8 Cheap and clever ways to clean your kitchen

Keeping a kitchen spotless is one of the biggest challenges home owners face everyday. Many struggle to find enough time to clean their kitchen due its many appliances and different pieces of furniture. 

Here are 8 amazing hacks to help you clean your kitchen fast and at no extra cost! 

Getting oven-ready

Cleaning the oven regularly can seem very daunting and tiring - but there’s an easier way of going about it! Coat the inside walls of the oven with a mixture of baking soda, dish soap and water. Let it soak for 15 minutes and wipe off the residue, then wipe once more with a clean rag. 

If that’s too laborious, avoid having to constantly clean your oven by laying a baking sheet or an oven liner below the lowest rack. 

Bonus tip: Don’t forget about the oven racks! Bath them in hot water and dish soap. Let them soak overnight, or for 6 to 8 hours, and finish them off with dryer sheets. 

Tackling the microwave

Scrubbing a microwave’s interior by hand with chemicals is not a good idea. Instead, pour a cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a glass jar, and place it in your microwave on high heat for 5 minutes. 

Those burnt pots and pans

Buying new pots and pans whenever they’re burnt or scorched can become expensive. For pans, pour water and vinegar inside and bring the pan to a boil before adding some baking soda. Empty the pan and then scrub away any stubborn scorched spots. 

If it’s a burnt pot that needs cleaning, throw in some lemons and fill it with water. Bring the pot to a boil, and then let the water cool down until burnt spots start floating up to the surface. Pour out the water and lemons, and again scrub off any remaining spots. 

Anything stainless steel

Make your stainless steel fridge, sink or kitchen tools sparkle by applying a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar. 

Let it all sit for at least 15 minutes. Then scrub the mixture and rinse it away. Now that’s satisfying! 

Sink your heart out

Unclogging a sink is one of those kitchen nightmares no one enjoys dealing with. Here’s a simple solution - pour vinegar down the sink drain, and then sprinkle baking soda, which will lead to some fizzing. Plug the drain hole until the fizzing stops. Once you take out the plug let the sink sit for around half an hour. 

Finally, pour boiling water down the drain to flush out what’s left of the clogging. 

Bonus tip: Dishwashers have become lifesavers when it comes to doing the dishes. But it’s easy for any small or delicate items to fall through the cracks. Place these items in a laundry bag, and leave it inside the dishwasher while it’s at work.  

Crusty stove no more

Burnt out and crusty stove tops are never a pretty sight. Combine baking soda with some hydrogen peroxide to create a paste. Then cover the stove top with the paste. 

Allow the paste to sit for 45 minutes, and wipe it away to reveal a spick and span stove that’s ready to take on your next cooking adventure. 

Fridge over troubled water

Sometimes, life gets so busy that you completely forget to check on your fridge. Make it a point to take a weekly inventory, looking out for any expired or mouldy foods that need to be thrown away. 

This can also help you when compiling your grocery list for the upcoming week. 

Bonus tip: The fridge and other kitchen appliances, if left unattended, can produce unpleasant smells. Simmer a pot of water with some orange slices, a few sprigs of rosemary, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and…ta-da! A fresh and naturally fragrant kitchen!  

Lemons should cut it

Chopping boards tend to take a beating, which is why freshening them up can be really handy. Simply rub salt onto the board using half a lemon, and finish it all off with a few drops of mineral oil. This might sound like a strange technique, but it works every time! 

It’s crystal clear that, with some basic household supplies and a hint of creativity, you can achieve a spotlessly clean kitchen with little effort and expense. 

Still not bothered to clean your own kitchen? Make use of the cleaning companies listed on Yellow. 

Kick off your local discoveries with a clean slate - visit yellow.com.mt!