I think little elves live in my house.
And not the good kind, like in that story where the shoemaker wakes up and all his work is done.
Mine are filthy, dirty buggers.
Every night, before I go to bed, I totally clean the kitchen and put everything away. I love coming down in the morning to have breakfast to a nice, shiny, organized kitchen.
But that is not what greets me every morning.
Somehow, between the hours of 11pm and 7am, a party has happened. That is my only explanation for the dirty dishes in the sink, the crumbs on the counters and floors, the dried up crust on the stovetop and the smelly fridge. This is not how I left it!
I know I should stay on top of everyone and make them clean up after themselves, but honestly, sometimes that is just too frustrating. So I throw a tantrum and everyone stays away from me and my kitchen for awhile.
Good because my kitchen is overdue for some serious spring cleaning, I did some research and have found 17 kitchen cleaning tips and hacks that will help you to super clean your kitchen from floor to ceiling!
And the added bonus is that all the cleaning products you need to start cleaning right this minute, you probably already have on hand. For full ingredient lists and tutorials, be sure to click through the corresponding images.
So let’s get started.
17 Clever Kitchen Cleaning Tips From The Pros
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The germy, stained sink
Your sink gets a lot of abuse. If it is anything like mine, it has scratches and dings plus discolouration from coffee. Well this tutorial will make it look shiny and new! And all you need is Cleaning Vinegar, baking soda, Dawn liquid soap and some elbow grease.
The smelly garbage disposal
This idea is pure genius! This hack will not only clean and sanitize your garbage disposal, it will make your whole kitchen smell fresh and clean. Grab a few lemons, cleaning vinegar and put them into Ice Cube Trays for easy and handy individual uses.
The sticky fridge
Usually I clean my fridge on a “as needed” basis. As in, when it gets so disgusting and sticky or when company is coming and they may go into it for any reason. But honestly, I should add it to my regular cleaning routine because a dirty fridge coupled with bad food is a health hazard.
This is going to take you a little longer to do then the other hacks but you are going to feel so much better when it is done. Click through for a complete list of products and tools required.
The crumb filled, moldy fridge gaskets
Go check out the seals around your fridge doors. I’ll wait…
Are you grossed out? Not only do dirty gaskets breed bacteria, they can also severely decrease the efficiently of your fridge which will cost in you electricity bills.
Better get some Vinyl Gloves and a Filter Mask
for this job. You will be using bleach. Don’t forget to wear old clothes too. I can’t tell you how many times I have ruined something black when using bleach.
The dull, finger painted fridge
I love stainless steel. I hate my fridge looking like the sidewalk outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
Make your fridge and other stainless steel appliances shine and stay fingerprint free longer with this hack using olive oil. Yes, you heard that right. Make sure you are using a Microfiber Cleaning Cloth so you don’t scratch the beautiful surface.
The cloudy windows
When is the last time you cleaning your windows? No, I meant the outside of them? If it has been as long ago as it has for me, you need to suck it up and get it done. This post has 16 different hacks that will help you get everything clean, including your blinds!
Handy tools like a Swiffer, Car Wash Brush with Extension Handle
and a Lint Roller
makes easy work of this big job.
No one likes track lines
One of the most difficult areas to clean properly in your kitchen are the sliding door tracks. Dirt builds-up and gets caked in and it is difficult to get in there and clean it all out properly.
All you really need is an old Toothbrush, Cleaning Vinegar
and Baking Soda
to get the job done quickly and easily. Use Paper Towels
or Cleaning Cloths
with a Butter Knife
to get right into all the corners for a thorough job.
The dirty ceramic tile floor grout
I was actually going to have my grout re-done in my kitchen before I found this super trick! Works on any tile you have in your house. Floor, backsplash, shower.
First lay down some Baking Soda, then mist using a Spray Bottle
filled with Cleaning Vinegar
. Let sit then work out the dirt and grime using a Toothbrush
or Scrub Brush. Wipe down with Paper Towels
or a Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
to reveal brand new looking grout. I am telling you. This hack is amazing!
The sticky baseboards
Baseboards take a kicking. Literally. So go ahead and grab my favourite go to cleaning solution, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and get to work. Finish up with a swipe using dryer sheets to repel dust and keep them clean longer. That is flipping genius!
The greasy, grimey kitchen cabinets
All those sticky fingers opening cabinets have left their mark. Not to mention greasy cooking. Remove that film with Dawn, Cleaning Vinegar, Baking Soda and if they are really bad, you may need good old-fashioned Borax
. Finish off with Mineral Oil
to make your cupboards look brand new and resistant to new build-up. For a week at my house anyway.
The, aren’t they supposed to be white, ceilings
Ok. So why didn’t anyone tell me there is a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Mop? Information I could have used a long time ago! This thing is heaven on a stick.
The splattered counters
Granite countertops are gorgeous but you have to take care of the to keep them clean and hygenic. Yeah. I didn’t know that! Check out the post below for a list of do’s and don’ts as well as a tutorial on how to clean them using warm water and gentle dish soap. You can also buy granite specific cleaner, like Method Daily Granite Cleaner – Orange Tangerine or Granite Gold Daily Cleaner
.

The volcano encrusted stove top
I can’t stand how dirty my stove top gets. It seems like it is ruined but fear not, all that baked on film will come off using baking soda, Dawn and Hydrogen Peroxide. Use a gentle brush to get off the stubborn stains and a microfibre cloth to buff the surface clean.

The splattered oven
You are going to kiss me when you read this post I found! There are many tutorials that will show you how to clean between the glass of your oven door but they all involve making a device to shove in the side holes to get in there. That never worked for me as I could never get some areas entirely clean. This post will show you how to take your over door apart. Yes, apart. Of course you are on your own getting it back together again. lol Trust me, it is easy.
The crusty stove racks
Now that the rest of the oven is looking all sparkly, you need to clean those racks too so that they gleam. Household cleaners and a Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scour Pad should do the trick.
The splattered microwave
This method is pure genius. You actually let the microwave do some of the work!
The crumb filled toaster
I can never seem to get out all the crumbs from my toaster. How did I not know about using a Pastry Brush to get into all the nooks and crannies. Ah, probably because I have never made pastry. Duh!
I hope I have inspired you to get a jump on your spring cleaning and get your kitchen sparkly clean. When you are done, reward yourself with a nice, dinner our somewhere. You don’t want to mess your kitchen up!
Oh, and hire a guard to keep everyone out of the kitchen while you are away.
Karen
Thursday 22nd of August 2019
Hi. I’m in the U.K. What can I use instead of Dawn? Thanks!
Elena Peters
Saturday 24th of August 2019
I believe the equivalent is Fairy.