Clean These 5 Kitchen Items: Don’t Skip Them.

The pace of life can pick up some days. My go-to mantra these past few weeks – “it is what it is.” These 5 particular items somehow stop me in my tracks as I clean my kitchen.

Why?

Because when I clean, I want to be able to do the cleaning without putting anything extra.

I understand when I need to scrub the burnt grill or get the fridge purged once or twice a week.

But some days, I want to clean and go. I don’t want to spend extra time making sure they’re super sparkling clean. Are you the same with cleaning?

Hey, we don’t get to do what we want for easy cleaning. But, as homemakers, we make time for things that need attention. Additionally, the health of the family may depend on it as well.

So, grab your gloves, and let’s do it.

5 Kitchen Items need extra cleaning and attention:

1. Cutting Board 

When’s the last time your meat cutting board had a good scrubbing and soak?

Do you mean there are different cutting boards for food? I say yes; you may want to dedicate one cutting board for meat and one for produce.

The reason is food safety and handling. It makes sense not to use the cutting board for meat and chopping potatoes together. Some bacteria from the uncooked meat get picked up by other food items you’re preparing on the same board.

Keeping your cutting board clean after every use:

• Scrub your cutting board with salt and a lemon cut in half. Paying particular focus on crevices.

• Get hot soapy water in a small tub and clean your cutting board.

• You need to use a gallon of water + 1/3 cup of chlorine bleach to soak for 5 minutes. Then rinse with hot water – to remove the chemical solution. (Follow bleach safety guidelines for home use).

• Allow the cutting board to air dry and store in a clean place.

If you have a wood cutting board, choose it for produce or other items rather than meat. There are NSF-certified plastic cutting boards available in the market. Another alternative is a glass cutting board.

Whatever you use as your cutting board at home, be sure to clean and sanitize them properly. If the cutting boards are worn out – REPLACE them.

2. Under your microwave oven – grease filter

Have you taken a good look under your over-the-range microwave? Do you see that screen mesh filter with gunk in it?

Yes, that one underneath.

If you have your microwave manual handy in the kitchen, check how to remove it for cleaning. You can carefully remove it for most microwave models by unhinging one corner.

• Remove the screen. Soak with a fourth cup of baking soda with 4 quarts ot water with a few drops of diah soap for 10 minutes.

• After soaking, you can get a cleaning brush to scrub and then rinse with warm water.

• Say no to oil splatters and dust. Instead, grab your favorite cleaner to wipe down the entire bottom of your microwave.

3. Refrigerator: Water spout and ice dispenser

Hello, fridge!

If you have a refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser, you’ll see that this area gets nasty pretty quick.

Look closely at the water tip and make sure there isn’t any gunk-like white or, worse green stuff sticking around.

The ice dispenser spout can get easily dirty as your family uses it daily. So for your safety, pay attention to this area as much you’d want to get fresh, safe, and clean water.

• Never use a commercial cleaning agent or chemical on them.

• Opt for the simple tried and true – vinegar and water (V+W) solution.

• Fill out a small ziplock with equal parts of V+W.

• Wrap it around the spouts. Leave it to soak longer. Then wipe down.

• If you don’t want to soak, grab a spray bottle filled with V+W and use a soft cloth to wipe it down after spraying the spouts.

Related Post: Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To

4. Sink Grinder (Garbage Disposal)

Ever wonder what’s that smell when you’re by the sink?

Yes, it’s your garbage disposal.

It may be automatic for you to clean this weekly or more times during the week. But sometimes, life gets busy, and you forget.

Let’s tackle it together to get those slimy, grimy goop around and in it.

• TURN OFF the power to your garbage disposal. Please do this FIRST.

• Grab a sponge and your dish soap.

• Scrub the spout chamber sometimes, it can be stuck with all the gunk around it.

• Rinse your sponge and repeat cleaning it thoroughly and rinse with hot water.

• Now take your ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda – pour down the drain. COVER with your sink stopper.

• Let it do its magic. Then, wait for the fizzy to slow down.

• Once done, remove the cover, then flush your sink disposal with hot water.

• For the scent part: either grab a few lemon peels, drop into the chamber or a few drops of lemon essential oil with ice cubes – turn on the disposal for 20 seconds.

You can do the same for the other sink without the disposal. Clean as much as you can, then drop some lemon fragrance oil to freshen the smell.

5. Trash Cans

Include your trash can on your cleaning to-do list this weekend. Unfortunately, this kitchen item can get overlooked. The trash can may not get cleaned until it’s overly yucky looking to your sight.

A good scrubbing and rinsing will do the trick.

For quick clean up:

• Empty the trash.

• Grab your all-purpose cleaning spray and sponge to clean.

• From cover to the sides, then the bottom and pedals.

• Replace a new trash bag and freshen up with a fragrance spray.

For thorough cleaning of the trash bin with stuck food, liquid stains, etc.

• Empty the trash.

• Bring it to your bathroom and give it a good shower.

• Use dish soap and scrub those gunks off and rinse with hot water.

• Always dry out the trash can before using it again.

• Replace a new trash bag and spray it with your favorite essential oils.

Now that we’ve tackled those 5 Kitchen Items in your home to clean. Let’s give these items the proper cleaning and never forget it again.

Which one are you going to clean first? Anything you want to add to those kitchen items that get overlooked? Let me know in the comments.