If you don’t use your kitchen it will always be clean! But that would be a museum not a workshop. Most of us would not want to live that way. So the next best thing is to clean as you live in it. Don’t let it slide till later. Clean it now. When that is impossible. Plug away with a routine and put a little extra effort in when you have time to catch up on the tasks you have before you in this important heart of your home

Big Appliances

The sparkling sink,stove,dishwasher and refrigerator are possible if you clean them as you use the kitchen. It’s a good idea to look over your kitchen before you go to bed for the night. Clear away anything you have accumulated in the room during the course of the evening.Stray cups and spills wiped up now will not sit there and dry in place overnight. Again in the

morning wash up the strays that may have appeared since the last time you checked. Fill your sink with hot soapy water and as you make breakfast wash the surfaces.

Floor

The floor can be swept or vacuumed daily and kept pretty and neat. Once a week deepclean the Read the rest of this entry

Before you go out and purchase the latest Oxy-boosted-stain-fighting-mir acle-kitchen-cleaner, look around your house. If you have Hydrogen peroxide and a few cooking ingredients, don’t throw your money away. It has been shown that peroxide can take almost any stain out of clothing and now it is the best solution for cleaning almost anything in your kitchen.

HARD SURFACE STAINS

Mix a paste of peroxide and baking soda (1:1). Apply to stain, let set for 10 minutes and wipe clean. For set in stains, gently scrub with a toothbrush or scrubbing pad, and wipe clean. To avoid scratching (especially on ceramic tile), apply paste and let sit for 10minutes, wipe clean with muslin cloth.

RUST SPOTS

Any surface in your kitchen that accumulates rust can be clean with the above paste mixture. Simply apply directly to the rusted surface, allow to stand for at least 20 minutes and scrub clean.

MOLD AND MILDEW

To clean mildew from flat surfaces, saturate with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice (1:1). Allow to set for at least 5 minutes and wipe clean, or rinse with water.

Mold or Mildew on vertical surfaces require a paste solution of peroxide, baking soda and salt (2:1:1). Apply to surface, scrub with grout brush or toothbrush, and rinse clean.

DISH WASHING

Adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of peroxide to your dishwater will get your dishes cleaner and done faster. After dish washing, soak rags and sponges in Read the rest of this entry

Clutter can be the downfall of any well-run house. Not only is it overwhelming to the mind, but clutter can give the impression of “dirty” to even the cleanest home. It is also a big time-killer. In the United States, each person loses approximately untold hours simply trying to find things. I’ve found a somewhat complex way of organizing my house. I will not share that lengthy process here today. I’m simply going to share a few tips for removing clutter from a kitchen.

1. Knick-knacks are great! But they’re only great in moderation. If you find that they collect dust faster than you can clean them; or that you have no room on your counters for the completion of normal kitchen tasks, then they need to go. I suggest a garage sale or joining your local Free-Cycle group as a way of sharing you wealth and removing clutter from your kitchen.

2. Plants are great! However if the vines from your spider plant are dropping their sprouts and dirt all over the counters or you can’t see through the window, trim them up or move some to another part of the house.

3. Utensils are great (and necessary)! One container sitting next to the cooking area is perfect. Or perhaps hang your utensils above your stove. Utensils thrown together in various drawers or even one over-crowded drawer is a time-waster.

4. Streamline, streamline, streamline! I can’t stress this enough. As a former waitress, cook and currently the owner of a Read the rest of this entry

Looking to buy one or two quality kitchen cutlery sets? Then you’re taking the right first step – research! Knives come in all shapes, sizes and materials and are used for different purposes, which is why you need a set, and not just a single knife.

The following are the knives you’ll need:

Chef’s Knife

The Chef’s, or Cook’s, Knife is used for tough tasks like chopping and dicing when preparing food. It ranges between 6 and 12 inches in length. You’ll find that the blade is curved, which will help you perform tasks on the cutting board. Consider this knife as your “mule” in that it does the difficult jobs. But, unfortunately for the Chef’s knife, it is best known as the knife that Michael Myers used in the movie Halloween.

The Bread Knife

I’m sure you already know the Bread Knife’s life purpose in any of the good kitchen cutlery sets. Correct! To slice bread. It’s 8 inches long.

The Paring Knife

The Paring Knife, while small in stature, is big in use as it’s the favorite for peeling, coring and other exact work. It averages 3 inches in length.

The Utility Knife

At around 6 inches, on average, in length, the Utility Knife is somewhat of the kitchen cutlery sets’ “step child”. It has no specialty but is often used for random tasks.

The Steak Knife

The Steak Knife is Read the rest of this entry

With “green” being the new in and almost everyone needing to find ways to save a buck or two here and there, distilled white vinegar could be the answer. This is a common thing to have in the kitchen and it is also a great way to clean the kitchen and other parts of the house. This simple ingredient is inexpensive and a mild acid that has great abilities to remove residues, kill bacteria, and aid in having a sparkling clean kitchen.

Basic Cleaner.

For a basic cleaner that can be used anywhere in the house mix 1 part water and 1 part vinegar. You can make it smell better by adding a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil (make sure you only add a couple of drops so as not to leave any oil behind) or a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice (another great acid to clean with). This will give you a fresh and enjoyable scent to go with your clean kitchen.

You can put your basic cleaner in a spray bottle and use it to clean the cupboards, counters, and sink. It not only will leave your kitchen sparkling it is a natural way to kill bacteria (without harsh chemicals, poisonous bleach, or other dangerous materials).

Floor Cleaner.

You can also clean the floor this way. For touch ups use your spray bottle and spray the floor. Wipe up with a cloth, sponge, or clean mop. If this isn’t enough (and it won’t always be) then add a couple Read the rest of this entry

Hard to believe, but it is a fact that there are less germs on a toilet seat than on you’re kitchen counter or in you’re sink.

Food preparation on a contaminated counter will account for many of the stomach disorders many seem to have when food is prepared in a kitchen that is not sanitary.

I’ve seen homemakers quarter a chicken and just use the dish rag to wipe the counter down with nothing more than plain water. Anything that is prepared on any surface will leave bacteria building residue behind that can be transferred to the faucet handles, cabinets and anything else that would be touched after preparing the uncooked food.

Left unclean properly, the bacteria build up rapidly, and we all have entered a home at one time or another whereas the kitchen has that must pungent odor. Well, this is just asking for trouble, and the simple solution for preventing intestinal disorders is to maintain all surfaces or areas that come in contact with any food residue that has been prepared by using a mild solution of bleach added to water.

The bleach quickly sanitizes almost any surface, and is a good way to keep faucet handles free of germs as well as the cabinet handles etc. If you don’t like the smell of bleach there are the types of bleach that have a nice fragrance that will work just as well. Alcohol is another good method for keeping the bacteria count down to a minimum.

You wouldn’t think of being Read the rest of this entry

A clean kitchen makes for a happy cook if you ask me. Not only will it make for more orderly preparations but it will also make for a more sanitary environment. That is a major necessity when cooking for family, friends and even your solo self. The amount of germs in a kitchen is outstandingly high, with left over spills from past meals and crumbs from fallen leftovers allowing for a general breeding ground for bacteria.

Quickly a messy kitchen can turn into an overwhelming monstrosity if you do not allow for general upkeep along the way, and especially if you just let the mess sit for a later date. So store in your mind a few simple rule sets and you’ll save plenty of time.

1.) ORGANIZE YOUR CUPBOARDS: A lot of mess comes from the simple task of procuring pots and pans. While attempting to find the elusive potato masher or while pulling out the cumbersome crock pot you store in the back corner you inevitably cause a pile up of things on the kitchen counters. Firstly, if you know where everything is you will have an easier time, and secondly if you minimize your artillery of cookware your sink will stay surprisingly low on grime. Less dishes equals less washing. The pots and pans you use the most should be stored in the very front, in prime cupboard space, while the pans and utensils used far less and usually only on special occasions should be tucked away out of Read the rest of this entry

Keeping your kitchen clean is not only wise for health purposes, but it also will make it much more pleasant to cook and eat in.

I suggest cleaning up immediately after each meal. This way, the kitchen will not get so messy that it is over-whelming. If you get into the habit of cleaning up as soon as you make a mess, then you’ll find that you never have to spend more than a few minutes tidying up.

Whether you use one dish or a whole pile of dishes, be sure to put them in the dishwasher right away. Never let them sit in your sink to grow mold. Once your dishwasher is beginning to get full, then put in your detergent and run your dishwasher. As soon as the cycle is finished, then take the dishes out and put them away. That way, your dishwasher is ready for more dirty dishes. It really only takes a few seconds to put your dish or dishes in the dishwasher when you’re finished with them. It takes maybe three or four minutes tops to empty a dishwasher once the dishes are clean. If you don’t have a dishwasher, then wash a dish as soon as you are finished with it. Don’t let them pile up in your sink or you will end up spending too much time cleaning a whole pile of them.

Be sure to clean out your refrigerator at least once Read the rest of this entry

Choosing Counter Tops For Kitchen Remodeling

There are innumerable options that are available in the market for kitchen countertops. Depending upon the budget and the tastes and the preferences, you can get a real makeover for the kitchen. The costs are dependent upon the kind of material used for counter tops, the sizes, polishing of the surfaces, installation time taken, the cornices and the moldings.

Granite
Granite is the ultimate for sheer luxury. Granite is available in many colors and not just black and red. There are many shades and textures available. It can absorb a lot of heat, wear and tear. Its not seamless, therefore pieces need to be joined together. The maintenance of granite is simple as it can be washed with detergent and water.

Engineered Stone
The various kinds if engineered stones available in the market are DuPont Zodiaq®, Cambria Quartz, Portifino and Silestone. This is also as expensive as granite. This stone is easy maintenance and doesn’t crack easily as it’s less porous as granite and is resistant to acid. It also doesn’t require any sealing as granite.

Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles come in different shapes, sizes, materials, thickness, durability, colors and patterns. You can opt for a rough or a smooth finish. Depending upon the finishes, ceramic tiles can be very cheap or near about as expensive as granite and other special stones. Grouting between the tiles is expensive and they can chip and crack over a period of time. Read the rest of this entry

The kitchen is usually the busiest place in our homes. It’s where we cook, where almost everyone eats and spills food. Thus, a lot of dirt and germs are attracted. Don’t be surprised to find cockroaches and flies. The main things in cleaning the kitchen are:

Doing the dishes

Cleaning the counter tops and food preparing areas

Cleaning the sink

Cleaning the oven (if you have one that is)

Clean the refrigerator

Cleaning the small appliances

Cleaning the stove where you cook

How to Do the Dishes

You might feel lazy to do the dishes after eating but you should do them immediately for these 2 reasons:

Hygiene: pests, germs and bacteria will be attracted to dishes with bits of food left on them.

Time and effort: it is much easier to wash just used dishes than dishes where the food and grease have dried up. You’d need more effort to scrub them off.

Tips for Using a Dishwasher

Confirm that your dishes are dishwasher safe: Crystal, china, silver, cookware, and fine wood typically can’t go in the dishwasher. Check the manufacturer’s instructions-often printed on the bottom of the dish-before putting any of these materials in the dishwasher.

Rinse dishes: Rinse the dishes before putting in the dishwasher as it can’t remove dried caked on food.

Put plastic on top: Temperatures are higher on the bottom rack. Prevent plastic dishes from melting or changing shape by washing them on the top rack. Read the rest of this entry