Put on Your Maid's Cap: Basic Tips for Cleaning the Kitchen

By J. A. Young

In many households, the kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house. After each meal, you might give what some homemakers refer to as "a lick and a promise," but for a truly clean kitchen - an eat-off-the-floor kitchen - there are many tips for cleaning extensively and ways to make some tasks easier. Read on to find out how.

The sink can be a well of germs if not properly cared for and maintained daily. Before you think bleach, remember that bleach whitens, but does not necessarily clean. For a fresh drain, try a fistful of baking soda washed down the drain with boiling water. For a clean sink, choose a non-abrasive cleaner. If you’ve run out of such cleaner (oh my!) use undiluted white vinegar in a pinch.

Sink stains can usually be removed with a more concentrated cleaning with your cleaner, but a slightly damped cloth dabbed with baking soda will remove most stains. For rust stains, scrub repeatedly with a lemon. Faucets can be cleaned with warm soapy water. If your faucet sports mineral deposits, grab that lemon again - with some scrubbing, it should remove these as well.

Your dishwasher should be cleaned on a regular basis. Clean the filter after each use. Be sure to clean the other components frequently such as the spray arms, screen, surface, etc. To remove mineral deposits, run a cup of vinegar through the wash cycle when the dishwasher is empty.

The refrigerator must be cleaned regularly with a solution of baking soda diluted in water. Remove all items, and give each section a thorough wiping before replacing your items - be sure to wipe down bottles and jars as well. Also, the condenser coils should be cleaned once a year (even twice) using a vacuum and small attachment tool. The bottom drain pan can be cleaned with warm soapy water.

The freezer (even frostless ones) should be given a thorough cleaning annually. A handful of baking soda diluted in one quart of water can be used to wipe out the freezer. To keep your freezer and refrigerator smelling fresh, keep an open box of baking soda in the back of each unit. Be sure to turn off the power during cleaning!

When it comes to the stove and oven, you're in luck with self-cleaning or continuous cleaning ovens. Always try to clean up spills, drips and splatters when they are warm. Keep a damp sponge close by as you cook. Each month, or sooner if needed, clean all removable stove parts with a non-abrasive cleaner. Use a traditional oven cleaner and don your rubber gloves to clean out a non-self-cleaning oven.

You can help to minimize your cleaning by keeping a supply of foil on hand. Use it to line the bottom of your broiler pan. You might even keep a strip of it on the bottom oven shelf to catch drips from the pans cooking above. Also, be sure to cover such things as casseroles with aluminum foil to prevent splatter.

As for the microwave, it's a good idea to wipe it out with a damp cloth after each use. To clean it out, set a dish of hot water and lemon slice inside the microwave. Then, set the time so that the water boils and produces steam inside. Wipe down the entire oven.

As for the floor, be sure you use a cleaner that is appropriate for the type of floor you have. For best results, wash it weekly. For a kitchen with heavy traffic, more frequent spot-washing may be necessary.

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