KITCHEN TIPS

• Get rid of fingerprints on stainless steel by wiping them with baby oil on a clean cloth.
• Keep your cling film in the fridge. It is so much easier to use when cold.
• For a cleaner kitchen floor, use two buckets when mopping – one with clean water, one to drain.
• Line the tops of your kitchen cupboards with newspaper to prevent grease. Replace them regularly.
• Clean underneath large appliances by stretching a sock over a stick, then running it under the stove or fridge.
• To keep a cake from drying out and going stale, place half an apple inside the cake tin with it. A lemon works just as well. (No chance of any cake drying out in my house though as it gets eaten too quickly!)
• Put a few grains of rice in salt shaker to stop it lumping. The rice will absorb moisture more quickly than the salt and keep it running smoothly.
• Before washing fine china, crystal, or anything fragile, place a towel on the bottom of the sink to act as a cushion.
• Remove burnt-on food from a saucepan by boiling a cup of cola for a minute or two.
• Clean the microwave by bring a cup of water to boil in it. The steam will help loosen dried on food which can then be easily wiped away. Pop a slice of lemon into the water when boiling to help it smell nice.
• Remove coffee or tea stains from the bottom of a mug by swishing white vinegar around it.
• Clean baked on grime on your hob by sprinkling biological washing powder on it and then wiping off with a damp cloth.
• Freshen up your bin by placing a tumble dryer sheet at the bottom before putting in a bin bag.
• Clean fridge seals by using a toothbrush and toothpaste or bicarbonate of soda.
• Stop fridge odours by lining the vegetable drawer with a sheet of newspaper.
• Get rid of a lingering smell in the kitchen by baking orange peel in the oven.
• Regularly coat your chopping board with vegetable oil to make it last longer.
• Prevent the inside of a flask from smelling stale by adding a teaspoon of sugar before storing.
• To make oven cleaning easier, first heat a bowl of water on high for 20 minutes – the steam loosens dirt).
• Put half a lemon in your dishwasher to add sparkle and a lovely smell to your dishes.
• Group your foods together in the pantry for easy access and to help you identify when inventory is getting low. For example, group together your canned goods, cereals, pasta, etc.
• Purchase a spice rack that works best for your cabinet. Alphabetize your spices and place frequently used spices on the front of the rack and all others towards the back of the rack.
• Decide the night before what is on the menu for breakfast the next morning. If the family is to have cereal, set out the cereal boxes, bowls, and spoons.
• For all of those plastic containers and Tupperware items, dedicate one cabinet or drawer for those items and try to purchase stackable containers to maximize your space
• Save your countertop space for items you use daily. Only display cookbooks that you really use and if possible store your canister set in your pantry instead of on the counter.
• Try putting all of your cooking utensils in a pot next to the stove. No more hunting around in a drawer to find that spatula you are looking for. Everything is visible and within easy reach when you are cooking.
• Create a family message centre on the refrigerator or other prominent place and use it for shopping lists, reminders, calendars, and phone messages.
• Do you have mounds of plastic bags from the grocery store? Place about 10 bags inside of 1 bag and throw the rest away. You can always get more the next time you go to the grocery store.
• Place a basket near the door into your kitchen, or mount an organizer on the wall to hold the daily mail. A toast rack can also make an unusual letter holder.
• Get in a habit of cleaning out your refrigerator every time you bring home groceries. Dispose of any food that is no longer edible or your family is not going to eat.