It seems that cleaning is a never-ending task.  Right?  I swear I spend two hours cleaning the kitchen and you’d have no idea a day or two later.  It doesn’t help that our kitchen is right inside the front door.  So, when things get brought it… they often get dropped in there.  So, I started a new… routine, we’ll call it.  Instead of spending two hours every three days cleaning, how about twenty minutes each day?  That cuts my cleaning time in half.

In the last week I have discovered some tips and tricks.  Besides falling in love with vinegar all over again, there are a few more secrets.  So, pull out your notebooks and pens and get ready to take notes.  Or click on the title of this post and then click the print button located right above it.  Easy peasy, yeah?

10 Secrets to a Clean Kitchen:
1)  I really HATE smelly sponges, but when you’re cleaning they are kind of a necessity.  Paper towels are expensive when you go through them at a rate of three or four a day.  Dish cloths have the same smelly issues, although you can throw those in the washer.  But a dish cloth or two a day adds up quick!  I don’t have a ton of time to add a ton of laundry to my to-do list.  So… after you are done with your cleaning for the day, put the sponge on a saucer and put it in the microwave for about 1 minute.  More or less, depending on the power of your microwave oven.  When you see steam you can stop it.  Please make sure there is no metal in your sponge before placing it in the microwave.  Take it out very carefully, it will be HOT!  When it is cool, wash it thoroughly with a little dish washing soap.  Set it out to dry.  Let dry thoroughly. 

2)  My passion for pasta is no secret.  But I am not fond of stained plastic ware.  Nothing makes Tupperware, or Snap ware in my case, look gross and dirty like a permanent stain.  So, to prevent red sauces from staining my containers, I lightly coat the plastic with olive oil (you can use any kind of edible oil) before I put my leftovers in.  The oil protects the container and prevents the plastic from soaking in the color.
3)  We have granite counter tops.  Awesome.  We have tile granite counter tops.  Not so awesome… because the grout gets gross.  Fast.  Water stains or stains from food or other sources make our counters look yucky and dirty.  I combat this with a bleach pen.  Just draw it on, let it sit for ten minutes and wipe it off.  TA-DA!  Good as new.

4)  With dirty diapers in the house, we can sometimes get some really bad odors hanging around.  No matter how many bags we wrap it in.  So, to help tame the smell, I sprinkle a 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bottom of the trash liner.  If I notice a really foul stench, I’ll add a little more as the liner gets full.  Just dump it in on top.  A small bowl of vinegar under the sink helps curtail the smell too.
5)  Don’t forget to wipe down the surface of your cupboards and drawers.  Especially the ones in front of the sink.  Things spill easily while you’re washing up dishes.  Pay attention to the handles too.  Grime builds up quick with a myriad of hands touching those surfaces.  While you’re at it, wipe down the dishwasher and the oven.  Take a quick swipe at the fridge too, if it’s looking dingy.  If the visible surfaces are dirty and dingy, it will be assumed the insides are too.  First impressions are important.

6)  Cleaning and disinfecting cutting boards is essential to safe food preparation.  For things like fruits, vegetables, breads and most other foods simple soap and hot water will suffice.  Wiping it down with vinegar will provide a safe disinfectant.  If you cut meats or poultry on it, you will want to let the cutting board sit in a solution of 1 part chlorine beach to 10 parts water.  Let it sit for ten minutes, rinse and allow to air dry.
7)  You can deodorize kitchen surfaces with lemon juice.  Juice 5-10 lemons, depending on the size of the surface you’re deodorizing.  Or just buy a bottle of lemon juice.  Pour the juice into a spray bottle.  Lightly spray your surfaces and let it sit for 10-20 minutes.  Wipe down the surface with a clean, damp cloth or sponge.  Also works well with cutting boards.

8)  Clutter.  This is a huge problem for us.  My Mr Right and I have chronic cases of “Dropsy”.  We come in the door and drop everything on the countertops.  Don’t do this!  It will make even the cleanest room look messy.  Also, try not to store a lot of things on your counter tops.  We have very limited storage space, so some things (Like our KitchenAid) have a permanent home on the counter.  Keep this to a minimum.  It will, more often than not, look like you didn’t put anything away.
9)  Clean from top to bottom and from one side of the room to the other.  That way you won’t waste time wiping down a counter that you wiped down ten minutes ago.  It will also help keep clutter from creeping back in while you clean.
10)  Keep your dishwasher empty so you can load dirty dishes right into it.  A sink full of dirty dishes will always make a kitchen look messy.  This is easier said than done, I know.  Train your family to load their dishes into the dishwasher, instead of dropping them in the sink or one the counter, when they are done with them.  It may take a few days (or weeks…) but will be so worth it in the end, promise.  That saves me at least ten minutes a day in the kitchen.35

11)  If it isn’t dirty, DON’T CLEAN IT!  Seems simple enough, right?  I don’t clean out the fridge every day.  Every couple of days is good enough.  I do the dishes everyday when My Mr Right is home; but when he’s not, every two or three days is good enough.  Little Monkey and I cook more simply and eat less when he’s not here.  So we dirty dishes more slowly.  No need to run half a load of dishes, just wait another day.

Krista

I’m sure you’re all very aware of my vinegar obsession…  I can see your head nodding through the screen… Or maybe you read yesterday’s post…?  Anyhow, I have since gotten over the smell of vinegar as I find it’s cleansing and other useful characteristics more advantageous than the smell annoying.  However, for those of you that really, REALLY don’t like the smell here is a simple solution.  Literally.

Heat the water and lemon juice on the stove until boiling.  Turn the heat to medium low and let the water and lemon juice continue at a rolling boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar.  Let the mixture cool and then pour into a spray bottle.  Label and store in a cool, dry place. 
Solution can be reheated if desired.  For a stronger cleaning solution, reduce the amount of water to 1 cup or eliminate all together.  If you eliminate it, boil your lemon juice with the vinegar.
You can also use lemon peels, orange peels, lime peels, rose petals, mint leaves or extract (1 Tbs for every 2 cups water), or essential oils to scent your vinegar.  With those options you can make your vinegar solution smell like just about anything! 

Krista

A couple months ago I planted some herbs.  Spearmint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, parsley, basil and chives.  The spearmint, rosemary and oregano have yet to sprout… I’m thinking they probably won’t.  That’s what I get for planting them in February…
If you haven’t gathered by now, I have a thing for vinegar.  It’s my go-to cleaner.  It’s cheap, safe for my family and economical.  And it’s SOO multi-purpose. 
With the weather getting warmer, I’m taking my obsession outdoors.  Here’s a few of my favorite things to use vinegar for outside the home:
– My parents have ants something terrible.  We stop ants from gathering by pouring white distilled vinegar on the area.  Get rid of anthills by pouring full strength vinegar on them.

– Little Monkey has a fun little sandbox he loves to play in.  It’s actually a small plastic swimming pool.  And there are several cats in my parent’s neighborhood.  UGH, right?!  Discourage cats from getting into the kids’ sandbox with white distilled vinegar.  Pour two cups of vinegar in to the sandbox and let the sand dry.
– Flowers are expensive, and thus, reserved for special occasions.  I help preserve any flowers I get by adding 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to a quart of water in a vase.  This will also help liven any droopy heads.

– Keeping those flowers around for a while can cause that icky line on the vase.  Get rid of the water line by filling it with a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar.  Or soak a paper towel in white distilled vinegar and stuff it into the vase so that it is in contact with the water line.
– Remove crusty rim deposits on house planters or attached saucers by soaking them for several hours in an inch of full-strength white distilled vinegar.
– We just got some new patio furniture at a garage sale.  It’s perfect for our patio.  Clean and sanitize outdoor furniture and picnic tables with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar.  Let air dry.
– My husband’s family is from Northern Idaho and are big into berry picking in the summertime.  We often plan entire huckleberry picking days while we’re up visiting.  This can leave stains like you wouldn’t believe though.  Remove berry stains on your hands by rubbing them with white distilled vinegar.

– Clean plastic patio furniture with a solution of 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of water.  If your furniture is especially gross, mix in a tablespoon of baking soda.
See?  Isn’t vinegar AHHH-MAZE-ING!?  Now, go clean something outside!
Krista

Yesterday we talked about cleaning your washing machine.  Today it’s the dryer’s turn.  A poorly maintained dryer is not only inefficient, it’s a fire hazard.  How’s that for inspiration to make sure your dryer is well maintained?!

When you are waiting for your washing machine to finish it’s cleaning cycle, take some hot vinegar water and wipe up the inside of the dryer.  Be cautious to not get any water on the back of the dryer or you risk shorting the heating element.  A damp rag is plenty sufficient.  Be sure you empty the lint trap EVERY time you use the dryer.  Now, if you forget a time or two, it’s not the end of the world.  But, it’s a good habit to get into.  If you get lint built up it can block air flow, requiring more drying time for your clothes.  Which means a higher power bill for you.

If you have items that have flammable chemicals on them (gasoline, paint or stain, and cooking oils are a few examples) avoid drying them in the dryer.  That sounds kind of obvious, but I’ve put paint stained clothes in the dryer before and didn’t even think twice about it.

Ok, here’s the how on an annual cleaning for your dryer:

1)  Remove the lint trap and set it aside.  Use a hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner to clean down inside the lint trap compartment.  Suck up as much as you can get.

2)  Here’s the pain in the rear-end part:  Move the dryer so that you can vacuum underneath and around it.  Vacuum the walls and any corner.  Remove as much lint and dirt as you can.  If you opt to mop, make sure you let the floor dry before you put the dryer back.

3)  Unplug the dryer and take a look at the exhaust vent.  Make sure it’s still in good shape.  Vacuum any lint from around the vent, as well as just inside the duct.  Rigid duct material is a better choice than foil or plastic accordion duct.  Those kinds trap lint more than a rigid material.

4)  After you’ve done your cleaning inside and plugged your dryer back in, turn it on and walk outside to check the exhaust vent hole on your house.  Make sure it opens up the flaps while the dryer is running.  If there is something in the way, wait to remove it until you have unplugged the dryer.

Ok, not too bad if you only have to do it once a year, right?  And waaay better than having a fire!  I usually just do my washer and dryer at the same time, although the dryer doesn’t get as thorough of a clean at the semi-annual mark like my washer does.

Good luck and happy cleaning!

Ok, so last week I shared how to clean your dishwasher, as well as some facts you may not know about gel detergent.  That post came after hours of hand washing every dish I own.  Ok, not literally, but it felt like it!  So, the recent drama in the move-in saga involves the washing machine.  In our apartment was a brand-new stackable washer and dryer.  You’d think there wouldn’t be any problems with them being BRAND-NEW, right?  Wrong.

I was doing load after load yesterday, trying to get everything clean so it could go in drawers and those boxes could go to the trash.  On the drain and spin cycle of my second load, the washing machine just stops.  Just turns off.  I went into to change the clothes over and there was like 10 inches of nasty blue water (it was a load of jeans) in the washer.  Ugh.  So, I thought, “Well maybe it’s got a stabilizer and it’s heavy on one side” so I moved the clothes around and turned the washer back on.  Nothing.  I thought “Well, maybe if I reset the cycle”.  Nothing.  Then I was getting super frustrated and tried the knob in just about every position on the washer.  Nope.  I unplugged it and plugged it back in.  Not that either.  I went and checked the breakers.  The washer and dryer switches are connected with a metal clip and they weren’t tripped.  Then I wondered if the washer was just loaded too heavy.  Extra large capacity, my rear end.  So, I took the jeans out of the washer.  Do you know how much water a pair of jeans will hold?!?  I had water ALL over the place.  UGH!

I told My Mr Right about it and he suggested everything I’d already tried.  He said he’d take a look when he got home from work.  And by then the dryer was freaking out too.  It would tumble, but would never heat up.  Of course, by the time My Mr Right got home, it was magically fixed and all he had to do was turn it back on.  GRRR!  So, I don’t know what was wrong with it.  However, he didn’t think I was a complete loony because after he turned it back on and it went through the drain and spin cycles, the lid wouldn’t unlatch.  Awesome, right?!  We have a possessed washer.  Fabulous.

This is for a top load washer only!  Don’t use this method with a front load.  See those instructions below.
1)  With no clothes in the drum, fill it full of hot water to the largest load setting.  When it begins to agitate, add 4 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda.  Let the machine agitate until it’s mixed well. Then, turn the machine off and let it sit for 30-45 minutes.

2)  After your wait time, turn the machine back on and let it run through a whole wash cycle.  On some machines you can adjust the knob to the spin cycle as your machine begins to drain.  Doing this will cause the machine to spin as it drains, further knocking gunk and grime loose.  Not all machines do this though, so if yours doesn’t just let it drain.

3)  After the machine is empty, take a rag and a 1:1 part solution of hot water and vinegar and wipe down the entire inside of the machine.  Make sure you get under the blades and agitator, as well as the inside of the lid.  If you have a bleach or fabric softener dispenser, either remove them and clean thoroughly or grab a toothbrush (the same one you cleaned the dishwasher with will work well) and scrub out all the gunk in the dispensers.

4)  Allow you machine to air dry before you use it.

Pretty simple right?  And, if you’ve noticed a smell coming from the machine, this will help (if not cure) the problem.  This method works with top load washers only.  So, DON’T USE THIS ONE ON YOUR FRONT LOAD MACHINE!  Those directions are below!

You should clean your washing machine once a year, at least.  I usually do mine every six months or so.  My Mr Right works out in the field a lot, so some of his clothes are pretty gross and grimy.

Ok, I don’t have a front load, so I’ve never done this before.  However, my mom does have a front load and this is what she does.

1)  Run the empty washer through a complete wash cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and nothing else.  No clothes or detergents.

2)  After your machine has completed a cycle use a wet rag sprinkled with baking powder to wipe down the inside of the washer, scrubbing any places that feel or look grimy.  Rinse with a half and half solution of hot water and vinegar (or lemon juice – I think the lemon juice smells better).

3) Scrub the inside of the door with a wet rag and some baking soda.  Rinse with the vinegar water solution.  Scrub the gaskets and door seals with your toothbrush and vinegar water.  Leave the door open to dry.  Let dry completely before using.

4)  Clean out your detergent dispenser.  Some of them come off the machine, and some don’t.  My mom’s doesn’t.  If it doesn’t, take your toothbrush and use just enough baking soda to lightly cover the bristles and scrub the entire compartment.  Rinse with vinegar water and let air dry.

Ways to help reduce the gunk that builds up in your washer:
(Found HERE)
–  Use less detergent.  You can usually use about half of the suggested amount of detergent and still get your clothes clean.  If anyone in your family (especially little ones) show a rash with no obvious explanation, decrease the amount of detergent you use and see if it helps.  If you have hard water, you may need to use more than half the suggested amount.  Play around with it and see what the ideal amount for your clothes and water is.
–  Run an extra rinse cycle.  My mom’s machine has a cool button that say “Extra Rinse”.  If yours has one of those, USE IT!  Mine does not.  For $400, you don’t get the cool “Extra” buttons.  If yours doesn’t, don’t fret.  After your machine finishes a wash cycle simply set the dial back to ‘rinse’ and let it go.
–  Instead of using commercial fabric softener, use vinegar.  It won’t leave an oily residue on your clothes or machine like some fabric softeners will.  Don’t worry about your clothes smelling like vinegar, they won’t.  It’ll wash out in the rinse and drying processes.

Enjoy your clean machine!  Click HERE to learn how to clean your dryer.