Kitchen cleaning hacks should always be considered vital information, in my opinion, because…well, we all use kitchens and need to know the best and easiest way to clean them. The less time we spend in the kitchen, the better, am I right?
That’s why lately (in the last few years, ever since I started using it more often) I’ve acquired a number of kitchen cleaning hacks that have helped keep my space looking nice and clean. (even though I probably missed some spots, if you looked closely)
The key is to never do everything all at once, but instead allocate days (or weeks or months) to different parts of your kitchen (or categories). For example, you could have an easy cleaning schedule that looks like this:
- Clean the garbage can once a month
- Deep clean your microwave and oven once per quarter, so every three months
- Do a self care day for all your wooden tools (utensils, cutting board, you name it) every six months
This way, it won’t be overwhelming, and you will still get things done. Moreover, not everything named below has to be cleaned every day or week, so you can definitely spread it out, so it doesn’t seem too much to do.
So, what are these cool kitchen cleaning hacks I’m talking about? Well, I’m going to help you clean things you probably haven’t cleaned in a while…OR EVER. (like I did with the cutting boards, until recently)
Some might be obvious (microwave, garbage can), while others might not be (wooden utensils, toaster).
Either way, you HAVE to clean the following 7 things, because you use them everyday and they do accumulate germs (some more than others).
So let’s start cleaning!
Actually, before you start, make sure your cleaning supplies are on hand. Things like dish soap, baking soda, paper towels, a spray bottle, rubber gloves, a microfiber cloth, your fave commercial cleaning products.
Here are 7 Kitchen Cleaning Hacks for things you aren’t cleaning often enough (or ever):
1. Clean and sanitize your garbage can
This is actually one of the most important and most urgent tasks on the list, because that place can get really dirty, really fast. Like, for example, if something spills from the bag or the bag rips when you take it out, and pieces fall back in the can.
So, how to clean a garbage can?
- First, remove any bag from it, it has to be empty. (duh)
- Then fill it with hot water, in which you can add soap and/or vinegar.
- I suggest letting it soak for at least an hour, but 15-30 minutes should also do the trick.
- Empty it out, then wipe it with a towel or let it air-dry, if you can.
- After it’s all dry, you just put a new garbage bag and you’re done!
2. Clean the microwave with lemons
Your microwave is probably dirty AF right now. It probably has grease stains, and dried up tomato sauce stains on the sides. It NEEDS to be cleaned.
How to clean a microwave:
- Pour the juice of one lemon in a bowl of water and microwave it for 3 minutes.
- Wait for another 3 minutes.
- Then wipe down the interior of the microwave with a sponge. You can even use the water-lemon solution to wipe the interior, just make sure it’s not too hot.
3. How to clean a toaster
I learned my lesson the hard way when it comes to toasters. I realized toasters retain crumbs and get dirty after a small roach invasion made my life miserable for a couple of weeks, and one of the infestation areas was the toaster area. So don’t make my mistake, and learn how to clean a toaster:
- Unplug it. (duh)
- Use a toothbrush or something similar to dislodge all the crumbs inside the machine.
- Then shake the toaster over a trash can, or in the sink, and try to get as many out as possible.
- Also remove and empty the crumb tray at the bottom.
- The last step is to wipe the exterior with a cloth dipped in water or diluted vinegar.
4. Clean your wooden utensils
Did you know that too much water in the wooden kitchen tools can create mildew? That’s why it’s recommended to not soak them or put them in the dishwasher.
If you want to clean them properly, do the following:
- Hand wash the wooden utensils with hot water and soap.
- Hand dry them with a towel.
- Cut a lemon in half or quarter, then rub the wooden tools with the lemon to reduce bad smells.
- If you really want to pamper them, rub a light layer of vegetable oil on them.
5. Clean and organize your fridge
If you see this step and think to yourself “Oh, I already do this weekly/monthly”, then good for you. That means less work 🙂
But if you’re lazy or haven’t even thought that the fridge needs cleaning, too, here are some easy steps:
- Empty your fridge, and while you’re doing it, throw out expired items or that you will definitely not consume in the future.
- Wipe down the whole interior of the fridge with a sponge or some all-purpose cleaner and a cloth.
- Dry it with a clean towel.
- Put back the food, as nicely and organized as you can, so you can make your life easier (and prettier) in the next few days.
6. Your cutting board needs attention, too
Similarly to your wooden kitchen tools, the cutting board needs some cleaning (and love), too. Here’s how to clean a cutting board:
- Sprinkle the board with chunky or coarse salt.
- Cut half a lemon, then squeeze the juice over the board.
- Use the other half of the lemon to rub the board (use the flesh side on it).
- Let it dry in a sunny spot, like outside, or facing a window.
- Wipe it down with a cloth or napkin, to get all the salt off, then rub some coconut oil on it.
- Let it dry for another 15 minutes, then wipe down the excess with a cloth or napkin.
TA DA!
7. How to clean the oven
This is not a difficult process, but it does take time. Let me tell you how to do it:
- Open the door and remove the oven racks.
- Mix ½ cup of baking soda with a little water until a paste is formed.
- Rub that paste on the oven’s “stubborn” spots.
- Let it sit overnight.
- Then the next morning, with a damp cloth, wipe away everything you can (paste, crumbs, dislodged greasy bits, etc)
- Spray some all-purpose cleaner (or water) all over the over, then wipe everything down with dry cloth until there are no bits left and everything feels and looks clean.
So here are the 7 kitchen cleaning hacks that will help you keep a clean kitchen over time. What’s your least favorite task out of all these 7? Let me know in the comments!
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