Tuesday Life Hack: 6 tips to help you spring clean your kitchen

As we experience warmer temperatures, leaves growing on trees again and flowers beginning to blossom, it’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the Spring season. This endeavour does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. Follow these cost-effective ways to spring clean your kitchen:

1. Clean your toaster effectively:

Use a soft paintbrush to clean out the tiny crumbs that get stuck in your toaster. This also brushes away the very tiny particles that get stuck in the crevices of the toaster.

2. Keep your oven fresh and clean:

Place a bowl of ammonia in the upper rack and a bowl of boiling water on the lower rack of your oven. Leave to steam overnight and wipe it clean the next day.

3. Your kitchen tiles can always look spotless:

Mix half a cup of baking soda with 4 litres of water. Use a sponge or brush to scrub your kitchen tiles and you will get rid of those stubborn stains in no time.

4. Get rid of that nasty smell in your garbage disposal:

If you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, make sure you have fresh ice cubes for the odour. Make your own garbage disposal cubes by cutting some oranges into small pieces and adding them to your ice-cube tray. Pour in some water and leave it to freeze. Freshen up your garbage disposal drain by adding a cube or two inside.

5. Make your kitchen counters shine bright:

Mix some pure alcohol with dishwashing soap in a spray bottle. Spray this solution onto your counter, scrub with a sponge and wipe with a clean cloth. Your kitchen counters will sparkle for longer.

6. Scrub your iron cast pots and pans with this solution:

Pour in a good amount of salt into the pot or pan, cut a potato in half and use it to scrub the pan. Wash it out with dishwashing liquid, rinse and leave to dry.

How often should you be cleaning your kitchen?

• Once a day, make sure you wash dishes, wipe surfaces, the sink, sweep and mop the floor, as well as air out your kitchen.
• Once a week, make sure you clean the cupboards, scrub the appliances, counters and also scrub the floors.
• Make sure you clean out your fridge and pantry and get rid of food items that have expired on a weekly basis.
• Wash your dishcloths, towels and other kitchen upholstery every week.
• Once a month, scrub the tile grout, wash windows, get rid of expired products in your kitchen.

Declutter your kitchen checklist:

Here is a list of items you should get rid of:

• Expired food, vegetables and fridge items
• Cleaning products that have not been used for years
• Broken brooms, mops and cleaning items
• Kitchen towels or cloths that are torn and can no longer be used
• Damaged power chords and electrical equipment
• Cracked, chipped or broken cups, glasses, plates and pots
• Broken appliances that need to be fixed or thrown away