According to a cleaning expert, now is a great time to get the kitchen looking spick and span. While it can be tempting to give the space a quick wipe with a disinfectant wipe, it is important to thoroughly clean it, especially the parts which are often neglected. According to Polly Shearer, cleaning expert at Tap Warehouse, this is often the sinks, taps and under appliances.

1. Sinks

The expert explained: “When a kitchen has a smelly sink, your nose instantly picks up on it. However, with time you can become used to the stench – which is why it has to be dealt with as soon as possible.  

“Washing the dishes daily will inevitably cause small bits of food to fall down the drain and although it may not seem like much, the accumulation does build up and is more than likely to be at the centre of the odour.”

One way to clean the drain is to pour boiling water down it which will break down any food which may have built up.

If it doesn’t, use white vinegar and pour a small cup worth down the drain followed by a hot rinse 30 minutes later which should unclog it.

READ MORE: White vinegar can kill paving moss without scrubbing

However, if it still isn’t enough, mix white vinegar with baking soda and pour the solution down the drain, leaving it for a couple of hours to “work its magic”, followed by hot water.

2. Taps

The cleaning expert said: “Taps often develop stubborn limescale over time, especially if you live in an area with hard water.

“Lemons can perform miracles when it comes to removing limescale because of their acidic nature and will leave your kitchen tap sparkling clean.

“Simply rub the flesh of the citrus fruit onto chrome taps or faucets and rinse with clean water. Ensuring you rinse the tap afterwards is a vital step, otherwise, you’re at risk of eroding the finish on your tap with the lemon residue.”

5. Extractor fan

Once cooking, getting rid of lingering odours is vital to keeping the kitchen airy and fresh, and if the extractor fan has a build up of grime, it will hinder the job it is supposed to do.

If your fan has filters, take them out and wash them with hot soapy water one by one, ensuring they are fully dried before putting them back.

The expert said a regularly used fan should be cleaned every three months to keep them in good condition.

6. Kettle

The cleaning pro explained: “When you think about how much a kettle is used, especially for us Brits, cleaning the kettle should be much higher up on the priority list. 

“If you live in an area with hard water, descaling your kettle is well worth your time to avoid floaty bits in your tea. 

“Thankfully, it’s pretty simple to do: throw a few sliced lemons into the kettle and boil. Let it sit for ten minutes before boiling again. The natural acids from the lime will break up the limescale in the kettle and can be rinsed away. 

“If you have quite a significant build-up of limescale in your kettle, try filling it with a 50/50 mixture of white wine vinegar and water to around a third of the kettle. 

“Boil it and let it soak for five minutes before draining the solution whilst scrubbing the inside. 

“A few clean water boils afterwards should get rid of any remnants of vinegar and if not place a few lemons in to freshen everything up.”

7. Bin

A bin bag is probably changed a few times a week, but it’s important to think about how often the actual bin is cleaned.

Oily food and leftovers which have been discarded quite often seep through the bag and into the inside of the bin, which can leave bad odours in the home.

Polly said: “Giving your bin a proper clean using hot, soapy water will be more than enough to eradicate any leftover grime. If your bin is regularly giving off a foul odour, try putting some ground coffee in the bottom which will neutralise any funky smells. 

“As the temperature gradually starts to increase, it’s worth being aware of the effect warm weather has on your bin, it’s not unusual for maggots to be found among rubbish as flies become drawn to leftover waste which rots faster in the heat. 

“During warmer months, your bin should be cleaned more frequently. A white vinegar and water solution boiled in the kettle is sufficient to extinguish maggots and their eggs too.”



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Post source: Express