8 Kitchen Cleaning Hacks for a Less Stressful Home

Not sure about you, but when I come home after a long day at work, the last thing I want to see is a dirty kitchen. For a while now, I’ve realized I’m one of those people that need a decluttered home to keep a decluttered mind. Turns out, I’m not alone. Otherwise, the Marie Kondo sensation would have never kicked off.

However, I’m also aware that not everyone – including myself – has the time to clean their kitchen every other day. Determined to help me (and you) streamline your cleaning process, I went to our best friend the Internet to find the ultimate kitchen cleaning hacks to save us time and keep our kitchens ready for unexpected guests.

1. Lemon for a Fresh Disposal

We all know that our disposal can get smelly from time to time. Beat back the odor using lemon ice cubes. Make ice cubes from white vinegar, lemons, and rock salt. Throw these cleaning ice cubes down your disposal and run it. Enjoy the instant fresh smell.

GR8 Tip: Make sure to label these to prevent anyone from adding them to their flavored water.

2. Overnight Oven Cleaner

While the auto-clean feature of your oven is a lifesaver, the weird smells that stay in your kitchen are not worth it. Instead, mix water, white vinegar, and baking soda. Coat your oven with this solution, close the door, and enjoy a reinvigorating sleep. The next day, clean the oven with soapy water and a dry cloth.

GR8 Tip: If the smell of white vinegar is not your favorite, add a few drops of lemon essential oil to keep things fresh.

3. Freshen the Trash Can with Cotton Balls

It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you eat, garbage stinks. Stop wasting your air fresheners and candles in masking the smell. Soak a few cotton balls in essential oil and drop them in your trash can. It’s an easy and inexpensive odor-fighter that’s also natural.

GR8 Tip: Have a small container of soaked cotton balls next to the trash can for easy access. Change them every week to keep the scent strong and fresh.

4. Use Flour to Shine Your Steel Sink

Everyone with a steel sink knows too well that no matter how many times you clean it, it still looks dull. Bring your steel sink back to its glory with this kitchen cleaning hack. Make sure your sink is clean and dry, sprinkle flour all over and buff using a dry sponge.

GR8 Tip: For an extra buffing element, add some salt and baking soda to leave your sink sparkling.

5. Clean Your Dishwater with White Vinegar

Your dishwasher should be there to clean your dishes. But, if when you open it, all you see is hard water stains all over, it might be time to clean your dishwasher for a change. Add a bowl of white vinegar and place it right-side up. Run the dishwasher and see how the hard water stains disappear in front of your eyes.

GR8 Tip: Do this at least once every two weeks to make sure your dishwasher stays clean. You can also add the vinegar when you’re washing your dishes to prevent hard water stains on them.

6. Lemons for a Fresh Microwave

Here’s my absolute favorite kitchen cleaning hack. There’s a lot of dirt in your microwave, and sometimes getting rid of all that gunk can be a challenge. Place a lemon cut in half in the middle of your microwave, turn it on for 1 minute. Carefully, take the lemon out and using a paper towel, wipe off the grease and dirt stuck on your microwave walls and dish.

GR8 Tip: For extra help, wait for the lemon halves to cool down. Dip the lemon in baking soda or salt and use them to scrub away all the dirt and stains.

7. Keep Your Cabinets Clean with Wax Paper

Getting rid of the dirt accumulating inside your cabinets is not an everyday job. However, if you’re anything like me, whenever the deep-cleaning day comes, you’re already exhausted once you hit the cabinets. Protect your cabinets by lining them with wax paper.

GR8 Tip: If you have the time, use contact paper to line all your cabinets, this way, you’ll make sure your cabinets don’t get stained, and it makes them easier to clean.

8. Hydrogen Peroxide for a Squeaky-Clean Fridge

Cleaning your fridge is often put off, if we can come up with an excuse not to do it. Take everything out of your refrigerator. Then, spray every inch of it with hydrogen peroxide to get rid of bacteria, fungus, and other nasty elements growing inside your fridge. Wipe down using a paper towel or dry cloth. Put everything back in and enjoy your clean fridge.

GR8 Tip: When you do this, take a chance to organize your fridge using small bins, markers, and labels. Organizing your fridge will make cleaning much faster and easier.

Keeping your kitchen clean doesn’t have to be a hassle. Follow these kitchen cleaning hacks to keep your kitchen sparkling and your stress levels low.