Kitchens are often the hub of a home and one of the busiest rooms in a house. It’s no wonder that it can also be one of the messiest rooms in the house, too. However, ridding your kitchen of grease spills and grime is as easy as following a few of the simple tips and technique listed below.

1.To start, you will need the following cleaning materials: buckets or other containers, brushes, rubber gloves, and cleansers.

2.Create your own kitchen cleaner and kitchen brighteners to clean up grease, grime, baked on stains and spills and to brighten counter tops and back splashes.

3. Use straight vinegar for shiny counter tops daily. For a nice, fresh smell, try cider vinegar.

4.Apply a baking soda and water paste to remove stains from laminate counter tops. Apply, allow to dry, then rub off and rinse.

5. With a paste of one part bleach and 3 parts baking soda, you can easily tackle tough stains.

6. Use a tile and grout cleaner and a toothbrush to remove dirt and mildew from tile grout.

7. Help your white appliances or enamel sinks that are starting to yellow with a little kitchen brightener.

8. Remove skid marks on linoleum floors with a spot of toothpaste just before mopping the floors

9. Remove hard water build-up in a teapot by pouring in 2 cups of vinegar and then bringing it to a boil. Let the vinegar simmer for 10 minutes and rinse the teapot thoroughly.

10. Use olive oil to clean stainless steel kitchen sinks.

About the Author: Kyna Woollery—Now that’s Organized, LLC™ Looking for more useful household cleaning and organizing tips? Visit www.nowthatsorganized.com to get your FREE “50 Solutions for Organizing Your World” idea-pak.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Tips to Help Organize the Kitchen

• Take an inventory of your kitchen supplies. Toss, give away, or have a yard sale with all the uneccesary and unused kitchen items. Once you have only the ones you use and need, you will want to sort the items by use and size.
• Simple changes can help with storage and organization. Many items don’t fit well in the cabinets. By hanging them from a frame with hooks, attached to the ceiling, it not only saves precious shelf space but also makes the pots and pans more accessible. There are tons of very pretty designs you can purchase. You can also make a simple one yourself using a wood frame, dowel rods and hooks. They can be mounted above the stove or an island (if you have one in your kitchen).
• The way your kitchen is laid out will have an impact in how you organize it. A kitchen island offers a wonderful workspace that also provides a good deal of storage. Sometimes you can find small islands on wheels that can be kept in a cupboard or pantry and only brought out when needed. These can be a helpful addition to a smaller kitchen.
• Storing bake wear near the oven is a practical way to set up your kitchen. Many ovens have a storage drawer in the base where you can keep cookie sheets and other metal baking items. Your other non metal baking supplies like spatulas, wooden spoons, and sprinkles, can be stored in drawers near the oven.
• Storing dishes, glassware and silverware near the dishwasher or sink makes for easier clean up. This reduces the amount of time it takes to put things away after washing. There are many kitchen cabinet organizers that can help maximize your space for storing your dishes as well.
• Make use of organization and storage units. They can really help make the most of your space. Even an extra set of shelves on top of the cabinet can increase your space. Canisters can help keep your baking supplies looking and the contents will last longer.

Every kitchen has a different layout and space. So, it may take some time and experimenting to see what organizing system works best for you. Once you get it all worked out, you will most likely be surprised at how much more space you have! Plus, your newly organized kitchen will save precious time in preparing meals for your family. Time you can now spend with them!

Copyright © Thou Shalt Clean!, All Rights Reserved

Do you have any tips for organizing the kitchen? Let us know! We would LOVE to hear them!

Start with small projects, things you can see improvement in quickly. Try organizing a closet. Sort through it and get rid of things you don’t need anymore. You can donate them, get them ready for a yard sale or just throw them away. As you make more room in your closet, think about ways to maximize your storage space. You can add shelves and other closet organizers.

As you move through the list, some projects may take more than a day. Take about 15 minutes to a half an hour a day working on your cleaning “to do” list. Before you know it, you’ve gone through the entire house and organized it. The trick now is to keep it organized.

Each day, keep up on maintaining your newly organized home. The key is to not get into the “I’ll do it later” mindset. Stay focused and keep at it and you WILL have an organized home and life…AND you will be a happier person! While it takes time and a bit of effort, it will be worth it once the house is clean, neat and organized.

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

OK…so when these things are goin’ on in el’ fridgeO…well, ya know…

• You have some old fruit that could be donated to science for a new type of penicillin.
• Your magnets have gone on strike.
• Your Baking Soda is fuzzy.
• There is something in there with a hairdo.
• Your milk is still in a glass container from the 50’s.
• There is a hardened mass at the bottom that may be used to cut diamonds.
• You would rather use the fast food ketchup packs than what’s in your ketchup bottle.
• You swear that something is living in the veggie bin.
• Your lunch meat has become jerky…and you didn’t plan it.
• You can smell the contents of your fridge from the living room.
• When there is a package in there that says cheddar, but you swear it’s Lindbergh.
• And…when what you thought were brussel sprouts are actually icicles.

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

Spring is in the air! It’s still chilly outside, but the glimpses of sunshine and warmer days are inspiring me to get out my cleaning supplies and begin my spring cleaning.

Every time I am in the middle of cleaning I think of other things I need to get around to doing and then forget about them later. I decided to sit down and make an exhaustive spring cleaning checklist. My list details every cleaning task I could think of, everything I hope to get around to taking care of this spring.

By no means, don’t think that you have to complete everything on this list. If you are a stay-at-home mom, you can probably comfortably accomplish at least two to three of these tasks a week. Get your kids involved and have them help!

Some days I won’t do any cleaning, and other days I might accomplish two or three of my spring cleaning tasks. If you work outside the home, it’s easy to let some of the cleaning go, but if you try to work in one or two small cleaning jobs on the weekend, you will be proud of your accomplishments. It’s amazing how cleaning just one small area of your house can make your whole day and make you feel like you got something done.

Kitchen

___ Clean Out And Organize Refrigerator
___ Clean Inside Of And Under Stove
___ Clean Microwave
___ Clean Toaster Oven
___ Clean And Organize Pantry
___ Clean And Organize Freezer
___ Wipe Down Inside And Outside Of Kitchen Cupboards

Bedrooms

___ Wash Or Dryclean Bedspreads
___ Organize/Purge Master Bedroom Closet
___ Organize/Purge Children’s Closets
___ Organize/Purge Children’s Toys

General

___ Wipe Down All Doors; Clean Door Handles & Moldings
___ Wipe Off Window Sills
___ Clean Inside Of Windows
___ Wash Or Dryclean Curtains
___ Dust Mini-Blinds
___ Clean Sliding Glass Doors Inside And Out
___ Remove Marks From Walls; Apply Touch Up Paint
___ Clean Wall Moldings
___ Dust Ceiling Fans
___ Dust Picture Frames
___ Dust Lamp Shades
___ Steam Clean Carpets
___ Steam Clean Furniture
___ Wash Out Wastebaskets
___ Dust Artificial Plants
___ Change Batteries In Smoke Detectors
___ Organize Linen Closet
___ Wipe Down And Clean Under Washing Machine And Dryer

Outside

___ Clean Up Flower Beds
___ Finish Raking Leaves
___ Prepare Planters For Planting
___ Clean And Fill Water Fountains
___ Straighten Storage Shed
___ Hose Down Patio
___ Clean Patio Furniture
___ Clean Windows On Outside
___ Inspect And Repair Window Screens
___ Wash Out Garbage Cans
___ Clean Barbecue

About the Author: Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

How about all of you?? Have you completed the challenge? Post a link to your picks or tell us abut it! If you have not, there is still time!

Will post an article in a bit!

Have a great day!

But cleaning your kitchen really doesn’t have to be an expensive or a dreaded chore. Follow these easy tips that will leave your kitchen sparking clean, and leave you with more free time as well!

An Ounce of Prevention…

- Every day before meals, fill the sink with hot, soapy water. When everyone is finished eating they can rinse their dishes and put them in to soak. If you have a dishwasher you’ll save wear and tear by loading it with dishes that are pre-rinsed.

- The sink should also be filled with soapy water while preparing meals as well. This way you can “wash as you go” and finish cooking without having a pile-up of pots and pans waiting for you.

- Keep a spoon rest on the stove and a paper towel on the counter to catch drips, spills and messes from serving and stirring spoons.

- Keep a supply of aluminum foil handy to cover casseroles before baking to prevent spills and burns. It’s also helpful to put a piece on the bottom of the oven to catch drips so when it’s time to clean the oven, it won’t be a day-long event.

- Lids from various sized butter or margarine containers make excellent “coasters” for jars and bottles in the fridge or cabinets. You’ll be able to catch spills from honey, syrups and oils and then simply wash the lid instead of the whole shelf.

- Scratch marks on a stainless steel sink are nearly impossible to remove, if at all, so prevention is critical for keeping your sink looking its best. Always use a rubber mat on the bottom of the sink to protect it from scrapes and marks from sharp knives.

More Tips to Quickly Clean The…

- Sink
An easy way to clean rust stains on a stainless steel sink or mineral deposits around faucets is to scrub the area with a simple lemon.

- Dishwasher
Rinse the filter after every use and regularly clean the moving components as well as the outer surface. Get rid of mineral deposits by running a cup of vinegar through an empty wash cycle.

- Refrigerator
Use a solution of baking soda and water to wipe down all of the shelves and surfaces, remember to rinse off jars and bottles before replacing them. Clean the bottom drain pan with warm, soapy water and clean the condenser coils on the back of the fridge twice a year using a vacuum cleaner and a small attachment. Even frost-free freezers need cleaned once a year also using baking soda and water. And don’t forget to place an open box in both the fridge and the freezer to absorb odors and keep foods fresh.

- Microwave
To remove dirt from the inside of the microwave, place a dish of hot water with a slice of lemon and set the timer until the water boils. The steam that is produced will dissolve the build up of dirt and make it a breeze to wipe clean.

About the Author: Hunter Pyle wrote this article to talk about some easy tips for cleaning your kitchen. Check out Kitchen and Much More for more cleaning ideas

The kitchen is the central place in the house and hence requires proper care. In order to keep the kitchen clean, the kitchen appliances should also be kept neat and clean. This will give a pleasing look to over all house. It will also get rid of the insects. We present some simple tips for cleaning kitchen appliances with baking soda which will also avoid use of harsher cleaners which damage appliances.

General Tips

Make a mixture of 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1 gallon of hot water to clean grease, grime as well as deodorize.

Baking Soda and White appliance surfaces

Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with a few cups of warm water to wash the outside surface of white appliances. Rinse it clean after 15 minutes to remove yellowing of the appliances.

Using Baking Soda to clean the Oven

Please keep your oven completely cool before attempting this solution. Spray the baking soda on the bottom of the oven to form a thick layer. Then with a spray bottle, spray the water on the soda to make it damp but not saturated. If the baking soda dries out, keep spraying the water. After repeating this procedure over several hours, scrape out the baking soda with a clean cloth. Finally rinse the bottom of the oven completely. Find out the shining oven with all the food particles removed out of it !

Baking Soda in cleaning the Microwave

Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of warm water to clean the inside of the microwave oven. Keep a box of baking soda in the microwave in between uses to control the odor in it. Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water in a microwaveble cup and boil in the microwave for a few minutes. It will make the inner surfaces damp and easy to clean as also remove the odors.

Baking Soda and Garbage

Put some baking soda onto the bottom of the garbage can beore replacing the plasic liner to eliminate odors. Similarly if you keep an open box of baking soda under the sink, you can easily get rid of foul smells there also. Whenever you fill a trash compactor spray little bit of baking soda in it.

Using Baking Soda in the Refrigerator

Just put an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator and freezer to remove the odors. You can ideally change these boxes once in every three months. If your refrigerator gives stale odors, wash the inner walls with baking soda and water. Sprinkle a little baking soda at the bottom of the crisper to make it odor free. Also keep a folded paper towel as a cover at the bottom on the crisper. Replace it every three months, just as you replace the soda boxes. You can make a mix of baking soda and water to clean food particles and rust residue in the refrigerator. Stains can also be easily removed by cleaning with baking soda. This will also eliminate the odor.

Johnny Waymire has a great free resource site, http://kitchen-appliance-advisor.com, containing practical and helpful information on how to purchase Kitchen Appliances that fit YOUR needs. Visit to find all the helps, brands and reviews to make your next purchase very informative.

For more on the weekly challenge and the wonderful reasons WHY you SHOULD join go here: http://thoushaltclean.com/?p=7

This Week’s Challenge Is:

The dreaded aweful unbelievably NOT fun to clean kitchen! ROFL!!! This will be a fun one…..NOT! LOL!!

This will be a TWO WEEK challenge since there is SOOOO much to do  in the kitchen…er…well, at least my kitchen! ROFL! We will check back on November 10ish.

Assignment Breakdown:

Get the science experiments cleaned out of your fridge.

Clean out your spice cabinet, pantry, and any other cabinets in need of attention!

Clean the stove and other appliances thoughouly.

Clean the counters.

Wipe the walls…especially behind the stove!

Sweep and mop the floors.

Quick Reminder:

Why should you participate?

You could WIN prizes! We will have a drawing every 6 weeks or so. With some surprise never know when drawings

What kind of prizes?

I have all sorts of ideas for prizes…maid service, organizational prizes, spa products to unwind from all the cleaning you will do…LOL, candles, cash, and more!

How do you participate?

OK, well, ANYONE can participate just because they want t clean their house! However, if you want to be included in our drawings, you need to do the following…

Each week (Monday) I will post the challenge for that week. To qualify for the contests follow these 3 easy steps:

1. You must be subscribed to this blog. How? Fill in your email in the upper right corner and follow prompts.

2. You must make a post on YOUR blog about that challenge each week and link back here http://thoushaltclean.com

3. Finally, you need to come back here and post a link to your post. It’s a link love prize fest! And cleaner homes to boot! WHOO HOO!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

I will randomly choose a winner from the posts and then verify the winner’s subscription!

Happy Cleaning!

- Baking soda or club soda will clean and shine stainless steel sinks easily. Simply apply directly to surface and scrub a dub dub. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

- After you’ve cleaned your refrigerator and freezer place an open box of baking soda in the back of each to help absorb odors for about a month.  This is also great for the pantry. Baking soda is a great Deodorant! Another great Deodorant tip: Put a few drops vanilla extract on a couple of cotton balls. Place it in the refrigerator. Replace monthly.

- To clean burned pans, sprinkle pans liberally with baking soda, adding just enough water to moisten. Let stand over night. In the morning, rinse with HOT water and wash as usual….well…LOL…you know what I mean.

Vinegar Ain’t Just for Salad Dressing!

- To Remove stubborn water spots from a stainless sink scrub with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol, lemon juice, or vinegar.

- Wipe refrigerator with vinegar after cleaning to help prevent mildew. Of course, CLEANING your fridge more often will help too! LOL!

Don’t You Wish Bleach Could be Used on Everything??

- To freshen up your “white” porcelain sinks, place paper towels across the bottom of your sink and saturate with bleach. Let sit over night and rinse.

- To get those stubborn stains off of the inside of you microwave; spray liberally with two parts water and one part bleach, heat on high for 15-20 seconds and let stand for one hour. The stains should come right off. For really stubborn stains heat for 30 seconds and let sit for 2 – 3 hours.

If you are REALLY a Wannabe Neat Freak , You will have PLENTY of These! LOL!!!

To clean baked-on food from a cooking pan, put a dryer sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit overnight then sponge clean. The anti-static agents help weaken the bond between the food and the pan and the fabric softeners will soften the baked-on food.

(more kitchen cleaning tips coming soon)

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved