House cleaning can be a boring task. It’s repetitive, requires effort, and most importantly, it requires your time. The time you would probably much rather spend in a different way, enjoying things you love.
However, when you clean your home half-heartedly like that, you will often miss certain areas, no matter if deliberately or accidentally. We asked experienced cleaning professionals at Eco Mama Cleaning to tell us which parts of the kitchen people most often forget to clean.
The Dishwasher
The first item on our list is the dishwasher. It’s usually one of those things we forget to clean because it cleans itself, right? But that’s not entirely true. Over time, grease, food particles, and detergent can build up in your dishwasher and cause it to work less efficiently.
To clean it properly, you should at least once a month run it empty on the hottest setting with a cleaning product specifically made for cleaning your dishwasher. You can buy these at any store, but those are generally not very eco-friendly. Instead, you can go for an equally effective homemade solution. All you need is a cup of white vinegar in the detergent dispenser, and the same procedure.
Inside the Kitchen Cabinets
Another part of the kitchen that people often forget to clean is the inside of their kitchen cabinets. We tend to forget about these because we don’t see them every day, and they’re usually not that dirty. However, if you don’t clean them regularly, grease and dust will build up, and when you do finally decide to clear them out, it will be a lot harder than it needed to be.
To clean the inside of your kitchen cabinets, all you need is a damp cloth and some elbow grease. If the cabinets are very greasy, you can use a bit of dish soap on the cloth to help you out. Once you’re done cleaning, make sure you dry the surface with a clean cloth to prevent water stains.
The Garbage Disposal
The garbage disposal is another kitchen appliance that we often forget to clean. Even though it doesn’t come into contact with food, it can still get pretty dirty. Grease and food particles can build up over time and cause bad odors.
To clean your garbage disposal, you can use a number of different methods. One is to simply put some ice cubes in it and turn it on. The ice will sharpen the blades and clean off any grease or food particles. Another method is to pour half a cup of baking soda down the disposal and then add half a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes and then run the disposal. The baking soda and vinegar will react and clean the disposal.
The Sponge
The sponge is one of the dirtiest things in your kitchen. After all, think of how you use it. You get it wet and clean debris off of your dishes. If not washed properly, it can get full of bacteria and become the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. If you don’t clean your sponge regularly, you’re basically just spreading germs around every time you use it.
Fortunately, cleaning it is easy. All you need to do is, simply put it in the microwave for two minutes. The heat will kill all the bacteria and mold spores. Alternatively, you can put it in the dishwasher on the hot cycle.
These parts of the kitchen don’t always get the love they deserve, but having read this article, perhaps you will know to include them in your kitchen cleaning checklist.