I have tried to cover most of the areas in the kitchen spring clean, it does sound a lot but there are a few recipes in here as well.
If you plan in advance say 1-2 weeks before you clean you should have de cluttered made your cleaning products and thought about re organising your storage.
Once the room is clean finish it off with some new tea towels.
I will post more kitchen cleaning tips & recipes over the coming days.
I really hope this proves useful.
Save your orange peels and place them in a clean glass jar with white vinegar poured over them. In a few days, the orange essence will infuse into the vinegar and give you a fantastic-smelling homemade cleaning solution which once decanted into a spray will be perfect for cleaning the inside of the cupboards and the walls.
Prepare your walls by brushing them down with a feather duster or hovering them before you start washing them with a soft cloth and your homemade orange cleaner.
If you have tiles you may want to try this...
Grout Cleaner
Simply pour baking soda into a bowl and slowly add hydrogen peroxide until you have the consistency of paste. Spread it over the grout lines and press it in while you’re spreading. Then leave it for awhile. Then using warm water and a cloth simply wipe down the tiles being sure to scrub the grout lines as you work using either a nail brush or toothbrush.
If you have any paintwork then you can remove any "scuff marks" with the brilliant Magic Erasers, these are sponges that when dampened will remove any scuff mark. They are available from most supermarkets and cost very little and best of all environmentally friendly.
If you haven't cleaned your microwave in a while, then you might notice a build up of gunk. And if it's been sitting in there for a while, then the bits of food may have hardened to the point of making it almost impossible to remove. Thankfully, steam-cleaning the inside of the appliance with a vinegar-water solution will remedy the mess without much effort. Here's what you need to do.
First, gather your materials
Microwave-safe bowl
Toothpick or stir stick
Vinegar
Water
Sponge
Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the bowl. Measure based on how long you plan to steam your microwave for. Using half a cup of each liquid is good enough, but if it's in need of a deeper clean, then use one cup vinegar and one cup water.
Insert a toothpick or another small wooden object into the vinegar-water solution. This is a cautionary step that not everyone has to take, but it minimizes the chances of explosions. It's not necessary, but I like to do this just to be on the safe side. Bubbles will form on the toothpick or wooden implement, letting it boil without exploding. Bubbles can't form on really smooth surfaces, which causes it to boil into an explosion when the bowl is suddenly moved. Most plates and bowls aren't completely smooth, so you don't usually have to worry about this.
For this cleaning, I used a wooden stir stick instead of a toothpick since I didn't have any on hand.
Heat the bowl for five to 10 minutes, depending on how dirty the microwave is. When the time is up, leave it in for a minute or two to let it steam it up more.
After letting it sit for a bit, take the bowl out with oven mitts, because it's going to be very hot. Then, take a sponge and dip it into the hot vinegar-water mixture and scrub down your microwave. Most likely you won't need a sponge, and the gunk will come off easily with a few swipes of the rag or paper towel.
If you've got a dirty secret hiding in your kitchen, then it's time to take care of it. Instead of purchasing a chemical-filled oven cleaner, make your own to leave your oven looking sparkling clean. And guess what? This product costs basically nothing to make and doesn't involve breaking a sweat. You won't be embarrassed to open your oven during dinner parties ever again after trying this homemade cleaning concoction.
1/4 cup liquid dish soap
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
Zest of one lemon
1 tablespoon vinegar
Scrub sponge
Paper towels
Even if you're dealing with years of baked-on grime, giving it a quick wipe-down with warm, soapy water with a scrub sponge is a great starting point for tackling the mess. Rinse the sponge often to remove grease.
Mix together the ingredients until it resembles thick glue. The baking soda naturally scrubs without scratching, while the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap tackle all that gunk. Lemon zest offers a fresh scent along with the vinegar.
Remove the racks and use a paper towel or sponge to smooth the cleaner all over the inside of the oven, including the oven door. You'll see it start working right away, but don't be tempted to scrub! The longer the concoction sits, the better. Once you've run out of cleaner and the oven is coated, shut the door and let it work its magic for at least four hours.
Open the oven and use a damp scrub sponge to remove the cleaner, and also give a little scrub here and there. It's helpful to have a bucket of warm, soapy water nearby for this step. And without any serious scrubbing, the oven is noticeably cleaner
Set your oven to self-clean, and close the door. It's OK if some of the cleaner is hanging around in crevices or on areas that were really baked-on, but the entire oven shouldn't still be coated while it's cleaning. Allow your oven to run its self-clean cycle, and then let cool for at least an hour before the next step.
Open your oven and use a damp paper towel or sponge to wipe away any remaining cleaner and residue left over from the self-cleaning. The result is a sparkling-clean oven!
Take a few minutes and show your toaster some love. Along with ditching all the crumbs that sometimes make your toaster smell a bit singed, a clean toaster works better at evenly warming your favourite bread. And this easy cleaning process only takes a few minutes.Start by unplugging your toaster and giving it a little shake over your sink.
Check underneath your toaster for the crumb tray. Remove it and wipe clean.
Give your toaster another shake upside down and right side up without the crumb tray over your sink. You can even use a toothbrush or small brush to gently clean inside the toaster through the crumb tray opening.
Clean the outside of the toaster with your favourite cleaner, and your toaster is ready for crisping bagels!
Clean a stainless steel sink with baking soda.
Sprinkle evenly including the drain, scrub with an old toothbrush or sponge, rinse well and voila!!! clean sink
OR
Lemon and Salt
don't forget the disposal, scrub with an old toothbrush, slice lemons and pour on boiling water.
Use this lemon/vinegar ice cube trick to keep the disposal clean in the future.
Freeze lemon slices in vinegar. Run a few cubes through the disposal every few days to keep it fresh.(make sure you label them) not a good taste in your G&T.
Can you tell I'm a big fan of
cleaning with white vinegar. Having children I was always mindful about filling my
home with chemicals anyway, but mostly I love white vinegar because it does a
far better job than chemical cleaners. Plus it is really cheap!
We live in a hard water area so limescale build up is inevitable. I've tried
"proper" limescale remover in the past and haven't been too impressed, (not to
mention the fact limescale remover is highly corrosive and you have to go
through the faff of putting on gloves to use it). But a bit of white vinegar
will take the limescale right off with no elbow grease...
I soak a ball of cotton wool with white vinegar, place it over the affected area
and wrap the tap with a bit of clingfilm to keep it in place. If the limescale
is quite bad it is best to leave it over night, but I got impatient and whipped
the clingfilm and cotton wool off after a couple of hours. Which still left me
with nice sparkly taps:
No scrubbing necessary! I also used it to clean the shower because it is the
only thing that gets my shower head looking like new again.
TIP
Spend less time shining your sinks, taps and tiles by polishing them with turtle wax 
. The wax acts as a protective barrier preventing water and soap build up.
De- cluttering and organising under the sink
So you have a clean shiny sink now look in the cupboard underneath this probably needs a g de-cluttering, pull it all out and throw old 1/2 used bottles, also try and get rid of those chemical cleaners you may think you need them but really if you have children or you suffer from chest problems you will be happier using good old fashioned natural recipes.
Once you have de-cluttered and cleaned the floor you can start thinking of what you want to put back in. If you managed to de-clutter and sort out your new storage before hand this is the fun bit.
There are so many different solutions to under sink storage you don't need to spend £'s
here are a few of my favourite.
Front-loading washing machines are energy efficient and use less detergent than top-loaders, but they sometimes have a tendency to harbor mold and unpleasant smells. By giving your washing machine a quick clean once a month, you'll keep your front-loader fresh, which means cleaner clothes, too. This eco-friendly method doesn't use bleach, costs only pennies to make, and comes together with ingredients you already have on hand.
What You'll Need:
- 2 cups vinegar
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup water
- Scrub sponge
Directions:
Start by mixing together the baking soda and water in a small bowl. This is going to be the "detergent" for cleaning the washing machine. Pour the vinegar into a measuring cup and head over to your washing machine.
Add the baking soda mixture to the detergent container of your machine and pour the vinegar into the drum. Set your washer to normal load at the hottest water setting. Close the door and start the machine, letting it do all the hard work for you.
The baking soda and vinegar naturally break up mineral deposits and any mold growth while cleaning and refreshing your washing machine.
Use a clean scrubber to rub around the opening of the washing machine, removing stubborn mold or residue. Wipe clean with fresh water.
Clean your fridge with baking soda and hot water. Soap or detergent can leave behind a scent that will affect the food
set the temp @ 40*F 5*C any warmer then you risk growing harmful food bacteria.
Are your drawers humid? check humidity in crisper & deli drawers each needs to be correct humidity for optimal freshness.
Love your leftovers these can be stored up to 4 days in clear glass containers, seeing what food is left over helps you eat them up sooner.
Never mix fruit veg & meat in the same crisper- cross contamination leads to spoilage and food waste.
Don't store your milk or quick to perish food in the fridge door where temperatures can fluctuate, store milk in a safe zone on the second shelf.
Store raw meat and fish on the bottom shelf to prevent drips contaminating food below. Wrap meat products properly.
De clutter crowds air needs to circulate round food to keep it cool. an overly stocked or crowded fridge can create hot spots and cool spaces causing spoilage.
Keep it whole don't slice food until your ready to eat it unless your freezing the lot.
Fruit veg and meat spoil quicker when sliced.
Fridge rotation before your next shop move older food from the back of the fridge and move to the front, you will see what's in stock.
Keep it clean wipe spills and mess up quickly to keep your fridge clean & fresh.
Remove expired food making space for fresher left overs and fresher food you will want to eat
Add this to your monthly cleaning schedule
EGGS: Middle shelf. MILK, YOGURT, SOUR CREAM, ETC: If possible, bottom shelf where it’s coldest, if not, middle shelf. RAW MEAT: Bottom shelf, where it’s coldest, and so if juices drip down they don’t contaminate other food. VEGETABLES: They need the most humidity. FRUIT: Need a little less humidity than vegetables — keep them in the crisper. DELI MEAT: That’s what the shallow drawer is for. If you don’t have a shallow drawer, put them on the bottom shelf. BUTTER, CHEESE, CONDIMENTS, PASTEURIZED JUICES: They can go in the warmest part of the fridge, the door. Or the top shelf.
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If possible add a turntable to a shelf
Lets look at the kitchen cabinets inside and out & start with the chinaware.
Take everything out and chuck out anything chipped, broke or even mismatched. I only have white, no patterns then if we break anything its easily replaced.
We seem to have a lot of mugs!!! I am wondering what they get up to once the door is closed! but I know realistically I hang on to them with the thought that the British Army may pop over for a coffee one morning (it's a possibility some live 5 mins away) or the children have collected them over the last 30plus years and I keep them for sentimental reasons. But lets make 2015 a clutter free year , I am prepared to support any counselling sessions we may need.
Here are a few things we can do with our old mugs & cups if we really can't get rid of them.
     What lovely ways to celebrate Spring
If you have done your de-cluttering then you may have already made some of these ready to go into your clean shiny kitchen, if you don't collect china like its going out of fashion then pop down to the charity shop and pick up a couple of pretty cups, this actually sounds a bit of a contradiction but Spring is about new and you don't have to buy loads and they don't have to go in the kitchen.
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My cabinet doors always need cleaning! but being so busy with my business they just get a lick & a prayer. I keep daydreaming about replacing them all…so I tend to ignore them in the meantime. But for the Spring Clean they really need a good seeing to and they really can't wait much longer the other day, upon close inspection, I discovered a considerable layer of grime that had been accumulating on them that I hadn’t even noticed! Especially near the handles where all our grimy hands touch them over and over.
It will soon be time to mix up a batch of this stuff.
Kitchen Cabinet Gunk Remover
1 part vegetable oil
2 parts baking soda
Mix together with a spoon and go crazy! I like to use my fingers when I use baking soda because I feel like I can really work the fine grains of baking soda into the surface best that way. But you can certainly use a cloth or a sponge if you prefer to keep your hands mess-free. Use an old toothbrush to get into all the crevices. Believe me this really works and its amazing when you see the dirt and gunk come off.
For the insides just a spray of water and some washing up liquid. When it comes to the food cupboard again clear it all out, check dates, check 1/2 used jars if they are ok all they will need is a good clean around the outside.
Any jars with food that need to be thrown, empty out and maybe keep a couple of the jars and soak the labels off for stubborn remains rub with a little
Baking Soda
Vegetable Oil
That’s it!! Mix equal parts of the two to form a runny paste.
These can be used to store your homemade cleaning products.
Baking Soda really IS an amazing substance! I could wax poetic about the stuff…but I will refrain. Bottom line – it works great as an abrasive cleaner that won’t harm your surfaces and its easily found and costs pennies.
Last but not least the floor will now need a thorough hoover and mop.
If you have a tiled floor you may want to clean the grout this can be do
All you need
3.5 Cups of Hot Water + 1/2 Cup of Baking Soda + (half of )1/3 Cup Vinegar + 1/3 Cup of Lemon Juice.
So you're probably wondering why I wrote half a 1/3 cup of vinegar...the answer is it's easier than saying .16666. Just fill a 1/3 measuring up half way... You can obviously adjust the amounts to fit the job, but with these measurements there is plenty to clean a tile floor and plenty left over for the next time.
Okay, so once you have your tile floor grout cleaner concoction mixed, pour it into a spray bottle. Spritz it on the grout and let it sit on there for a few minutes before you start scrubbing.
Now is where the elbow grease comes in - take a nail brush and start scrubbing.
Floor Cleaner
Mix one cup each of
white vinegar and baking soda, plus a tablespoon of
homemade dish soap into 2 gallons of hot water. Mop your floors with this mix to keep them clean and shining.
Homemade Liquid Dish Soap Recipe
3 cups water
2 tablespoons grated bar soap– any soap is ok
1/4 teaspoon washing soda
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerine
Mix the water, grated soap, and washing soda in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the mixture is hot and all the ingredients are dissolved. (If it simmers or boils, that’s ok–just make sure everything is completely dissolved.)
Remove the mixture from the heat, and mix in the vegetable glycerin and essential oils. (If it’s very hot, allow it to cool slightly before adding the essential oils)
Pour the liquid dish soap mixture into a jar and allow it to sit at room temperature for 6-12 hours. It will thicken during this time. I like to give it a stir every couple hours (if I think of it), but you don’t have to.
When you are ready to use it, give it a vigorous stir (it might seem too thick at first, but should easily soften once you start stirring) and pour into a soap pump or squeezable container. (I repurposed an empty dish soap bottle)
Give it a shake, and enjoy doing those dishes with your very own homemade liquid dish soap!
I loved the consistency of this dish soap–it’s thick enough to stick to the dishes, but not chunky.
Important Note* Keep in mind that your results may vary a bit depending on the type of bar soap you use my soap is quite hard. I also tried this with a softer ho soap (containing ingredients such as coconut oil and olive oil), and I had to tweak the ingredients a bit.
For the batch using the softer bar soap, I had to increase the soap flakes to 3 tablespoons and the washing soda to 1/2 teaspoon. You may even have to go as far as 4 tablespoons of soap flakes and 1 teaspoon of washing soda.
However, there is a fine line–and I found that adding too many soap flakes makes it too thick, and too much washing soda results in it separating into cloudy chunks.
Now that I have the basic formulation down, I plan on doing more experimenting with different types of soap–including some “brand name” bars, so stay tuned!
Here are a few of my favourite combinations:
- 15 drops lemon, 10 drops grapefruit, 10 drops juniper berry (my most favorite!)
- 10 drops lemon, 10 drops grapefruit, 10 drops wild orange, 10 drops lime
- 15 drops lemongrass, 15 drops tangerine
- 15 drops wild orange, 15 drops peppermint
- 20 drops lemon, 15 drops eucalyptus
- 15 drops lemon, 15 drops thyme
- 5 drops cinnamon or cassia oil, 20 drops wild orange
These combinations are suitable for any of the homemade cleaners
Last but not least clean the windows and any window dressings
Window cleaner
10 ounces rubbing alcohol (vodka)
10 ounces water
3 teaspoons vinegar
splash of blue food coloring (optional)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in spray bottle and gentle shake to mix.
