How To Clean Everything In Your Kitchen Using Stuff From Your Kitchen

How To Clean Everything In Your Kitchen Using Stuff From Your Kitchen


Has your laziness over the summer resulted in a disgusting kitchen that is in serious need of attention? You don’t have to spend a lot of money on cleaning products to sort it out. Here’s how to make your kitchen sparkle using supplies that you already have.

Your house is the biggest gadget of all. Gizmodo Home Mod shows you how to recharge it, clear its cache and update its operating systems.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is everywhere in the kitchen — refrigerators, toasters, countertops and sinks. And there’s the flatware too. While durable and resistant to stains, stainless steel’s finish can dull over time due to oils — either from fingerprints or cooking — oxidising on its surface. Its hairline finish is susceptible to scratches as well.

To bring back the steel’s lustre, you’ll need the following:

  • white vinegar
  • bicarb soda
  • a small, clean cotton rag
  • a sponge

Dip the rag in the vinegar and work it over the steel’s surface using a tight circular motion (wax on, wax off). Vinegar acts as an organic solvent and will cut through any fresh oil that hasn’t yet oxidised. If you’ve got a bottle of mineral spirits under the sink or some olive oil in the pantry, they will work as well. You can also sprinkle a bit of bicarb soda onto the surface and work it in with the sponge to remove any residual discolouration — just be sure to rinse it thoroughly with water. Vinegar and soda water both can be used to remove heat stains from cutlery and countertops. Simply rub on with a rag and rinse with water.

Copper

Long before stainless steel had even been invented, copper was a staple of the home, used for everything from roofing to cookware. However, copper is constantly oxidising, which is what creates that awesome green patina you see on antique roof tiles. While aesthetically appealing on the roof, patina has no place in the kitchen. To remove it from your kettles and steampunk flatware, grab the following items:

  • white vinegar
  • salt
  • bicarb soda or cornstarch
  • a pot large enough to hold copper items
  • tongs

A vinegar and salt bath is the easiest way to clean copper. Mix a tablespoon of salt with one cup of white vinegar and three cups of water in the pot. Immerse the copper item in the bath and bring everything to a full rolling boil and keep it there until clean, then turn off the heat and allow the bath to cool to room temperature. Give it a quick wash with some dish soap to get rid of the vinegar smell.

For spot-cleaning copper, both lemon and ketchup work well. If you use lemon, cut a wedge and sprinkle salt on both sides for grit and go to work. If you’ve only got lemon juice, mix it with equal parts cornstarch to make a paste or just use tomato sauce straight from the bottle. Be sure to wash the items with soap and water when you’re done.

Marble

Marble is a gorgeous, durable countertop material commonly found in newer and higher-end kitchens. The problem with marble though is that its an extremely porous stone, so it sucks up stains like a sponge. And the longer it sits, the deeper it penetrates, and the less likely you’ll ever be able to get it out. If you own marble, keep the following items handy:

  • a cotton cloth
  • a sponge
  • warm water
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • a chamois

First, blot the offending liquid with the sponge — don’t wipe it, that just makes matters worse. Dip your cloth in warm water and wipe down the marble thoroughly, then immediately dry with the chamois. Next pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide onto the stained area and allow it to penetrate for a minute or so, then wipe off with the warm water cloth and dry it with the chamois.

You should also be vigilant about not letting citrus or other acidic liquids on marble as they can literally eat away at the stone and cause etching. Marble also scorches easily so make sure you always set hot pots on pads or a rack, never directly on the marble.

Plastic

You’ll be hard pressed to find an appliance in your kitchen that doesn’t have at least a few plastic components. And while plastic seems to be a magnet for grease and grime buildup (seriously, top of your fridge? Nasty) cleaning it is as simple as microwaving a lemon. You’ll need:

  • a lemon
  • salt
  • a sponge

Cut the lemon in half, microwave it for 30 seconds, salt the open half and go to town. Repeat with the other half, then rinse with water.

Salt, lemons and white vinegar — these are the holy trinity of housekeeping. Keep some on hand at all times and you’ll be able to erase the evidence of any cooking disaster, no matter how splattery.

[How to Clean StuffWikihowCloroxReal SimpleMother Nature Network]

Picture: epstock/Shutterstock


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

It’s the most popular NBN speed in Australia for a reason. Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.