If there’s one thing that the changes in the economy have taught us, it’s that we have become a society where we want things to be done for us rather than do them ourselves, even if it means paying large amounts of money to have them done. But, because many people are making cutbacks to deal with financial changes, more and more of us are becoming more active in doing the things that our grandparents did without a thought, like maintaining our own yards and cleaning our own homes.This guide is designed to help you clean your home thoroughly, easily and quickly using tried and true techniques that have been proven effective for generations, along with a few tricks your grandmother never knew about. After reading this guide, you’ll be better prepared to:
- Clean your kitchen
- Remove food stains
- Remove pet stains
- Clean your carpet
- Clean your furniture
Cleaning Your Kitchen
The kitchen is the one room in the home where cleanliness is a must, for the obvious reasons. But, it’s also the one room that doesn’t get the cleaning it deserves on a routine basis. The kitchen must be cleaned on a daily basis, but if you do it right, it really won’t take that long.
Cleaning the Cooktop – Grease and other types of grime can easily accumulate on cooktops over the course of preparing a meal. These surfaces typically range from modern ceramic / glass cooktops to traditional baked enamel finishes on electric or gas ovens. Special attention is necessary for each type.
- Cleaning a Ceramic / Glass Cooktop – Wait until the cooktop is completely cool and then sprinkle baking soda (or another non-abrasive cleaner) on the surface. Use a damp synthetic scouring pad or sponge to rub the surface. Rinse with clean water, making sure you get all of the debris up and then buff the surface with a clean cloth until it is finished. Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or steel wool scouring pads as they will permanently mar the surface.
- Cleaning a Baked Enamel Cooktop – Washing the surface of a baked enamel oven or stove with warm soapy water after each use will help maintain a pristine cooktop. Avoid using abrasive cleaning agents and steel wool pads as they will damage the surface finish. Reflector bowls, grids and drip pans should be washed in soapy water whenever anything is spilled on them. If you have a gas oven, use a thin metal wire (avoid using toothpicks as they can break off) to clear the holes on the burners. To make cleaning the cooktop easier, remove all of the plastic knobs and soak them in warm soapy water while you clean the surface. After washing the knobs, dry them with a clean towel and reinstall them.
Cleaning Countertops – For routine countertop cleaning, a mild dish detergent works wonderfully. Before you begin, emove all of the countertop appliances and cutting boards. Wash the entire counter with a soft sponge and warm soapy water. Allow the soapy water to sit on one section of the countertop while you move on to the next section. Use clean hot water to thoroughly rinse the countertops and buff them dry with a clean towel. When replacing the countertop appliances you removed earlier, be sure to wipe down the bottoms of the appliances prior to setting them back on your clean counter.
Cleaning the Sink – If your sink has dried food sticking to the sides, fill up the sink with hot water prior to cleaning it. This will help make it easier to get the food particles off the stainless steel or porcelain. Next, sprinkle baking soda or your choice of non-abrasive cleaner and scrub everything down with a non-abrasive scouring pad. Baking soda offers a double benefit as it not only cleans exceptionally well but it also helps to control odors after it’s rinsed down the drain. After rinsing the sink, wipe it down with a clean dry towel. This will help prevent water stains from forming on your stainless steel sink.
Cleaning Appliances – Baking soda can not only get your kitchen appliances looking and smelling their best, but in the right solution it can even bring back the brightness of their white exteriors. For general cleaning, mix ¼ cup of baking soda with ½ cup of white vinegar in a gallon of clean hot water. Scrub the appliances with a non-abrasive scouring pad or sponge and then rinse it with clean water and dry. For improving the white exterior of appliances, mix ¼ cup of baking soda with two cups of warm water and wipe the exterior down with the solution, allowing it to stand on the appliance for about 15 minutes. Rinse the solution off with clean warm water and you should notice an improvement in the whiteness of the appliance’s exterior.
Cleaning Cabinets – Cabinets can easily become smudged with dirty fingerprints, food and grease and the longer you let them go between cleanings, the harder it is to get them clean again. For routine cleaning, a simple solution of warm water and liquid dish soap will do the trick. But, for heavy duty cleaning, a commercial cleanser will work better. When using stronger agents, always test the solution out on an inconspicuous part of the cabinet first to make sure it doesn’t ruin the finish.
Materials Needed:
- Bucket
- Non-abrasive scouring pad or sponge
- Dish detergent
- Clean towels
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
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