Spring Clean The Kitchen

If you need help getting your grubby kitchen alla bit of water brings up the shine on a stainless
lovely and shiny again, here's ten ideas for asteel kitchen sink a treat. Bicarb is also good for
thorough kitchen spring clean…unclogging and deodorising a slow draining plughole.
1. Kitchen cupboardsPour four or five tablespoons of powder down
Give your kitchen cupboards a spring de-clutterthe sink, then add the same amount of white
by emptying them out, wiping them clean andvinegar and put the plug in. Wait a few minutes
throwing away any food stores that are pastfor it to fizz away and then run the taps to flush
their best. While vinegars will be good for a coupleit through. If it's still draining slowly I use a good
of years, dried herbs and ground spices lose theirold fashioned sink plunger.
strength of flavour after 6 months, so replace7. Oven
any that are out of date. I always hold onto aMy best tip for cleaning your oven is to get a
couple of the empty glass herb and spice bottlesself-cleaning one, so you don't have to! But if
for mixing vinaigrette dressings – add theyou're not lucky enough to own one of these
ingredients, put on the lid and shake hard severalmiracles of modern living, make sure to wear old
times to emulsify.clothes and rubber gloves, tie your hair back if it's
2. Herb gardenlong and open the window. Remove the shelves
Spring is the best time to get your herb gardenand put them in the sink to soak, then use a
into shape. While I keep hardy herbs likestrong oven cleaner spray inside the oven. Leave
rosemary and sage in earthenware pots on myit to work away for as long as possible before
patio all year round, I buy softer herbs like basilgiving it a thorough wipe out.
and coriander in spring and keep them indoors on8. Washing machine
my kitchen windowsill. For best results buy themTo keep your washing machine smelling fresh and
from a garden centre or farmers market, asin prime working condition you should do a
they tend to live longer than supermarket herbs.‘maintenance wash' every now and then. To
3. Microwavedo this you run the machine without any clothes
To de-gunk your microwave, cut a lemon in halfin it on the hottest setting, using a powder
and squeeze both halves into a pyrex jug half fullwashing detergent (rather than a liquid) that has a
of warm water. Pop in the microwave on maxbleaching agent in it. After it's finished the cycle
power for about five minutes – the steam willtake out the soap drawer and give it a good
lift the dirt from the inside making it really easy toclean out using cotton buds or an old toothbrush
wipe clean, and it'll smell spring fresh too.to get right into the corners. To prevent stale
4. Freezersmells always leave the door slightly ajar between
When I'm planning to defrost my freezer I makewashes.
sure to do it just before a weekly shop, when I9. Recycling
can fit most of the frozen food in the fridge,Make daily recycling as easy as possible by
wrapped up in newspaper. Any that doesn't fitorganising your bins. I have a general recycling
goes in my big freezer bag with a couple of icebox right next to the kitchen bin for cans, bottles,
bricks. Once the freezer is emptied switch it offpaper packaging and anything else that can
and wedge the door open, with some old towelsrecycled. Then, every few days, I sort everything
on the floor to mop up the water that drips out.from the box into the separate bins that my
After a few hours you can usually pull off thecouncil recycling scheme supply, making sure to
larger bits of ice with your hands to help it along,rinse out all food and drink containers and crush
or use a plastic spatula, but don't be tempted toany cans. Any items that aren't collected by the
use a knife or anything sharp.council, such as batteries and old paint, have to go
5. Fridgeto the tip.
To get a spring fresh fridge, take out the shelves10. Iron
and loose compartments and give everything aUnless you've got a self-cleaning model, it's a good
good clean with warm, soapy water, making sureidea to give your iron a clean out once in a while,
everything is totally dry before putting the foodto prevent it clogging up with limescale. Fill up the
back in the fridge. To prevent nasty niffs, keepwater compartment with a solution of white
an open tub of bicarbonate of soda at the backvinegar and equal parts water. Leave for a couple
of one of the shelves. Don't forget to pull outof hours and then rinse well with clean water. Any
your fridge freezer once a year to dust theburnt marks on the plate of the iron can be
heating element at the back – it'll make itremoved by rubbing with a damp cloth while the
more efficient which will save you money!iron is still warm. If that won't shift the marks, try
6. Kitchen sink and plug holerubbing gently with a paste made of bicarbonate
A thick paste made with bicarbonate of soda andof soda and a little water.