Keeping the kitchen clean and well-maintained has always been a headache for housewives. Grease, rust, and vegetable juice are all difficult to deal with. Walls and countertops need to be cleaned and shiny, making it a tedious task. However, kitchen cleaning and maintenance are not difficult. Here are some small tips for kitchen cleaning and maintenance.
(1) Cleaning and maintenance of kitchen cabinets
Usually, kitchen cabinets have basic moisture-proof treatment, but they should not be directly or for a long time exposed to water to prevent damage to the boards. If there are water stains on the cabinet surface, they should be immediately wiped dry with a dry cloth. For daily cleaning, a slightly damp cloth is sufficient. For more difficult stains, a neutral cleaner and a dishcloth can be used for gentle brushing. Regular disinfection can be done by wiping with a 1:1 dilution of bleach and water. Cookware and dishes should be dried as much as possible before placing them in the cabinet to avoid direct scratches from sharp objects. Do not use a steel brush for washing.
(2) Cleaning and maintenance of kitchen countertops
Generally, countertops can be cleaned with a damp cloth. If there are stains, they can be cleaned with soap water and a neutral cleaner. Avoid using strong chemical cleaners. When dealing with stubborn dirt, soap water, stain remover, and a dishcloth can be used to gently wipe in a circular motion. In addition, special attention should be paid to avoid direct contact between some chemicals, such as dye removers, turpentine oil, and acetone, and the countertops. Also, hot pots should not be placed directly on the countertops. Heat-resistant pads should be placed on the countertops to prevent damage. Although countertops are easy to repair, there are still some precautions to take, such as using a cutting board when cutting things instead of cutting directly on the countertops. Finally, preventive measures should be taken to keep the kitchen utensils in new condition.
(3) Cleaning and maintenance of range hoods
When maintaining the range hood, unplug it first to avoid electric shock. The best way to maintain it is to wipe the outer shell with a dry cloth dipped in a neutral cleaner after each use, and regularly clean the fan blades and inner walls with a stain remover. For range hoods with oil filters, the filters should be soaked and cleaned with a neutral cleaner every half month. As for the switches and the inner layer of the oil cup, they can be covered with plastic wrap for easy cleaning in the future, just tear it off and replace it. A little tip for cleaning range hoods: the oil filter in the range hood can filter out grease, reduce the burden on the motor, and avoid dripping oil. When the oil filter and oil cup are dirty, soak them in a neutral cleaning solution for 15 minutes, and then rinse with clean water. If there are stubborn grease stains, soak them in a cleaning solution with some ammonia for a while, and they will be easily removed. In addition, pour a little diluted dishwashing liquid into the cleaned oil cup to make the next cleaning easier.
(4) Cleaning and maintenance of kitchen accessories
Generally, the external parts of kitchen accessories are treated with electroplating, so daily cleaning and maintenance can be done with a damp cloth. If there are rust spots on stainless steel accessories, you can purchase stainless steel maintenance solution from department stores or hardware stores to wipe them, and they will restore their shiny appearance. In addition, pots and pans to be placed in the cabinets should be dried or air-dried first to avoid direct contact between water drops and the hardware inside the cabinet, which can extend the service life of the hardware.
