January 28, 2014

#TipsTueday: 8 Quick Kitchen Cleaning Tips

We’ve given you the 3 biggest kitchen trends for 2014. But what’s a great kitchen if you can’t stand cleaning it? That’s why we turned to Reader’s Digest for timesaving cleanup ideas on your most frequently used appliances. They’re so simple you can start using them today! Find them here:

1. A Blender Cleaning Secret: Family physician and author Jill Grimes has a great tip to clean the blender. ‘After you pour your drink, take the pitcher straight to the sink. Put in a little water and a drop of dish soap, put it back on the blender, and turn it on for 20 seconds. Rinse it out and you’re done.’

2. Microwave Cleaning Shortcuts: The quickest way to clean a microwave oven is to place a handful of wet paper towels inside and run it on High for 3-5 minutes. You don’t need a science lesson to know that the steam from the towels will soften the grime. Once the paper towels cool down, use them to wipe the oven’s interior.

3. A Quick Coffee Pot Tip: The glass jug that comes with a coffeemaker can quickly develop a brown, blotchy haze – especially when you leave it on for long periods of time. For the quickest cure, you will need some ice, salt and a lemon. Fill the empty jug a quarter full of ice. Cut the lemon into quarters and squeeze two of the quarters into the jug. Add 2 tablespoons of salt. Swirl the mixture in the jug for 2 minutes and the inside surface will quickly come clean. Rinse under the tap.

4. Clean a Cast-Iron Pan: Most cooks know that you should never use liquid soap on a cast-iron pan and never scrub it with anything abrasive if you want to maintain its well-oiled nonstick surface. So how do you clean it? Use salt. If the pan will not rinse clean with water and a soft dishcloth, rub it with a few tablespoons of salt and a paper towel, and rinse. Then replenish the oil film by coating the inside surface with a dab of cooking oil.

5. A Coffee Grinder Trick: Run a small handful of uncooked white rice through the coffee grinder, especially if you use it for grinding anything other than coffee beans. Most coffee experts advise against using your machine for grinding dry spices since the smells from grinding ingredients, such as cinnamon sticks and dried basil, are nearly always impossible to get out.

6. Cheese Grater Tip: Keep a clean pastry brush handy for removing every last remnant of grated food left behind in the tiny grates. It works like a charm on both sides of the grater.

7. Disinfect the Garbage Disposal: Deep clean and deodorize a waste disposal unit by grinding ice cubes made with half vinegar, half water.

8. Coffee Cup Saver: Remove coffee stains from china cups by scrubbing them with equal parts vinegar and salt.

Have any more suggestions for the Barker and Son’s community? Let us know what you do to clean quickly on our Facebook page or visit our website for messes you can’t clean in the kitchen on your own!