Is your kitchen clean and ready for all the work it’s going to do in the next couple of months? No? Rather than compromising your health with harsh chemicals, here are some safe, chemical-free ways to keep your appliances sparkling clean.

The Oven - You can rub the inside of your oven with wet steel wool to remove the tough stuff, and then sprinkle baking soda throughout the oven. Let it sit for a few minutes, then just wipe it all clean with a wet rag . . . really, it can be that simple!

The Microwave - Mix 1 cup of water with a few teaspoons of baking soda in a microwave safe bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave and run it for 2 minutes. Take out the bowl and wipe it clean with just a rag; every last spot will come out!

The Refrigerator - Baking soda is key! Why would you want to spray chemicals in the place that holds your food! Make a nice paste from baking soda and water (equal parts of both) and scrub away. Wipe down with a clean cloth and all will be sparkling!

The Dishwasher - Add 1/2 cup vinegar to an empty dishwasher and run the rinse cycle. This will open up any clogs in the dishwasher drain lines and deodorize the machine.

Sink Clogs - A mixture of equal parts vinegar, salt, and baking soda may help open up a slow-draining sink. Pour the solution down drain; let it sit for 1 hour, then pour boiling or very hot tap water down the drain.

With an endless supply of spills, drips, grease and foot traffic, cleaning the kitchen can feel like an endless task. Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you in the upcoming months.

Thanks to Home Warrenty of America for these tips. I like their service, so I don’t mind saying that HWA offers a comprehensive repair and replacement plan cover to your systems and built-in appliances for one low annual fee. When we buy or sell a property in the Bay Area, this kind of coverage is a must.

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 7:57 am and is filed under Real Estate, Green Homes, Tips & Tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.