and makes the metal shine like new.

Take a bowl to add 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to one part of water and place it in the burnt pan and bring it to a boil. Let the water cool down and then scrub the pan.

Tip: you can use baking soda if the cream of tartar is not available.

21. Unclog Your Cheese Grater

Personally speaking, cheese is life. But it’s always a pain to clean the grater after grating cheese.

To clean the grater, take a brush and scrub the blades a few times and then rinse it. Cleaning a grater is easy if you do it as soon as the cheese sticks in.

22. Cleaning Greasy Stove Filter

If it has been a while since you last looked underneath the hood of your stove, I must warn you that it may not be pleasant.

You should clean stove vents once a month, because they may get blocked and become useless.

Fill a bucket with hot water. Remove the filters and place them in the bucket, put 4 tablespoons of soap and half a cup of baking soda in the bucket.

Let it soak for 15 mins. After soaking, take a scrubber and scrub the filter.

23. The Method to Shine Your Faucets

This is a very easy method to fight rust and clean your faucet. Take a Ziploc bag, fill half of it with vinegar and the other half with soda.

Place the Ziploc bag over the faucet.

Tie a rubber band on the open end. Let the faucet stay immersed in the vinegar-soda solution overnight.

Then you can remove it, scrub the rust with a toothbrush, and rinse in clean water to get the shine back.

24. Remove Nasty Odors from Your Fridge

Coffee grounds can absorb food odors from your refrigerator and freezer.

Just take an open container, fill it with old coffee grounds, place it on the top shelf of your fridge, and after 24 hrs, you will not open your fridge door to those nasty food odors.

A small container can absorb the smell for up to 2 to 3 weeks. You can use old coffee grounds as fertilizers too.

25. Cleaning Your Oven Glass

By now I think you know that baking soda can remove almost any stain in the kitchen (You must check out these baking soda cleaning hacks). Even your oven glass can be cleaned easily with baking soda.

Add 4 parts baking soda and 2 parts water, mix it until the baking soda dissolves. Apply the mixture to the glass of the oven door. Use a soft sponge to scrub off the junk after letting the mixture stay for an hour.

26. Clean the Griller

After grilling meat, the oily residue is tough to clean with just water.

The griller should be cleaned using citrus. Take a lemon, cut it into half, and rub it on the grates to make it grease-free.

27. Clean between Countertops

When we are cleaning countertops, most of us ignore the countertop gap as it’s difficult to reach between countertops and remove dust.

I use this method every time I clean countertops, as it is easy—take a wet cloth, wrap it around a butter knife, put a mild cleaning solution into the cavity, and scrub the dirt.

28. Shine Glasses

After some time, you can see water streaks on your glasses. Mineral buildup on glass is tough to get rid of in a dishwasher.

This technique was taught to me by my mother, and I love it because it works like magic.

You can get sparkling glasses by rubbing them with a soft lint-free cloth dipped in vinegar. Let it stay for a while, rinse it thoroughly to get rid of the taste and smell of vinegar.

29. Sanitize Kitchen Towels

Kitchen towels are used around the kitchen to clean hands, counters, etc. Because of this, they start stinking very soon.

But with this method, you can easily de-stink the towels. Put the clothes in a washing machine. Add a cup of baking soda and white vinegar to the cloths.

Start the washing machine, pause the cycle when you see that the solution is clear. Let the clothes soak for an hour.

Now, dry and use them. This is an easy way to get the stench out of clothes.

Related: How to Clean Microfiber Cloth

30. Remove Tarnish from Your Silver Cutlery

Removing tarnish from your silver cutlery is tough, but with this technique, it becomes simple.

Set your silver cutlery in silver foil, fill the dish with warm water, add half a cup baking soda and a tablespoon of salt. When you mix all the ingredients, a chemical reaction occurs which will start removing tarnish from silver.

Soak your cutlery for an hour to get the shine back. Then rinse it thoroughly and wipe it with a paper towel.

31. Freshen Up Your Garbage Disposal

Smelly garbage disposals are something that everyone hates, that’s why I recommend using this technique once every two weeks so that it remains fresh.

To freshen up your garbage disposal, all you need are a few lemons. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the opening of the garbage disposal and let it stay for a while. It will help loosen anything that is caked on the disposal blades.

After some time, run water in the sink, and the lemon juice will flow into the disposer opening. Turn the disposer on and drop lemon peels inside. The juice and the peels will clean and freshen the garbage disposer.

Now we hope that you can continue keeping your kitchen nice and clean using this Complete Kitchen Cleaning Guide. If you found the post useful, then don’t forget to share it!

31 Brilliant Kitchen Cleaning Hacks You’ll Regret Not Knowing