After days and weeks of renovations its easy to get lost in the mesmerizing quality of a new Kitchen or Bathroom, but as life resumes some normalcy how can you keep your new Kitchen and Bathroom looking new? Here are some Kitchen and Bath Cleaning tips to keep your new space as mesmerizing as Day One!
“It’s so beautiful, I’m scared to use it!” We hear this phrase at project closing all of the time and we understand! Everything about a fresh renovation is shiny and new, and homeowners initially have a hard time letting loose and using their new space, however over time dust settles…literally!
Kitchen Cleaning Tips:
Boil Your Greasy Range Hood Filter
Cleaning your Range Hood Filter is recommended 1-2 x a year. A greasy clogged up hood filter blocks airflow and can lead to unwanted damages and poor performance later. To clean your filter, you will need: a large pot (big enough to fit at least half of your filter), water, and ½ cup of baking soda. Fill your pot with water and bring to a boil, once the boil has been achieved slowly, let me repeat that again, SLOWLY add the baking soda. The pot will get fizzy, this is normal! Once all the baking soda has been added place your hood filter in the boiling water and let it site for a few minutes. Once the whole filter has been in the boiling water, rinse off with hot water from your tap. Once the water runs clear you have a clean filter!
Get Pasty with Your Sticky Kitchen Cabinets
Kids, Pets, Life, all can really add grime and dirty up your cabinets and if you are not used to wiping them down on a regular basis then that dirt and grime builds up. Owners of white and lighter colored cabinets have the blessing and curse of being visually aware of any build up, however the darker the cabinets the dirtier they are up close.
To clean off dirt and grime mix 2 parts of baking soda with 1 part of dish soap and 1 part water in a small bowl. Using a microfiber cloth apply the paste and rub the dirt off, then use a damp cloth to remove any residue. Finally, use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the surface clean.
Stay Away from Your Ovens Self Cleaning Function!
Running your ovens self-cleaning function is easy but can lead to horrible smells and searching for the owner’s manual. Cleaning the oven yourself is easier than you might believe. It takes some time, but the lack of smell and stress will make the time commitment worth it.
First, start by removing the racks from the oven and soaking them in hot soapy water for a few hours and then scrub with a sponge. Dawn dish soap is notorious for being hard on grease and is highly recommended!
To clean the inside of the oven without harsh chemicals make your own cleaning paste by mixing 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to the inside of your oven and leave for 30 minutes. Then using a soft sponge soaked in white vinegar to scrub away the baked-on grime. Finally, wipe out the paste using a microfiber cloth.
Dishwashers Need Cleaning Too
Looking at the bottom of your dishwasher will reveal that not all things are washed away in the Dishwashing cycle. Hard water, grease, and food particles attach to the bottom and walls of your dishwasher and can eventually lead to operation issues. Deep cleaning your dishwasher is recommended 1-2 times a year. Check out this amazing article by The Spruce to see how simple and satisfying it is to deep clean your dishwasher.
Steam Clean Your Microwave
The vinegar-microwave trick is one that we are all familiar with now, but no matter how often we hear about it the truth is that it works!!!! Mix 1 cup of water and ¼ cup of vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat on high for 3 minutes. Once the time is finished, leave the bowl inside untouched for 2 minutes and let the steam do the work. Remove the bowl carefully with oven mitts (it is very hot) and wipe down the inside with a microfiber cloth. Little tip: I put a little bit of the mixture on the cloth to help everything slide off smoothly.
Bathroom Cleaning Tips:
Soak Your Shower Heads
Cleaning the shower heads is the last thing you would consider when cleaning the bathroom, but hard water stains and rust can deteriorate any showerhead, not to mention the water coming out of the showerhead is landing on you!
To clean a showerhead, it is very simple. You will need a Ziploc bag, rubber band, hot water, and white vinegar. Mix equal parts of the water and vinegar in the bag and place over the shower head tying off the top with the rubber band. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then remove the bad and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away and loose dirt and particles.
Soap Up Your Glass and Tile showers
For a period of 2 months in my 20’s I worked as a maid and my favorite job was cleaning glass and tile showers! The process can get a little wet, but the outcome is worth the soggy feet.
You will need dish soap (Dawn in highly recommended), a scrub sponge, a QT or Circle K Cup, and a Squeegee. Start by rinsing off the walls of the water, then take the dish soap and apply to the walls. Using the sponge scrub in the dish soap in a circular motion. If you have a tile shower with grout be sure to scrub in the seams. Once the entire shower is a circular soapy mess, rinse the soap off by using the QT cup. Fill the cup with water and at the top of the wall let the water cascade down. Follow up with the squeegee to squeeze off the water. As a finishing touch on glass showers, I do use a window cleaner on the outside of the glass to add a shine!
The Key to Streak less Mirrors and Windows
You know you’re an adult when you have a favorite window cleaner, mine just happens to be Sprayway Glass Cleaner, which you can find in any grocery store. The key to a streak less mirror is a two-part system! First spray down the mirror or window with the solution and then using a Newspaper wipe in circular motions. Then spray the window down again with the solution and using the microfiber cloth wipe horizontally and then finish up by using the dry side of the cloth to wipe vertically.
Mouthwash is a toilet cleaner?
In Arizona we experience hard water and the stains that are left on the toilet bowl are hard to remove. Instead of turning to harsh chemicals and scratchy SOS pads, grab your mouthwash! That’s right your mouthwash doubles as a great toilet bowl cleaner!
Pour approximately 1 cup of mouthwash into the toilet bowl and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Once the time is up scrub the bowl down with a toilet brush and flush. Its as easy as that!
Scrub Away the Years on Your Tile Flooring/Grout
The last thing you want to do while cleaning is getting down on your hands and knees and scrubbing grout, I feel you! However, if you have an area where the grout is horrendous or that white grout you thought was a good idea is now as grey as your grout alternative here is the best homemade grout cleaner recipe that I have found. You will need 1 cup of Dawn and 1 Cup of Vinegar mixed in a spray bottle. Disclaimer: the smell is a little overwhelming. If you are pregnant or have a hard time with harsh smells, I highly recommend using a mask or opening as many windows as possible.
Once you have your mixture spray on the grout and leave for about 5 minutes. Then using a small scrub brush scrub through the grout seams and rinse off with a wet microfiber cloth. You will be surprised the difference it can make on your floors, standing showers, and even backsplashes.
