12 Days of Clean: Cleaning Holiday Decor Messes
December 20, 2012
Keeping your kitchen clean isn’t always easy. Beyond daily maintenance, there are a few areas that need a little extra TLC. Here, I’ve compiled a list of the 5 dirtiest places in your kitchen, and how to clean them using original blue Dawn and a few other little secrets!
You use it constantly – to wash dishes, to clean fruits and vegetables, to dispose of leftover food. Your kitchen sink is used for so many different purposes that it can get downright filthy. Don’t let the running faucet trick you into thinking it’s keeping things clean. Be sure you give your sink its due attention with trusty dish soap along with that water. To do this, dampen a sponge, add a squirt of blue Dawn (I have it on demand in my kitchen’s soap pump), scrunch the sponge a few times to get it sudsy, and wipe down all surfaces in the sink. Get into the nooks and crannies around all handles, the faucet, seals around the sinks and drains. It’s easy and it works so well!
Kitchen countertops can become dirty from crumbs, fingerprints, spills, and so on. They are constantly in use when you’re cooking and even if you wipe them down, they’re not always clean. No matter what finish your countertop happens to be, there’s an easy and safe way to clean it without worrying about ruining the finish. You guessed it, apply a squirt of Dawn to a sponge or cloth, then run it under warm water and get it a little foamy. Remove all items from the counter and wipe using an ‘S’ pattern. Feel free to scrub a little bit if there’s some build up, or let the soapy solution sit of the counter for a minute or two to break down the buildup and make cleaning a little easier. Then, with a clean sponge or cloth, re-trace your steps and wipe everything clean, removing soapy residue. Replace all items neatly and then, it’s time to Instagram your latest food creation on your freshly cleaned counter!
Make sure to check out Maker’s Clean line of premium products for all your cleaning needs!
Your fridge is on the clock 24/7 and endures some of the worst spills, stinky odors and overcrowding on a daily basis. It just can’t catch a break! As part of your daily routine, you’ll want to clean up any spills as they happen to prevent unnecessary food from becoming caked onto your fridge (and getting stuck on the bottom of a bottle, which then goes on your counter and gives you yet another thing to have to clean). On a daily basis, wipe down doors, including edges and handles, with a damp soft cloth and a drop of Dawn. Buff the exterior dry with a clean cloth, and you’ll quickly learn that dish soap and water is all you need to get your fridge looking beautiful. Now, with that same cloth, you can do a quick spot clean of your shelves and the inside of drawers as needed. Just a quick little wipe around will do (for now). Don’t forget to get the top of your fridge where dust can build-up!
Your garbage can holds just that… garbage. You’re not alone if you’ve been the victim of that certain stench that builds while waiting for garbage day. Garbage liners catch most liquids and foods thrown out, but there’s always a bit of gunk that finds its way through the bag and into the can itself (I often ask myself, ‘just how did that corn niblet get down there?’). As a result, it needs to be cleaned regularly. It can be a dirty job, but it needs to be done!
I prefer to clean the garbage can outdoors, but if that’s not possible, put it into a large sink or tub. You’ll want to rinse it out first to remove as much residue as possible. Squirt about a teaspoon of blue Dawn, that grease and dirt-fighting wizard sauce, into the bottom of the can and then fill it with hot water. Let it stand for a few minutes to work its magic- this will make it easier to wipe out. Dump the dirty water and use a non-treasured cloth or sponge to scrub the surface and remove any odor-causing residue. Once you’re done, rinse it thoroughly and dry with a paper towel. It should look and smell pretty lovely right about now. Here’s a bonus tip for you: Sprinkle a bit of baking soda at the bottom of your trash can to help absorb stinky odors.
Your stove takes a hit almost every time it is used. From the hood to the stove top to the inside of the oven – it gets covered. Even the cleanest chef is prone to food splatters and spills, specifically from grease and oils. Leaning on my secret sauce here, again, I’m going to use blue Dawn to tackle grease and oil from the stove. I’m going to use the same method as mentioned before here, apply a squirt of Dawn directly to a sponge or dish cloth under warm running water. Scrub the surface using a soft sponge (that won’t scratch) until all soils are removed. For stuck-on splatter, leave a warm cloth with dish soap on the specific area to allow the heat and product to lift any hard to clean grease. You can even use a bit of baking soda for abrasion if you need to. Finish by spraying pure white vinegar over the stove (which helps remove any remaining haze) and buff clean with a dry cloth or paper towels. That will get you a gorgeous, streak-free shine!
Now look up, you probably forgot about the hood above your stove! Do you remember the last time you cleaned your oven vent filter? The purpose of the hood filter is to collect grease, so you’ll likely find it will look and feel greasy. If it becomes too blocked with grease, it loses its effectiveness. Don’t be alarmed- cleaning it is easy(ish)! Remove the filters from the hood, keeping any screws (if you’ve got any) in a safe place. Fill a sink or bucket with boiling water- the hotter the water is, the better. Put a squirt of Dawn and 1/4 cup of baking soda into the hot water, and use a wooden spoon (or coat hanger) to stir it up and create bubbles. Don’t use your hand because it will be too hot! Submerge the greasy filter in the water until it’s completely covered and let it soak for at least 10 minutes. Carefully remove the filter and using a scrub brush, scrub it. Use more dish soap as needed to help get it clean. Once clean, rinse the filter thoroughly with hot water and dry with a paper towel. Leave it to air dry and replace it in your stove hood. It’s a good idea to clean your filter every few months, or whenever it starts to look unsightly.
These may be some of the dirtiest spots in your kitchen, but with regular maintenance, your kitchen’s scariest cleaning ventures will become easier to manage. Suddenly, these will be the 5 cleanest places in your kitchen!
To learn more cool and unexpected ways you can use Dawn around the house, visit dawn-dish.com/beyondthesink!
For more cleaning secrets check out our E-Book Bundle! It has 3 e-books (The Complete Guide to Essential Oils, My 3 Wave Cleaning System, 50 DIY Cleaning Recipes) and will get you started with all your cleaning needs!
Disclaimer: I’ve created this post with my friends at Dawn to share some different ways you can use it around the house!
