Kitchen
Every tip here is checked against the sources listed on its page.
Come on in. This is where the greasy stovetops, the burnt pans and the smelly drains live, so pick the one that is bothering you and we will take it one step at a time.
Every page in this room
17 pages, newest first.
How to Clean a Stinky Kitchen Drain (and Why Bleach Will Not Fix It)
A smelly kitchen drain is usually slime in the pipe. Scrub it with a drain brush, flush with hot tap water, then use an enzyme cleaner for a few weeks.
How to Clean the Fridge and Get Rid of the Smell for Good
Toss the source, wipe the inside with 1 tablespoon of baking soda per quart of warm water, dry it and set out baking soda. Plus what to do if it lingers.
How to Clean the Burnt Bottoms of Pots and Pans (Without Hurting the Metal)
Spread a thick baking soda paste on the burnt bottom, let it sit, scrub with a nylon pad and finish with Bar Keepers Friend. Copper and aluminum differ.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances Without Streaks
Wipe stainless steel with warm soapy water, going with the grain, then dry and buff with microfiber. Skip vinegar, bleach, steel wool and paper towels.
How to Clean Oven Racks the Easy Way (Let a Soak Do the Scrubbing)
Take the racks out, soak them in warm soapy water for hours, then scrub and dry. Washing soda handles the brown spots. Gliding racks need care.
How to Clean Greasy Kitchen Cabinets Without Ruining the Finish
Sticky cabinet grease comes off with warm water and a little dish soap. Wipe, rinse, then dry right away. Skip ammonia, bleach and washing soda on wood.
How to Clean a Garbage Disposal and Stop the Smell (Without Putting a Hand Inside)
A smelly disposal is usually grease and food stuck under the rubber flaps. Cut the power, scrub them, flush with baking soda, then use cold water.
How to Clean Gas Stove Grates (Coated or Bare Cast Iron)
Soak coated gas stove grates in warm washing soda water for 30 minutes, scrub with a plastic pad and dry. Bare cast iron needs a different, no-soak wash.
How to Clean Burnt Sheet Pans (and When to Skip It on Aluminum)
Check the metal first. Stainless sheet pans take a washing soda paste for 30 minutes. Aluminum pans need a gentler soak and baking soda instead.
How to Clean a Wooden Cutting Board (Salt and Lemon Is Not Enough)
Wash a wooden board with hot soapy water every time. After raw meat, add a sanitizer step. Then dry it standing up and oil it about once a month.
How to Clean an Oven Without Oven Cleaner (Baking Soda, Overnight)
Spread a thick baking soda paste inside a cold oven, leave it overnight, then wipe it out. Keep it off the heating elements and the door gasket.
How to Clean a Nonstick Pan Without Ruining the Coating
Burnt food on a nonstick pan? Let it cool, simmer soapy water in it, then wipe soft. What makers say to never use, and when baking soda is fine.
How to Clean a Greasy Range Hood Filter (and the Cleaner That Ruins It)
Soak a metal hood filter in hot, soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes a side, brush, rinse and dry. Keep washing soda and ammonia off aluminum filters.
How to Clean a Microwave With a Bowl of Water
Heat 1 cup of water for 3 minutes, keep the door shut 5 more, then wipe. The steam loosens everyday splatter. Here is how to do it safely.
How to Clean a Glass Stove Top Without Scratching It
Let it cool, rub in a few drops of cooktop cream, scrape burnt spots with a razor scraper at about 45 degrees, then buff. Sugar spills need fast action.
How to Clean a Burnt Stainless Steel Pan (the Pan Maker’s Own Way)
Boil baking soda and water in the pan, scrape with a wooden spoon, then use a nylon pad. What to do for black spots, rainbow stains and white film.
How to clean baked-on grease with washing soda (homemade “super soap”)
Baked-on grease needs more than dish soap. Here is the washing soda mix, the paste for the worst spots, and where it must never go (aluminum).
Get the Kitchen and Laundry Rescue Guide, free
Five printable pages: the never-mix chart for your cabinet door, ten checked fixes, a towel reset card and a leftovers card for the fridge.
