Cooking may be fun, but cleaning up is not. Here’s how you can tackle the grime hiding in the darkest corners of your kitchen.
Mouldy cabinets
One cabinet that can’t seem to escape mould and mildew is often the one under the sink. Moreover, this space is often neglected as it’s usually reserved for all of our unsightly items, such as cleaning supplies and the rubbish bin.
To give it that well-deserved deep-clean, first tackle the clutter, then get hold of antibacterial spray and wipe down the entire interior, including any exposed pipes. Treat the spots that are growing mould with bleach or the white vinegar solution, then finally make sure that your sink doesn’t have any leaks to avoid future mould build-up.
Greasy filters
Credit: Franke
Oil-clogged range hoods can be a nightmare to clean, but with a few supplies, you can make your life much easier. Just fill your sink or a large bowl with boiling water and add degreasing dish detergent and some baking soda. Pop out your filters, let them soak in the cleaning solution for up to half an hour, then scrub them with a gentle brush to avoid damaging the material.
Repeat once a month to keep your filters in tip-top shape! Do note that this method only works for metal filters—fabric filters cannot be cleaned and need to be replaced every few months instead.
Mildewed racks
Credit: Tracy Hockings/Unsplash
One thing you definitely don’t want around your dishes? Mildew. Unfortunately, dish drying racks are notorious for accumulating it—not surprising considering that they are constantly exposed to dripping dishes.
If you take a close look at your dish racks and spot mildew, remove the crockery immediately and thoroughly scrub the racks using a white vinegar solution until they look as good as new. It’s as simple as that! The white vinegar can even get rid of rust, which is commonly found on dish drying racks as well.
Grubby edges
Credit: Cosentino
When we talk about cleaning the kitchen sink, what usually comes to mind is the drain. One part that is consistently overlooked is the edge where the sink meets the kitchen countertop and where a surprising amount of gunk can accumulate. To give this area of the kitchen a good clean, get hold of a small brush—a toothbrush works perfectly fine—and scrub around the edge of the sink with mild detergent.
Do keep in mind that what looks like dirt around the sink may in fact be a worn-out sealant. If your sink has been leaking into the cabinet underneath, it’s time to get it resealed. To entirely avoid this problem, consider installing an integrated sink, which is a sink and countertop in one, and made from the same material.
Crumb-filled corners
Credit: Annie Spratt/Unsplash
You may think that the cabinets you keep your dry goods in don’t need much cleaning. After all, they are rarely exposed to moisture. If you take a deep dive into those cabinets, however, you’ll find everything from cookie crumbs to spilt flour. To avoid attracting insects, make sure to clear out and vacuum your cabinets regularly. If you’re embarking on a deeper clean, wipe down the insides of your cabinets with a damp cloth and some mild detergent, then dry them thoroughly to avoid mildew build-up.
Sticky drawers
If you’ve been storing vegetables and fruits in your fridge drawers for a while and haven’t given those a thorough clean yet, go do that right now. Make a solution out of white vinegar and water, then clear out the drawers and take them out of the refrigerator for easier access.
Spray every side of the drawers, then proceed to scrub them from top to bottom. If your drawers are particularly grimy, you may want to soak them in a vinegar solution overnight.
If you need additional cleaning tools, check out these items that’ll make the job much easier.
A version of this article first appeared on SquareRooms.
