A Daily Task
Keeping your kitchen clean not only makes it look great, but is essential to keep germs from spreading. It’s the one room in your home that should get cleaned at least once every day. We go through some essential products to make this daily task a lot easier, and more effective, and maybe save some money along the way.
Basic Cleaning Fluids
For counters, stovetops, and metal surfaces you want something that removes dirt and also disinfects. Basic products to keep around include white vinegar which cleans well when diluted with water. Chlorine bleach is good to have around, as it can remove tough stains and disinfect cutting boards that have been in contact with raw meat. Take care to dilute bleach with water, and never mix it with any other chemical products.
General Purpose Cleaners
Make quick work of dirt on counter and stove tops with a general-purpose cleaner like Formula 409. This non-bleach disinfectant uses surfactants to remove dirt particles while getting rid of germs as well. Another useful product is Method All-Purpose Cleaner, which has been well-reviewed for its gentle smell and ability to clean marble surfaces without leaving streaks.
Dish Soap
For basic dishwashing the best reviewed soap is Dawn Ultra. One bottle of this highly concentrated soap should last you several months. Its surfactants lift grease easily, especially if the dishes are left to soak for 15 minutes. You can also mix it with water in a spray bottle to clean other kitchen surfaces, but keep in mind the soap doesn’t act as a disinfectant.
For Pots And Pans
For removing baked on layers of grease and tough food residues from cookware, use a stronger cleaning fluid in tandem with an abrasive pad. One consistently well-reviewed product is Bar Keeper’s Friend which even removes rust stains. The popular cleaning agent comes in liquid and powdered from, though most prefer the liquid.
For Ovens
Oven cleaners are the strongest chemical products on this list, which include old standbys like Easy-Off and the newer Goo-Gone has also received good reviews. Always take care not to breathe in the fumes or get any of it on your skin. There are plant-based oven cleaners as well: Everneat Oven Scrub Cleaner is one such product that can be wiped on and scrubbed off with dry cloth.
For Scrubbing
Scotch-brite pads are great to keep around, but once bits of egg or cheese get on them, they’re there to stay. Try using one of the many dual-purpose sponges that have an abrasive side as well. O-Cedar Scrunge and Skura Style Multi-use are two products that fit this bill perfectly. Mr Clean Original Magic Erasers are also the subject of rave reviews.
Swedish Dishcloths
These lightweight reusable cloths are a combination of cellulose fibers and cotton, making them something like a combination of a rag and a paper towel. Good to use on dishes and general kitchen surfaces, they’ve become a popular affordable cleaning tool in recent years.
Onderwijsgek, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Paper Towels
It’s essential to have a roll of this stuff around for a quick spot-clean or for spills. You can choose for maximum strength and absorbency with Bounty Select-A-Size; or affordability with Kirkland Signature brand paper towels, though these latter are more affordable with a Costco membership.
A Clean Slate
Try out these recommendations and don’t forget to do your own research. Always play it safe with unfamiliar cleaning products. Read and follow all instructions and safety warnings. With this arsenal of cleaning products, keeping your kitchen clean will be a snap!
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