Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks for the Kitchen

Spring is in the air! The words “spring cleaning” come to mind, and if you’re anything like me, you love the spring but despise the cleaning. Spring-cleaning is more than just a clean; it’s a deep clean- the absolute most dreadful thing to us non-neat freaks!

Here are a few tips to make your spring-cleaning in the kitchen go faster and easier. After all, we don’t want to have to do too much deep cleaning throughout the year!

1. Pull out the baking soda. Baking soda is economical and easy to find. Little do most people know what a powerful cleanser it can be. Take some baking soda; pour it onto your stainless steel and scrub! Voila, beautiful shine! If you have stubborn water stains in your sink, wipe down with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol or vinegar.

2. Bleach. Obviously you want to use caution with bleach, especially if you have young ones around. To clean your white porcelain, line the area with paper towels and pour on the bleach. Let it sit overnight and rinse the next morning. Be sure to leave the area well ventilated!

3. Clean out your refrigerator. Throw away all that food that is ready to walk itself to the trash. Wipe down the inside with vinegar-dampened cloths, and throw in a box of baking soda. Baking soda will absorb the odors and keep your fridge smelling fresh. Replace box monthly for long lasting freshness. Vanilla extract can also work well for a fresh smelling fridge, place a few drops on a cotton ball and throw it in! While your head is stuck in the fridge, replace the light bulb, chances are it will last throughout the year, and you won’t have to worry about it again until next spring.

4. Take a good look at your pans. Ugh! Baked on food is easy to remove. Place a dryer sheet in the pan, fill with water and let it sit overnight. The next morning, clean your pan and the food should come off easily. Dryer sheets’ anti-static compounds weaken the food and make it easier to clean. To clean a burnt or scorched pan, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda and add just enough water to moisten it. Let it stand overnight and clean the next morning.

5. Take a peek at your microwave. Yep, it’s disgusting. Spray the inside of your microwave liberally with a bleach mixture. Two parts water to one part bleach, make sure you have a well-ventilated kitchen. Heat on high for about 20 seconds and let it stand for about an hour. The stains should come right off, and again use caution if you have little ones around. If you’re not comfortable with bleach, warm up a bowl of vinegar inside and let stand for about an hour. All the food should wipe clean!

Spring-cleaning is never any fun, but these tips can make it faster and easier than ever before. It doesn’t have to be hard!