I know this may sound gross, but my oven is GROSS. I don’t cook all that much because my husband is a foodie and a fabulous chef. I do think, however, he doesn’t look at anything but the food in the oven… especially the bottom of the oven. EWWWWWWWW. This is one of the few places in the kitchen that I can offer some cleaning shortcuts.
OVEN: Remove any large chunks with a plastic spatula (please wait until the oven cools down!). Sprinkle baking soda over the remainder. Spray water all over the bottom of the oven and let it all soak. In the A.M. scrub the oven bottom with a microfiber cloth.
MICROWAVE: I love it when my microwave is spotless. Take 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and add it to a cup of water. Make sure that the container is microwave-safe. Heat the concoction until it boils, and then let it continue to do so for 3 minutes. Then, let it stand for 5 more minutes. It should be super easy to wipe down the walls of the micro at this point!
BROKEN GLASS IN THE DISHWASHER: I hate when I open the dishwasher after a cycle, and there is a casualty 🙁 To ensure that you get all of the shards of glass, shine a flashlight into the dishwasher (preferably with all other lights out) and look for sparkles. Take a raw potato, cut it in half, put some gloves on, and run the potato over any specks that you come across. The specks will stick to the potato! I recommend running an empty cycle afterward to make sure that any teeny tiny pieces are discarded. Then go to Crate and Barrel/Bed, Bath, and Beyond/insert your favorite housewares store here and get yourself some new glasses!
What are some helpful kitchen cleaning shortcuts that you do?! Please share!
Celeste says
Great ideas !!!!
Andrea Nine says
I have used the first two but the potato….fabulous idea!!! Thanks for the idea and may your Tuesday be glorious sweet lady!!
livingoncloudandreanine.blogspot.com
Dana says
Same to you!
Mamma says
You are so very smart. I never used the potato one. Thanks
Dana says
Thanks Mama!
Pamela says
Love it! I need more life hacks. Nice info.
Dana says
Thanks Pamela! As I learn new tricks, I’ll be sure to pass them along!
Rachel G says
I feel so much better when my kitchen is clean! I’ve never had a dishwasher though, so I had no idea that dishes could break inside, I can definitely see how that would create a huge mess! (I’ve probably broken three plates in the last year with my own two hands, so I’m not judging mechanical dishwashers. 😛 )
Dana says
Rachel, I can’t tell you how many dishes I’ve broken by dropping too!
Alanna @ Alanna and Co says
I’m definitely trying out the microwave one tomorrow! I hate dirty microwaves.
Dana says
Me too Alanna. It is amazing how someone (ahemmm husband) can cook something in there and not notice that it splattered ALL OVER. LOLOL
Andrea says
I’ve heard of the microwave idea before.. So neat and clean! (no pun intended). But I need to do the oven one this weekend.. That bad boy has seen better days..
Thank you for linking up with us on Tuesday! 🙂
Dana says
Andrea, I hear you about the oven. I dread cleaning it too!
Sarah @ 2paws Designs says
Great ideas and the potato one is especially clever! I haven’t had a dish break in the dishwasher in a long time, but I have had them break in the sink and in the oven (that was a mess!). My oven needs cleaning badly. Trying to not even think about it. It’s the last appliance in this house to replace and I’m secretly hoping it dies before I have to clean it! LOL Don’t tell my husband!
Dana says
Sarah, that is too funny! I despise cleaning the oven too! (& I won’t tell your hubby!)
Jamie says
Cleaning an oven is one of the simplest chores. It is ultimately important to know the best cleaning hacks and how to do it fast without wasting much of my time. Thanks for your shortcut of oven-cleaning. Can’t wait to try out this weekend!