10 Life-Changing Kitchen Cleaning Hacks That Save Time (and Actually Work)
1. Keep your disposal smelling fresh
Few things are quite as offputting as a smelly garbage disposal. To remedy that, use one of our favorite kitchen sink cleaning hacks: lemon ice cubes. To make them, simply fill an ice cube tray with lemon wedges, rock salt, and water. Once frozen, pop the cubes down the drain and run your garbage disposal until the ice is gone. Rock salt scrubs the blades while ice helps knock off any gunk and grime. The lemon helps keep your sink smelling fresh.
2. Rejuvenate old baking sheets using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
The dynamic duo of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can restore more than just your sinks and tub. It can make even your most battered baking sheets look brand new again. Simply sprinkle your sheet with baking soda followed by a few sprays of hydrogen peroxide, then finish with another layer of baking soda. Come back in a few hours to wipe your restored baking sheets clean.
3. Clean your oven while you sleep
Forget auto-clean. This high-temp oven setting is known to set off the fire alarm and can leave your kitchen in a smelly funk. Instead, fill up a spray bottle with a homemade solution of 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 1/2 cup baking soda. When the oven is cool, remove the grates and coat the inside with the solution, making sure to avoid the heating elements. Close the door and head to bed, letting the solution work its magic for up to 12 hours. When you wake up, clean the oven with soapy water and dry using a plush cloth.
4. Wash your oven rack
Powder detergent isn't just for laundry. Bring back the original shine of your oven racks without scrubbing (and potentially scratching!) by soaking it in a bathtub filled with powder washing detergent. Let it sit for at least four hours before removing and rinsing with clean water.
5. Polish woodwork with lemon oil and vinegar
Prefer natural solutions to commercial cleaners? This DIY wood polish leaves both a lovely scent and shine. To make it, fill a spray bottle with 1 part lemon oil to 1 part white vinegar. Spray the solution directly onto a dry microfiber cloth and use it to wipe down your cabinets, pantry door, and baseboards.
6. Use your vacuum to clean out cabinets
For another kitchen cabinet cleaning hack, use your vacuum to clean out cabinets. Instead of wasting time trying to pick up crumbs with a cloth, try the vacuum brush attachment to suck them up at the snap of a button. This cleaning technique works wonders on pantry shelves, too.
