With the kids back to school next week, it’s almost time to give your home that BIG post-summer clean, and here at Belle Casa, we are on hand as always to provide those oh so handy cleaning tips and tricks.
Today, we focus on the kitchen. Before you even pick up that sponge, here are a few things to consider. If you are fed up of coming home to a dirty kitchen, fear not, we’ve hunted down the best cleaning tips to make your job easier. Find out which products work best, banish stubborn stains and bring the sparkle back to your cutlery in Belle Casa’s essential guide to the sparkliest kitchen around.
Kitchen Worktops
Kitchen worktops can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs of all kinds. How you clean your worktop depends on the material it is made from.
Porcelain and Ceramic
Porcelain and Ceramic surfaces are absolutely beautiful, follow these tips to keep them that way!
- Prevent damage from acids and harsh abrasives with good old hot soapy water.
- For light stains, try warm water and vinegar.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is known for being able to resist stains and be hard wearing. This is why it can be so expensive to install. However, it will dull over time and be prone to showing oily fingerprints.
- Remove rust on your surfaces with a mixture of one part cream of tartar with a little lemon juice. If the rust is heavily embedded, leave for a couple of hours and wipe clean.
- Get a sparkling finish by removing streaks with baking soda and a cloth.
- Standing water in the sink will cause spots. Keep it sparkly clean by drying after each use.
- Remember not to use coarse scouring materials as this will scratch the surface.
How to Clean Kitchen Sinks
Cleaning your sink and taps on a daily basis will stop any build up of dirt and stains. Use detergent and warm water, rinsing clean with fresh water. Keep cleaning wipes, microfibre cloths or paper towels near to the sink to give the sink a quick wipe down after each use.
Follow these steps to keep your sink sparkling:
1) Remove excess dirt with a cloth or sponge and clean with soapy water. Make sure you replace sponges regularly to avoid germ build up.
2) Squeeze sink cleaner over the basin and draining board and scrub with a non-abrasive cloth. A cream cleaner works best on kitchen sinks as the thicker consistency is great for tackling grease and dirt.
3) Pay attention to the plug, taps and fittings. Remember to clean the base of taps as well as handles and spouts – an old toothbrush is perfect for the job. Repair leaky taps to prevent staining and limescale build up.
4) For lime and mineral deposits, wrap vinegar-soaked paper towels around faucets for about an hour. This breaks down the mineral scale, and the chrome will be clean and shiny after buffing with a dry paper towel.
How to clean your oven
Fed up of spending ages scrubbing the inside of your oven? Follow these simple tips and your cooker will be sparkling in no time.
1) Open your oven and sprinkle the door, bottom of the oven and oven roasting tray with bicarbonate of soda.
2) Using a water spray, spray the soda until damp and leave to sit for a few hours before wiping out with a wet sponge.
How to clean your Dishwasher
If your dishes are not coming out as sparkling clean as you would like, try sprinkling a cup of baking powder inside of the dishwasher and run it through a short cycle. This will also help if it has a stale smell.
* To prevent a build up of grime, rinse plates and bowls before stacking them in the dishwasher.
* It also helps to remove them as soon as possible once the cycle has finished.
How to clean your Dining Room
Throwing a dinner party? Bring the sparkle back to your cutlery by soaking it in hot water.
Add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to help remove stubborn stains. After ten minutes rinse and buff with a tea towel for a spectacular shine.
Want your wine glasses to shimmer on the dining table? Hold one above your kettle as it’s boiling and let the steam fill the glass. Use a clean tea towel to polish.
How to clean your Microwave
Clean your microwave regularly to avoid a build up of dried food and bacteria.
A quick solution is microwaving a shallow dish filled with slices of lemon for 2 minutes. The steam will soften the dried food and the lemon will leave it smelling fresh.
Follow these tips to keep your kitchen sparkly clean! Alternatively, if you don’t have the time, why not hire Belle Casa to come by and give your kitchen the clean it needs. Our domestic cleaning services are available at a very reasonable price.
Wycombe Chair Museum
With the time saved on house cleaning, why not pop down to the Wycombe Museum and learn all about the history of this fascinating town. High Wycombe was one of the primary makers of furniture in the past. Why not get the kids back into learning mode with a trip down memory lane in the local area!?
Wycombe Museum is a family-friendly museum that explores the history of Wycombe District and its surrounding areas through hands-on galleries. Famous for its chair collection, the Museum includes ‘The History of Wycombe in 10 Objects’, our Art Gallery, a 1920’s kitchen and changing temporary exhibitions. Check our exhibitions page for more. The museum is located in a Grade II listed house with parts dating from the 1600s and is surrounded by a beautiful big garden which is great for exploring.
The furniture industry collection represents the Wycombe district and the wider Thames Valley/Chilterns region. The furniture collection includes Windsor chairs from the 18th to the 20th centuries, other locally produced chairs including cane and rush-seated from the 19th and 20th centuries, a small selection of chairs from other regions and a small selection of other types of furniture.
The collection of tools includes those used by bodgers working in the Chilterns’ woods as well as tools from local factories and workshops. Documents and catalogues include companies such as Glenister, Skull, Birch, Bartlett, Ercol and Gomme (makers of the G-Plan range). The collection also includes miniature furniture and sample pieces and a collection of carving patterns.
