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27 Comments
Traveler
March 19, 2018
I accidentally let my hot saucepan come into contact with plastic bread wrapping and it burned on. Since it is on the outside of the saucepan, I can't soak it or simmer it. I tried to soak it with a wet washcloth and baking soda laid over the plastic burn, but it didn't work. Any suggestions on how to get the burned plastic off?
Daniel
March 10, 2018
Great post, i look forward to trying these out around my home.
We run an exterior cleaning company cleaning and i have a lot of clients that would be interested in this article.
Thanks!
Daniel
http://www.jetowash.com
We run an exterior cleaning company cleaning and i have a lot of clients that would be interested in this article.
Thanks!
Daniel
http://www.jetowash.com
Torn C.
August 8, 2017
I'd also like to share an easy method for cleaning your racks if you prefer to do it yourself instead of a professional oven cleaner. So, basically you spread a towel inside your bathtub and then place your dirty trays and racks on it. You fill the tub with hot water and then spread laundry detergent. Make sure the water is very hot because that's what's going to loosen the grime. The laundry detergent is there to help, but it won't work unless the liquid is very hot. Leave it like that for several hours. When the water has cooled get your racks and trays out and scrub away the grime with an old tooth brush and you're ready to go.
Torn Clark from Domestic Oven Cleaners London
http://www.fantasticovencleaners.co.uk/
Torn Clark from Domestic Oven Cleaners London
http://www.fantasticovencleaners.co.uk/
Lindy S.
May 10, 2017
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Kl F.
May 3, 2017
Any suggestions for getting coffee out of cotton napkins? I cannot use bleach.
A suggestion for melting beewax, put it in an empty can, put that in pan of water and set to boil. It has an incredibility low flash point. Watch it while it melts. I find the idea of wax in the microwave dicey. If it smokes remove it from the heat source.
A suggestion for melting beewax, put it in an empty can, put that in pan of water and set to boil. It has an incredibility low flash point. Watch it while it melts. I find the idea of wax in the microwave dicey. If it smokes remove it from the heat source.
Dryer D.
April 20, 2017
Don't forget about dryer vent cleaning. There is a company called Dryer Duct Pros at www.dryerventcleaning.us who does such a service
Carol
March 30, 2017
I have two favorite cleaning products that I seldom see mentioned - Bon Ami and Murphys's Oil Soap. I prefer Bon Ami to Barkeeper's Friend because it does not scratch. I use it on the stovetop, my stainless steel sink and table, the bathroom, etc. Murphy's is great for that greasy gunk that accumulates on things in the kitchen including shelves and fan blades. I have also used it to clean walls before painting. If the grime is too much for Murphy's, then there is TSP, I use the phosphate-free variety.
tia
March 30, 2017
Thank you for the fabric on cabinets tip. I just scrubbed mine and it was like something out of Martha Stewart's nightmares. I didn't even realize they were white when I started. I'm definitely making covers so i never have to do that again. EVER.
Andrew W.
March 29, 2017
"(with all the burners turned off and cooled, of course!), waiting a half hour, and then wiping it off." I wouldn't dream of telling anyone who is worried about cleaning their stovetop while it's hot that they are wrong, but when my glass top gets grimy I clean it like a teppanyaki chef: run all the burners for a couple of minutes, halve a lemon, cut the heat, splash a cup of warm water on the cooktop, and go to work with a doubled over hand towel and the lemon half cut side down underneath.
Lisa R.
March 29, 2017
No mention of the oven racks. Clean the same way as the oven itself?
Andrew W.
March 29, 2017
For oven racks, the best thing to do is soak them for a few hours (or overnight) in a bathtub (lay down a towel to prevent scratching) with enough hot water to cover and 1/2 a cup of dishwasher (or laundry) detergent. Hit them at the joins with a stiff bristled brush while you rinse them off and they should be clean and shiny, if not you may have to break out the Bar Keepers Friend.
Laura C.
March 29, 2017
Adding a layer of dryer sheets at the bottom of the bath works wonders. The grime melts off while wiping the racks.
Lisa R.
August 7, 2017
Thanks, Andrew and Laura. I'll try your tricks this week, as my daughter and son-in-law are visiting next week. Need clean ovens!
breakbread
March 27, 2017
Is there a good remedy for a fresh-smelling dishwasher after it runs a load of dishes? Mine seems to need a refresh. Thank you.
Andrew W.
March 29, 2017
The first step to a better smelling dishwasher is often to take it apart: your washer has screens and traps to catch gunk, and if that stuff has gotten gross it's the most likely source of the odor. The good news is: on most modern washers those parts are designed to be removable without tools and sink washable. Just Google your washer model and "clean trap" for instructions. The bad news: You're going to want to wear gloves and open the windows for this; there's probably some pretty foul stuff that you're going to have to deal with while cleaning the parts.
If washing these components doesn't take care of the smell, you might want to consider calling a plumber. The smell could be representative of an issue in your system that you can fix before it starts backing up your drains.
If washing these components doesn't take care of the smell, you might want to consider calling a plumber. The smell could be representative of an issue in your system that you can fix before it starts backing up your drains.
Debbie W.
April 28, 2016
I love eucalyptus oil for getting stickers off. Thanks for sharing great cleaning ideas. Debbie
JoAnne L.
April 18, 2016
My go to for seasoning and protecting wood cutting boards is; ten parts mineral oil, found at any drug store, to one part beeswax which is naturally antibacterial, heat carefully in the microwave (or in a double boiler on the stovetop) just until the beeswax melts, stir and apply warm to the cutting board. I do this at least once a month, it makes your hands feel wonderful too!
JoAnne L.
April 18, 2016
Old English Lemon Oil works wonders on stainless steel, tile, wood and many surfaces. It cleans spots, stains and hard water deposits and leaves a bit of a residue that protects the surface from stains. Water bubbles up on it so you can re-wipe it several times, it smells great too. It is totally amazing on stainless steel sinks. It does contain petroleum distillates so use common sense, you wouldn't use it inside of stainless steel bowls unless you washed them well before using with food.
Julia C.
April 17, 2016
My mother taught me to add liquid dish soap to a pot or pan with hard baked or burned on solids and add water to it to make it soapy then put it on the stove and let it simmer for and hour or so. Every one and awhile take a pan brush and rub the bottom and sides careful not to splash to bring up the baked on solids. i repeat if needed. Works a charm especially with nonstick surfaces!
Marlene S.
April 17, 2016
A quick simple solution for getting greasy food stains off washable clothes is concentration dish liquid. It breaks the grease down without spraying any harsh chemicals. Place a few drops directly onto the grease stain and rub it into to the fabric. Let sit for about a half hour and then wash with your regular laundry. This works most of the time but if the stain is particularly stubborn, prep fabric with plain white vinegar first and then the dish liquid. I've even saved some of my husband's silk ties (grease & spill catchers if you ask me) using this trick. I hand wash just the affected area, blot with a towel and send it to the dry cleaners. With out this preliminary treatments, ties come back neat, cleaned, pressed but still stained.
cookinalong
April 16, 2016
While I applaud the impulse to clean green, I have to throw a wet (but clean) blanket over the vinegar & baking soda cult. It ain't magic. I have had absolutely zero success using it to clean an oven. I rent and, like many NYC residents, I have an OLD gas oven, used and abused and inadequately cleaned by many previous tenants. Three solid days and numerous applications of baking soda and vinegar & considerable elbow grease affected the baked on gunk very, very little & made little headway on more lightly soiled areas. And for the gunky, sticky grease & dust film that eventually settles on every kitchen surface? Sorry. Baking soda & vinegar is a very distant second to plain old ammonia. Just about an ounce in a bucket of water does the trick. I don't think anyone need cry themselves to sleep over it. Vinegar & baking soda is great for cleaning out small drain clogs, however & does a good job of cleaning the toilet or dirty windows.
For cleaning baked on grime on pans, I use a paste of hydrogen peroxide & baking soda left for an hour or so, then wipe away all the gunk. Sometimes a repeat application is needed for very heavy soil.
For cleaning baked on grime on pans, I use a paste of hydrogen peroxide & baking soda left for an hour or so, then wipe away all the gunk. Sometimes a repeat application is needed for very heavy soil.
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