Do you have a filmy sink, a gunky faucet, or dirty stove grates? Here’s how to clean your kitchen’s most ill-fated corners and surfaces. Take out your toothbrush.
How To Clean The Grossest Spot In The Kitchen
Sink Drain
That oily film clinging to the drain cannot be removed by gently washing dishes with suds. But erasing it is simple: Scrub with a toothbrush and a mild abrasive, being sure to get into the grooves of the drain. Use water to thoroughly clean. Using a clean rag, apply a disinfecting solution of one part bleach to nine parts water, then buff dry with a cloth.
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Is this a necessary or optional task? crucial. After the sponge, the sink is the second-dirtiest place in the kitchen. A plaque-like biofilm that contains bacteria from raw meat and more (yuck) can grow and infect anything that comes into contact with it if it isn’t scrubbed down every week.
Underneath Appliances
as well as behind and next to them. Here, the dust and trash really accumulate. The best way to get rid of them is to pull out the device and vacuum using the hose and the crevice attachment. Use the thin to swipe around your appliance if it won’t budge or can’t move or if you’re afraid of what you could find.
To get rid of any dry, adhering material, slide it first down the sides and behind the object. Then, to grab and take out as much as you can, and slide it beneath the appliance. To get rid of stubborn dirt, briefly moisten the duster’s head and swipe the same areas after shaking the duster’s deposits into a trash bag. To collect the leftovers, vacuum the area around the object.
Around the Sink and Faucet
Use short, swift strokes to remove crumbs from surfaces using an old toothbrush, angled so that the bristles may fit into cracks. After using $4 on Walmart.com for Mrs. Meyer’s Vinegar Gel Cleaner, let it sit for three minutes. (If the stone on your countertop is porous, such as granite, use a cleaning spray.)
Using a dry paper towel, clean up. Use a plastic tool to remove any remaining sticky gunk, such as the strategically sloping Lil’ Chizler ($4, Amazon.com) or the tiny, angled Scrigit Scraper ($4, Debra Johnson, Merry Maids manager of training).
Essential or optional? crucial. Once more, it comes down to cross-contamination: If the sink and the surroundings around it aren’t cleaned adequately before preparing food, they could pose a risk. Add this to the routine cleanings of your countertops.
Refrigerator-Shelf Seams
Although it’s easier if you can remove the shelves, you can still complete this work without doing so. Using an old toothbrush and a paste made of equal parts baking soda and hot water, carefully scrape the area where the glass meets the plastic edge. The dirt is lifted by agitating the paste. Use a wet sponge to wipe or rinse. Use a Scrigit Scraper to chisel away any remaining accumulation. After using soapy water to clean the shelves in the sink, replace them after drying.
Essential or optional? crucial. The usual temperature of a refrigerator is between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for the growth of mold and germs, including Listeria. However, a thorough cleaning every season and if a spill is seen ought to stop it.
Backsplash-Countertop Horizon
This caulk line is prone to discoloration and dirtiness. Use a toothbrush to apply a ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide and ½ cup baking soda solution to freshen it up. (First, test in a discrete location.) After about three minutes of sitting, lightly scrub to agitate. While the baking soda works as a light abrasive to remove dirt, the peroxide removes stains. Dry with a microfiber cloth after rinsing with a moist, non-scrubby sponge.
Essential or optional? Not required. You can omit the deep cleaning if your caulk is not discolored. Simply use a clean cloth to wipe it off regularly to keep moisture and dust from building up.
Stove Grates
In half the time, a quick spray with Mean Green Super Strength Cleaner & Degreaser will leave grates as spotless as a soaking. After letting the solution soak for a few minutes, wash the surface with a damp sponge to make sure there is no trace of cleaning agent left and to guarantee that it is safe to cook on. Allow to dry. Should any sticky residue be visible, apply a paste made of equal parts baking soda, salt, and water using a toothbrush. After 30 minutes of sitting, wipe with a clean cloth, rinse with warm water, and let dry completely before replacing.
Essential or optional? Although they are not the most hygienic place, dirty grates can give the impression that your entire kitchen is unclean.
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