7 Secret Kitchen-Cleaning Tips

Clean your coffee pots, mugs, sink and more with these handy kitchen-cleaning secrets.

1 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean a Coffee Mug

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean a Coffee Mug

Revive your appliances and dishes with these kitchen-cleaning tips. Start by removing coffee stains from china cups. Scrub them with equal parts vinegar and salt.

2 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: A Shortcut to Clean Your Microwave

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: A Shortcut to Clean Your Microwave

The quickest way to clean a microwave oven is to place a handful of wet paper towels inside and run it on High for 3-5 minutes. You don’t need a science lesson to know that the steam from the towels will soften the grime. Once the paper towels cool down, use them to wipe the oven’s interior.

3 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean Your Blender

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean Your Blender

Family physician and author Jill Grimes has a great tip to clean the blender. “After you pour your drink, take the pitcher straight to the sink. Put in a little water and a drop of dish soap, put it back on the blender, and turn it on for 20 seconds. Rinse it out and you’re done.”

4 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean Your Coffee Pot

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean Your Coffee Pot

The glass jug that comes with a coffeemaker can quickly develop a brown, blotchy haze – especially when you leave it on for long periods of time. For the quickest cure, you will need some ice, salt and a lemon. Fill the empty jug a quarter full of ice. Cut the lemon into quarters and squeeze two of the quarters into the jug. Add 2 tablespoons of salt. Swirl the mixture in the jug for 2 minutes and the inside surface will quickly

5 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean a Cast-Iron Pan

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean a Cast-Iron Pan

Most cooks know that you should never use liquid soap on a cast-iron pan and never scrub it with anything abrasive if you want to maintain its well-oiled nonstick surface. So how do you clean it? Use salt. If the pan will not rinse clean with water and a soft dishcloth, rub it with a few tablespoons of salt and a paper towel, and rinse. Then replenish the oil film by coating the inside surface with a dab of cooking oil.

6 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean a Cheese Grater

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Clean a Cheese Grater

Keep a clean pastry brush handy for removing every last remnant of grated food left behind in the tiny grates. It works like a charm on both sides of the grater.

7 / 7
Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Disinfect a Garbage Disposal

Kitchen-Cleaning Tips: Disinfect a Garbage Disposal

Deep clean and deodorize a waste disposal unit by grinding ice cubes made with half vinegar, half water.

Newsletter Unit