We’ve put together some kitchen design advice on what to look out for when designing for your historic home.
During lockdown we’ve become obsessed with watching cleaning hack videos on Tiktok and Instagram. We suggest approaching them with a bit of scepticism, but we have learned some clever tips and tricks to keep our kitchens sparkling. We’re especially fond of kitchen cleaning hacks that use natural ingredients to keep your kitchen shining, in line with our own eco-friendly ethos.
Clean your toaster with a paintbrush
Ok, so we don’t empty the crumbs tray of our toaster as often as we should. But have you been cleaning the inside of your toaster as well? A small paintbrush or pastry brush is ideal for sweeping away any pesky crumbs hanging on inside. You can then empty the tray and avoid setting the smoke alarm off every time you make toast
Use white vinegar on cloudy glasses
Over time, and especially in hard water areas, your drinking glasses may adopt a cloudy veneer. You can get rid of this by soaking your glasses in white vinegar for five minutes, rinsing them off with water and then polishing them with a lint-free cloth. Cheers!
Get a zesty fresh microwave
The best way to keep your microwave clean is to give it a good wipe every time that you use it, but we understand that this doesn’t always happen. If you’re noticing that your microwave is looking and smelling a bit less fresh, cut up a couple of lemons, stick them in a bowl of hot water and zap them on high for three minutes. Leave the door shut for the entire time, then repeat the zapping. Leave to sit again, then open up the door and simply wipe off the loosened food.
Remove watermarks naturally
If your cutlery has developed watermarks, there’s a natural way to get rid of them. Gently rub your knives and forks with a potato peel or a banana peel, then rinse.
The natural stainless steel saver
If you have a stainless steel sink that’s losing its shine, the answer could be in your baking cupboard. Sprinkle on a generous layer of bicarbonate of soda, add water and scrub. When you’re finished, rinse it away and admire the shine!
Don’t forget to clean your cleaners too!
Your dishwasher and your washing machine work hard cleaning for you, so don’t forget to give them a bit of TLC. To prevent build-ups in the pipes, use a cup of white vinegar on the hottest cycle to flush out any dirt, limescale, germs and mould and mildew.
The smart way to clean a sandwich toaster
Ok, we’re embarrassed that we didn’t figure this one out sooner. Sandwich toasters are notorious for getting a bit greasy and crusty over time, especially if they don’t have removable plates. When you’re finished cooking, damped two dishcloths in hot soapy water and drape them over the plates. Once they’ve cooled down, the dirt will have steamed off and should just wipe away.
Buff up your mugs without bleach
Some people recommend soaking stained tea and coffee mugs in bleach to remove dark rings, but there is another way. Instead, you can make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water and gently scrub away the stains. Rinse thoroughly and they’ll look good as new.
Show some love to wooden surfaces
We love wooden countertops and chopping boards but they can be difficult to keep clean as they don’t like too much water. To remove stains and smells, sprinkle your wood with salt and use half a lemon to gently scrub. Sounds weird, but it works! Use a cloth to remove any leftover residue.
Use your melon, grab a lemon!
Cheese graters can be quite difficult to clean, particularly if you want to keep your fingers intact. Lemons are the hero again – rubbing a halved lemon over your crusty grater will remove and oil and leftovers.