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The Well-Kept Home G O O D L I V I NG
Cabinets Doors Fill a 24-ounce spray bottle with a mixture of hot water, 3 tablespoons of castile soap, and 20 drops of tea-tree oil, then spray it on a microfiber cloth and wipe the doors, says Toni Hammersley, author of The Complete Book of Home Cleaning (Weldon Owen, April). Rinse with a separate damp microfiber cloth, and finish with a dry cloth. Interiors Empty cabinets and vacuum inside, says Miguel Taveras, a supervisor for Managed by Q cleaning service, in New York City. Then wipe down with a cold-water-and-vinegar mix.
Stove & Hood Stove top Dampen a sponge with warm water and dishwashing liquid, wipe, then thoroughly dry with a cotton cloth. For stuck-on splotches, wet a few paper towels with hot water, place them on top for a few minutes, then scrape with a rubber spatula. Hood Spritz it with an allpurpose cleaner (like the Honest Co. multisurface cleaner; $6, honest.com) and wipe—and keep wiping—with a microfiber cloth. Next, remove the filters, place them in the bathtub, and sprinkle them with ½ cup of baking soda. Soak them in scalding water for a few minutes before scrubbing lightly with a soft-bristled brush. Let dry completely before replacing.
To get the trickiest spots in your kitchen squeaky-clean, grab a few handy tools and some highly effective all-natural homemade or store-bought solutions.
CASTILE SOAP + MICROFIBER CLOTHS _ Clean them Every few months Pro Tip
Wipe greasy doors with a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water, says Hammersley. “Vinegar cuts through grease.”
RUBBER SPATULA + SOFTBRISTLED BRUSH _ Clean them Range daily; hood monthly Pro Tip
To clean the fan, cut the power to the unit, then wipe the blades with a microfiber cloth dampened with warm soapy water.
Sink & Disposal Sink For stainless steel, Taveras whips up a mildly abrasive paste from an eight-ounce box of baking soda and the juice of 10 limes. He uses a sponge to scrub the inside of the sink with it, following the steel’s grain. If you have an enamel sink, wipe it with a gentle scrub, such as Bon Ami ($8, amazon.com), and a microfiber cloth. Disposal Taveras pours vinegar over a loaf of bread until it is sopping and stuffs it in the canister. He lets it sit for 15 minutes, then turns on the disposal and flushes it with cold water. He follows with frozen citrus rinds.
Oven Racks Take them out and soak them in cola (yes, cola!—it contains phosphoric and citric acids, which remove rust, stains, and mineral buildup) for up to 15 minutes, Taveras says. “Then gently rub them with a scouring pad to get all the grease stains and bakedon chunks off, and rinse with warm water. Your jaw will drop at how clean they get.” Interior Mix baking soda and water until you have a paste, and use a sponge to spread it all over the floors, walls, and door. (Scoop away excess with a spatula.) Let it sit several hours—or, better yet, overnight— then wipe it away with a damp sponge or rag.
BAKING SODA + LIMES _ Clean them Weekly Pro Tip
Polish chrome fixtures with a mixture of one part white vinegar to two parts water on a microfiber cloth or soft sponge.
Floor Hardwood Sweep or vacuum, then mop. Since wood can warp if exposed to too much water, Hammersley mixes 1 teaspoon of castile soap into a 24-ounce spray bottle of hot water, then adds 10 drops of lemon or rosemary essential oil. She lightly spritzes the floor and wipes it with a microfiber mop. Her favorite non-DIY cleanser is Method Almond Squirt + Mop wood floor cleaner ($5, target.com).
CASTILE SOAP + MICROFIBER MOP _ Clean it Weekly Pro Tip
Start in a corner and back your way out of the room, using arcing, overlapping mop strokes.
Tile Mop with warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. Avoid acidic ingredients like ammonia, which can discolor grout. Rinse; repeat with plain warm water.
COLA + SCOURING PAD _ Clean it Every few months Pro Tip
For hardto-reach back corners and stubborn bakedon spots, use a toothbrush to scrub with the bakingsoda mixture.
Refrigerator Stainless steel doors “Fingerprints are a never-ending battle,” Hammersley says. She wipes them away with a microfiber cloth (we like Libman Wonderfiber; $5 for 2, amazon.com) spritzed with a mix of one part vinegar to two parts water. Then she removes streaks by rubbing on a bit of baby oil with another microfiber cloth, and flipping it over to polish. Interior Move food to coolers, turn off the appliance, and take out shelves and bins. Fill a bathtub with six to eight inches of water; add a small box of baking soda. Soak the shelves and bins for about 15 minutes; rinse and dry. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply to a microfiber cloth and wipe the interior.
VINEGAR + BABY OIL _ Clean it Doors as needed; inside thoroughly twice a year Pro Tip
Tackle small crevices in the door seals with a pointed-tip cotton swab dampened with warm soapy water. Dry with a towel.
I L LU ST R AT I O N S BY L A N T RU O N G
QUALITY CONTROL
