Did you know that "the kitchen is the hardest-working room in your house?" That is what Martha Stewart says who suggests "deep-cleaning the toughest areas" after reading Toni Hammersley's The Complete Book of Clean, published by Weldon Owen (book available April 11, 2017).
Fill a spray bottle with a
mixture of the following:
Hot water (24 Ounces)
Castile Soap (3 tablespoons)
Tea-tree oil (20 drops)
Clean and dry doors
with Microfiber Cloths
(One wet; One Damp)
Microfiber cloths are recommended
when cleaning kitchen cabinet doors:
one for cleaning and drying the doors.
Vacuum Cleaner
Cold Water
Vinegar
Castile Soap
Microfiber Cloth
Supervisor Miguel Taveras with Managed by Q, a home and office cleaning service based in New York City, recommends removing the contents of the cabinet and vacuuming inside. After ridding the cabinet interior of built up dirt, dust, grime and residue, wipe it down using a mixture of cold water, vinegar and castile soap with a microfiber cloth every few months or as needed. Greasy cabinet interiors can be cleaned with a solution one part vinegar and two parts water; this is ideal for cutting grease.
Stainless steel sinks could be cleaned wtih a mildly abrasive paste from an 8-ounce box of baking soda and the juice of 10 limes, according to Taveras; who uses a sponge to scrub the inside of the sink with it, following the steel’s grain. Those with enamel sinks should wipe them with one of the more gentle scrubs. Try Bon Ami (about $8) with a microfiber cloth from Amazon Basics.
Taveras pours vinegar over a loaf of bread until it is sopping and stuffs it in the canister. He lets it sit for 15 minutes, then turns on the disposal and flushes it with cold water. He follows with frozen citrus rinds. You should clean the disposl weekly using baking soda and limes. Chrome fixtures could be polished with a simple mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts water poured on a microfiber cloth or soft sponge.
If you happen to have hardwood flooring in the kitchen, remember to sweep or vacuum the flooring before mopping. Too much water can endanger a hardwood flooring. To avoid warping, Hammersley suggests mixing 1 teaspoon of castile soap into a 24-ounce spray bottle of hot water. Next, add about 10 drops of lemon or rosemary essential oil. You can spritzes the floor and wipe it with a microfiber mop. Non-do-it-yourself cleansers are popular such ast the Method Almond Squirt + Mop wood floor cleaner ($5, target.com).
If you happen to have tile in the kitchen, remember to mop the surface with warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. Be sure to avoid acidic ingredients such as ammonia, which can discolor grout. Rinse and repeat with warm water. Use castile soap and a microfiber mop. Clean weekly. For best results, start in a corner and back your way out of the room using arching, overlapping mop strokes.
Clean stove tops by dampening a sponge with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Wipe and dry with a cotton cloth. Stuck-on splotches are removable by wetting paper towels with hot water. Place them on top of the stuck-on splotches for a few minutes. After doing so, srape the splotches with a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the stove.
Spritz the hood with an all-purpose cleaner. Try the Honest Company's multisurface cleaner for $6 @ honest.com. Wipe and keep wiping with a microfiber cloth. After cleaning the hood, remove the hood filters. You couls place them in the bathtub and sprinkle them with a half a cup of baking soda. Soak them in scalding water for a few minutes. Lightly scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Let them dry before replacing. You are going to need a rubber spatula and a soft bristled brush. Clean the stove daily. Clean the hood monthly. Clean the fan by cutting the power to the unit and wiping the blades with a microfiber cloth dampened with warm soapy water.
Remove the oven racks. Clean them with cola for 15 minutes, according to Teveras. Cola contains phosphoric and citric acids that remove rust, stains and mineral buildup. Gently rub the racks with a scouring pad in order to remove all the grease stains and baked-on chunks. Rinse the racks with warm water. The results are likely to surprise you.
For oven interiors, mix baking soda and water until you have a paste. Use a sponge. Spread the past over the floors, walls and door of the oven. Scoop away excess with a spatula. Wait for a few hours or overnight for the best results. Wipe the dried paste away with a damp sponge or rag. You are going to need cola and a scouring pat for this task. Ovens should be cleaned every few months, typically. For difficult to reach corners and the stubborn baked on spots, try a toothbrush. Scrup with the baking soda mixture.
Cleaning stainless steel refridgerators is a full time job made easier wtih microfiber cloths like Libman Wonderfiber. Buy two for $5 at amazon.com. Use a mix of one part vinegar to two parts water. You can remove the streaks by rubbing on a bit of baby oil with another microfiber cloth, and flipping it over to polish.
For refridgerator interiors, move the food to the downstairs refridgerator or coolers if you only have one refrigerator. Power off the appliance. Remove the shelves and bins. Fill a bathtub with 6 to 8 inches of water. When doing so, remember to include a small box of baking soda. Soak the refridgerator shelves and bins for about 15 minutes. Rinse the shelves and bins. Let them dry a while. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply to a microfiber cloth and wipe the interior. You are going to need vinegar and baby oil. Clean doors as needed. Thoroughly clean the refridgerator interior about twice a year. You can reach small crevices in the door seals with a pointed-tip cotton swap dampened with warm soapy water. Dry with a towel.
Cabinet handles could be removed from the cabinet doors and cleaned once a year or when needed. Soak them in warm soapy water while you wipe the doors. Remember to polish the cabinet handles before reinstalling them on the cabinet doors.
Open shelves and areas of the room could be cleared and clensed every couple of weeks or as needed with a warm damp cloth.
Ceiling fixtures such as pendant lights could be and clensed every couple of weeks or as needed with a warm damp cloth.
The undersides of cupboards near the stove are prone to greasy buildup and should be washed every few days or as needed.
Backsplashes can sparkly by spraying it with a mixture of one part lemon juice and two parts water. Scrup the tiles and grout from the top doen.
Martha Stewart Living,
Ask Martha, ICO - Letters Department
11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036.
www.marthastewart.com/contact-us-form
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Elizabeth Yokel, Publisher
Floor Covering Media, LLC
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bettyyokel@floorcoveringmedia.com
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In July 2006, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced a multi-year agreement with FLOR, Inc., the eco-friendly manufacturer of high-style modular floor coverings, to manufacture and market a new line of Martha Stewart-branded carpet tiles.
The Martha Stewart Floor Designs by FLOR line debuted in 2007 with the distinctive design and color palette associated with the Martha Stewart brand. The agreement with FLOR was part of the Martha Stewart organization's growing home furnishings program, which includes a wide range of products such as furniture with Bernhardt, wall color with Lowe's, and floor coverings with FLOR.
Click HERE to learn more about Martha Stewart and her achievements.
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