How To And Housekeeping Cleaning

Forget about that stinky self-cleaning function!

If your carpet is in otherwise good shape and you're just noticing a persistent smell in the room, you might want to deodorize it.

When the coffee you brew starts to taste bitter and funky, it’s time to give your coffee machine a little extra love.

Dust it at least once a week!

It's a lot easier than you might think.

Whether company’s coming over or you find yourself with a few spare minutes, it’s never a bad time to think about polishing your silver for some extra shine. If your chest of flatware or julep cups are looking less than occasion-ready, worry not! This quick kitchen remedy made of simple ingredients can save you a lot of time and a big mess — and you probably already have everything you need. This simple setup isn’t too far from an elementary school science project.

Carbon steel is a lighter alternative to cast iron. Take care of it and it will take care of you — in the form of delicious, perfectly cooked food that won't stick!

I use my blade grinder a lot for grinding coffee and spices, and I used to find it almost impossible to keep it clean. The oils from coffee build up into a residue that can go funky and rancid, and if you switch it up and grind some spices, well, then things can get really messy. Then I learned a quick trick for blotting up those oils and spice fragments. Use rice to clean your coffee or spice grinder; grind the rice until it is pulverized, then wipe the inside clean with a paper towel.

I have this pot I use all the time in the kitchen. And it undergoes some pretty rough treatment. Everyday cleaning with dish soap gets it clean enough. However, heavy use leaves it blackened and burned over time. Every once in a while, I like to give my burnt pot a deep clean that leaves this trusty standby looking like new. To do so, boiling water does the trick; aside from that you would need baking soda and a mesh dish cloth to remove the burnt stains. Here’s how.

That glass is supposed to come out of your dishwasher sparkling and clear! Not cloudy!

It only requires two little ingredients you already have in the pantry.

You can use a cast iron skillet for almost anything — as long as you take the time to maintain it and keep it in good condition. Here's how.

Infusing vinegar is the perfect way to combine vinegar's natural cleansing and disinfecting benefits with a much more pleasant aromatherapy experience.

You don't have to become a bacon-free household! Just know how to clean up that splattered grease.

Vinegar's acidity allows it to tackle all sorts of yucky messes, including the splatter on the inside of your microwave.

Because every once in a while, you probably look up and think "Wow, these things are filthy!"

Here's how you can make your own disinfectant and clean your granite countertops without buying a single thing.

Here's what to do — whether you want to use a food-safe mineral oil or a butcher block conditioner.

Natural cleaners are effective, free of toxins, and affordable — if you make them yourself.

When you can't see through smeary, crusty glass, well, that ruins an awful lot of the fun of cooking.

"I didn't even have to scrub and the filter looked brand new!"

Even the best microfiber cloth can be ruined if you don't wash it correctly.

Keep those pricey pieces looking good as new!

Over time dishwashers can collect food debris, soap residue, and inexplicable gunk that needs to be wiped away to ensure your dishes are getting a proper shine.

Turns out you don't need to waste your time or energy scrubbing, because you can actually get your slow cooker to clean itself!

The super cool design is great to look at, but it can be hard to get it truly clean. Here are our best tips and tricks for getting a Chemex absolutely sparkling.

Scrub too vigorously and you can scratch or chip the precious enamel coating. Work too gently and you'll leave behind stains or burnt-on bits.

The hardest part can be done for you while you sleep.

Turns out, you're supposed to wash them as often as you'd wash your kitchen towels.

You should give it a deep clean once in a while to make sure it runs safely and efficiently.

You wouldn't wipe a dirty rag all around your countertops, right? So why would you use a dirty broom on your floors?

Let a fire and a good soak do a lot of the work for you!

Because no one wants their giant cocktail ice cubes to taste like last month’s pesto bombs.

You just need a sponge, marker, and a utility knife.

What to do after getting that dreaded "BURN" notice? Read this.

If you have kids, you're gonna need these tips sooner or later.

You just need a few ingredients from your pantry!

I’ve gotta say, I love a Bundt pan. My mom has a star-shaped one that she’s had for at least 30 years — a holdover from a few years we spent overseas when my dad was in the Air Force — and she almost exclusively uses it to make flan for dinner parties. If you’re someone who’s into baking shaped desserts, Bundt pans are an awesome solution for whipping out that statement-making cake for a party.

NEVER turn them inside out!

Good news: It's so much easier than cleaning a deep fryer!

Here’s the thing about knife blocks: We don’t really recommend them. They can dull the blades of your knives as you drag them in and out of their holders, they’re often sold as an expensive set with knives that you really don’t need, and they can harbor some serious mold (and maybe even bacteria) in those dark, hard-to-reach slots.

Whether you splurged on (or registered for) fancy-pants dinnerware or you love your cheap-chic IKEA plates, scratches show up on the best (and the worst) of dishes. But don’t despair! It’s shockingly simple to buff your plates to look brand new again. The magical solution? Well, it’s a pantry ingredient you probably already have. We’re talking about cream of tartar! You might know it as a stabilizing agent used when whipping egg whites.

Does your garbage disposal stink? Can you remember the last time you cleaned it? If the answers are yes and no, congratulations — you're about to click on the right story.

Do you have subway tiles in your kitchen? Or maybe you went for something a bit bolder? Either way, those tiles need cleaning! How to do it depends on just how long it’s been since you gave them a good once-over — and how often you make a big, greasy mess in your kitchen. Here, we’ve got step-by-step cleaning instructions for even the greasiest backsplash and grout. Many, many things in your kitchen can be cleaned with soap, water, and a sponge that has some texture to it.

Zero elbow grease required.

Here’s the thing about your stainless steel sink: It doesn’t seem like the kind of place bacteria would like to grow in (especially if you’re cleaning it with soap and water on a regular basis). But bacteria is sneaky and can grow pretty much anywhere. Which is why it’s a good idea to disinfect your sink every once in a while. Here’s how to do it. In this How To, we recommend using bleach to disinfect your sink.

A quick search online for pros and cons of butcher block countertops will give a long list of pros on beauty and function, and one definite con: maintenance. It’s a forgiving surface, to say the least, since it can be sanded and oiled to be made like new, but what a project! The overall chorus, however, suggests that everyday cleaning is far easier and simpler, and doesn’t require harsh chemicals or cleaners.

Of all the decisions I made when building my kitchen last year, the one that has generated the most questions is my choice of marble countertops. I don’t regret the choice one bit: marble is beautiful, relatively inexpensive compared to other solid-surface countertops, and above all, easy to clean. I have found marble easy to maintain and easy to clean. Honestly, I feel a little silly showing you how I clean my countertops; it’s pretty darn simple.

It's easy to neglect tile, which means they're probably pretty dirty by the end of the week.

This recipe makes use of a gentle DIY cleaner and the scrubbing power of microfiber to lift debris and get your hardwood floors all cleaned up.

Related: You really should clean your toaster.

Get a perfectly clean blender with no smoothie, no soup, or puréed baby food left to be scrubbed out.

Draw a nice, warm bath for your ... oven racks? It sounds pretty out there, but it actually works!

Because you don't really want to drink mold or mildew!

I consider myself a pretty clean person, but I have to say that every time I start researching an article, I discover another totally filthy place that I haven’t been cleaning. In this case, it’s the kitchen sink. It actually harbors even more bacteria than your toilet bowl. And if you, like me, thought that it got clean as you wash the dishes every day? Well, you are sadly mistaken.

Got a gross mess on your Le Creuset? All that's needed is one secret weapon you probably already have in your kitchen.

Small cracks in a wooden butcher block or cutting board aren’t just a cosmetic annoyance; they can also harbor bacteria, rendering your butcher block unsafe to use for food preparation. While major cracks and warps require professional repair, smaller hairline fractures can be repaired at home simply with just a few odds and ends from the hardware store. Here’s how to get your butcher block back into useable form!

When well cared for, a rolling pin can last for generations. My French-style model Like a nice wooden cutting board, the best wooden rolling pins are made of an untreated, well-sanded hardwood such as rock maple. They’re pretty indestructible — I’ve even gone a year or two without oiling my rolling pin, and it’s stayed in like-new condition.

Are you the proud owner (or renter) of a set of stainless steel countertops? They’re very common in commercial kitchens, but I haven’t seen them in many homes, save for an industrial-grade island or cart like the one in Julia’s kitchen. I don’t know why they haven’t remained in vogue — of all the quirks of my 1940s era kitchen, they’re the one feature I’ve truly fallen in love with.