Best Tips on Cleaning the Kitchen: Getting Rid of Germs, Stains and Smells

A clean kitchen is a joy to behold. I don't know who first said that statement, but I suspect it might have been my mother-in-law who cleaned a kitchen so thoroughly you could eat off the lid of the kitchen trash can. None of us actually tested out that theory, but I can assure you she was a magical cleaning maven who left no sponge unturned. And so, I dedicate this Hub to the late Mrs. Miles who I can only hope to emulate in the art of cleaning a kitchen. Here are a few of Mum's prize kitchen cleaning tips, along with a few other lesser known but equally important methods for cleaning a kitchen and for keeping those unhealthful germs at bay.

Lesson 1 - If you wear glasses, even if it’s just for reading, for heaven’s sake put them on when you’re cleaning, because it doesn’t amount to a hill ‘o beans if you can’t see the baked beans stuck to the counter top.

Lesson 2 - Did you know that it’s safer to eat a piece of tomato that dropped from your sandwich onto the toilet seat than it is to eat the same tomato that fell into the kitchen sink? The kitchen sink harbors more bacteria than any other place in the house, so before and after you prepare a meal, remember to thoroughly clean the sink with a disinfectant wipe or spray. A watered down solution of bleach also does the trick. Scrub around the drain too and don't rinse it right away. Let the disinfectant sit for a minute or two.

Lesson 3 - Kitchen sponges are another source of germs, including flu germs. Personally, I love sponges. I even love SpongeBob. Mum never allowed them anywhere near the kitchen. She called them "nasty, dirty filthy gadgets", but I disagree. Gadgets are mechanical devices and sponges are by nature, aquatic animals, even though nowadays they’re mostly synthetic. Anyway, sponges are in fact the No. 1 source of germs because they’re so moist; also because you probably wipe up the sink with a sponge.

Here’s a disinfecting tip from Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai in New York City, and the author of The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds and Flu.

"Wet your sponge and then pop it in the microwave for two minutes to eliminate the germs that lurk inside the crevices".

I was taught to soak the sponge in a weak bleach solution every few days, then put it in the dishwasher on the top shelf. You can alternate clean sponges with those being disinfected.

Lesson 4- Dishtowels are almost as bad as sponges. Since the germs stay active on a wet towel or rag, let it dry before you re-use it. When you are cooking or cleaning, don't dry your hands on the dishtowel; use a clean paper towel. Always wash dishtowels in hot water in the washing machine and dry them on a hot setting in the dryer. Do this at least twice a week.

Lesson 5- Clean your countertops and sink stains with Baking Soda. Let it set for a few minutes. If the stain persists, try a bleach pen, but never let bleach sit too long on Corian or other synthetic surfaces or they will most assuredly crack. Chemical cleaners may work quicker, but they can contaminate food left on the counter (or even in the sink).

Lesson 6 - Don't chop food directly on the counter top. Unless you have a natural granite counter top, you'll scratch the surface. Even so, you will ruin your knives. Use a chopping board that you can clean in the dishwasher.

Lesson 7 - You probably have some kind of Range Hood over your cook top. All of them have ventilation fans, and just about all of them have removable, washable filters. Some modern range hoods made by Bosch, Gaggenau and Viking have a little light that flashes when the filter gets really mucky. All that grease and all those flavorful sauces accumulate in the filter over a period of several months. The filter stops working efficiently just like the filter in your HVAC unit. Remove the dirty filter and pop it right in the dishwasher. It's always smart to first check the instructing booklet that came with the Range Hood. If you tossed the manual, you can still probably find it on the manufacturer's website. Keeping your kitchen grease free will also deter ants.

Microwave popcorn is great, but popping it just right is an art that takes practice and usually meets with a few mishaps. If you've burnt even a few kernels, that lingering aroma can last for days.

Lesson 8- Here is an effective remedy for ridding your microwave of burnt popcorn smell. I learned this one while writing kitchen programs for the Food Network .

Use a large (4 cups or better) microwave safe bowl and put in one cup of water. Add a chopped up lemon or lime. Turn on the microwave long enough so that the water boils and let it boil for 5 minutes. Make sure the water doesn’t boil away, or else you’ll have to deal with another bad smell. After the boiling phase, let it sit in the microwave for 15 minutes or until it cools. Leave the door open if possible. You may have to repeat this several times depending on the size of your microwave and the amount of popcorn burnt. As a bonus, the steam should help loosen any food stuck in the microwave and the lemon/lime will leave your appliance smelling fresh.

Don't let anyone call you a Health Freak for going the extra mile in cleaning your kitchen. Not only is a sparkling kitchen a "joy to behold", you may even win a few extra points with your mother-in-law.

© Copyright Green Lotus, 2011. All rights reserved.