Latest news with #kitchenCleaning
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Here's why you're cleaning the kitchen sink wrong – it could be dirtier than your toilet
A CLEANING expert has warned that people are probably cleaning their kitchen sink wrong. Despite being an area of the home associated with cleaning, it is often one of the most germ-ridden spots. 1 Plumbworld, bathroom and kitchen experts, warn that improper cleaning techniques can put folk at risk of illness if not properly addressed. While toilets are regularly disinfected using strong cleaners, kitchen sinks often receive just a quick rinse. This is far from sufficient. Between raw meat, dairy, dirty dishes and even pet bowls, your sink is exposed to high levels of bacteria every day. A spokesman from Plumbworld explains: 'Many people assume the bathroom is dirtier than the kitchen, but studies have shown that sinks can contain more E. coli and other harmful bacteria than the average toilet bowl. "The moist, food-rich environment allows germs to thrive, especially when cleaning is neglected. "Just because a sink looks clean doesn't mean it's germ-free. "Proper daily cleaning habits are essential to keep your kitchen safe and hygienic. "By understanding where germs collect and adjusting your cleaning routine, you can dramatically improve your household's health and hygiene. " Small daily actions make a big difference when it comes to avoiding bacteria build-up in the kitchen." Common cleaning mistakes for the kitchen sink include using only warm water without soap or disinfectant and ignoring the plughole and overflow area, which collect grime. While people often leave sponges or cloths in the sink, allowing bacteria to spread, and fail to clean after rinsing raw meat or fish, which can introduce pathogens. The best tips are daily cleaning – wash the sink basin with hot water and washing-up liquid every day - and disinfecting it with an antibacterial spray, or a mix of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to break down grease and sanitise. Flushing the drain by poring boiling water down the plughole daily to help clear build-up and reduce odours can also help. While regularly washing your sponges, brushes, and cloths and replacing items when they begin to smell or break down is key.
CNET
11-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Tired of Dropping Crumbs Between the Stove and Counter? Do This
Keeping your kitchen clean is a regular chore, and there's one spot that always seems to collect grime no matter how careful you are. That narrow gap between your stove and counter is basically a magnet for crumbs, grease splatter and everything else you don't want piling up. And since it's tough to reach without pulling out the stove, most people just leave it, which means that mess keeps building up. It might not seem like a big deal, but letting food debris sit in that hidden space can attract bugs or even rodents. Luckily, there's a simple hack that'll keep that gap clean without making you drag the stove away from the wall. It only takes a minute and makes a huge difference in keeping your kitchen fresh, especially during the warmer months when pests are more active. The good news? We did the digging for you. Here's how to figure out exactly what your oven drawer is actually meant to do and how to make the most of it. Read more: Clever Cleaning Hacks for the Hardest-to-Reach Crevices in Your Kitchen How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:01 / Duration 1:29 Loaded : 33.50% 0:01 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 1:28 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar 3 functions of your oven's bottom drawer Warming drawer A warming drawer is easy to identify. Take a look at the buttons on your oven. If one of them is labeled "Warming Drawer" then that's exactly what you have. Anytime you need to warm a pie or a loaf of bread -- or you just want to keep dishes warm while the rest of the meal finishes cooking -- pop it into the warming drawer and push the warming button. Broiler Broiler drawers are typically found on gas ovens and are very narrow. Chris Monroe/CNET If you have an oven heated with natural gas, the drawer is typically a broiler. To be sure, pull open the door. If it looks more like a retractable pan than a drawer, then it's a broiler. Think of the broiler as an extra cooking area. It's best for toasting or browning foods like casseroles or breads. Any item placed in the broiler will burn quickly, though, so check on it every couple of minutes. Storage drawer A storage drawer is usually much deeper than a warming drawer or broiler. Chris Monroe/CNET If there isn't a warming button and the area looks like a deep, empty drawer, then you probably have a storage drawer. As per a recent Reddit discussion, many people are unsure about what to keep in this space. This is a good place to store cast iron pots and pans, because the warmth from your oven will help keep them rust free. Just be sure not to store plastic items in this drawer, because they may become warped due to residual heat. Likewise, some older ovens have little insulation and may heat your metal cookware when the oven is on. As a precaution, always use oven mitts to remove cookware during or after your oven has been in use.
CNET
07-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Keep the Gap Between Your Stove and Countertop Clean With This Quick Hack
Cleaning the kitchen is a regular part of keeping your home tidy, but there is a section that tends to hide its dirt, and crumbs from easy wiping. The narrow gap between your stove and counter seems to attract every stray crumb and spatter of grease. It's not easy to reach without pulling your stove away from the way, but it can quickly accumulate a serious mess. Instead of struggling to yank your stove out and clean it properly, we have an easy hack to keep that hidden pocket clean like the rest of your kitchen. The counter and stovetop are where you do most of your cooking, which also means that it's where crumbs and other residue tend to congregate. Keeping this area clean isn't just about appearances -- it's also about preventing a buildup of food debris that can attract rodents or other pests. Most people hate cleaning this space because accessing it usually requires moving the stove, which is a huge pain and can be dangerous. The good news is that you can skip the heavy lifting and awkward cleaning attempts. There's a foolproof hack -- all you need is aluminum foil, and you'll never need to clean the floor between your stove and wall again. Want a massive kitchen upgrade? Explore the best dishwashers, best washing machines and best refrigerators of the year. How aluminum foil keeps the area between the stove and counter clean 1. Measure the length of the crack and add 4 inches to the length. 2. Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil that is as long as your measurement. 3. Fold the strip of foil in half, lengthwise. 4. Fold over the edges of the foil to make a foil boat-like shape. There's no science to this step. Just crinkle the edges over to form sides. A fresh boat ready for floor-protecting duty. Alina Bradford/CNET 5. Slide your aluminum boat into the crack between the counter and the stove so that it's sitting on the floor and pushed back into the shadows so that casual observers can't see it. It's kind of like a drip pan for that little crack. The aluminum boat will catch all the crumbs and drips. All you need to do is toss it in the trash when it gets dirty and replace it with a new boat. For more cleaning tips, explore how to wash your bedding the right way and how to clean your kitchen in less than 15 minutes.
