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If this doesn't remove the staining, you can try a product similar to Hillmark 375ml Stone Kleen And Protect Marble Granite Cleaner. If the stain has penetrated too deep for this product to work, you'll need to move onto abrasive cleaners, but you'll likely need to re-polish the surface afterwards. My wife loves Gumption Paste 750g Multipurpose Cleaner for hard to remove stains. Apply a small amount onto a soft cloth and try to buff out the stain. Spraying the area with a <5% hydrogen peroxide and then scrubbing the marks could also work. - MitchellMc
I really like the orange power spray bottles for use in the kitchen and bathroom. I think it’s called a multi-purpose cleaner. Environmentally friendly – no harsh chemicals – lovely smell and work great.
Similarly, I find the best way to clean the microwave is just to pour water into a bowl. Cut a lemon in half, squeeze all the juice into the bowl, then throw the two lemon halves in the water as well. Then microwave it for a few minutes and let it stand for at least 5 minutes. Be careful when you take out the hot bowl and then just wipe down all the surfaces in the oven. - Isobel
We've only had electric hotplates in our kitchen, but we replaced the original coiled heating element hotplates, with second hand solid cast iron hot plates. They weren't ready for the tip but they weren't showroom either, so I fitted my reciprocating saw with a wire brush, & went to work on them. The black finish took a beating, but they were restored to brand spanking new condition after using this.
Cleaning Laminex, formica and glossy surfaces: I wet a microfibre cloth with cold water, then wring it out until it's just damp. Do not use warm or hot water, as it will smear if there are any grease deposits. Microfibre cloths hold the grime in their very fine striations that run the whole length of their filaments, so an occasional clean of the cloth in warm sudsy water will restore them to being usable again. Mind you, the cupboards would have to be damned shabby for you to have to do that. If it's just fingerprints & light spills, you probably won't have to clean the cloth for the whole kitchen clean up.
As an example of its efficiency, I used to use a kitchen sponge with warm water and detergent, then had to rinse the suds off, then buff with a tea towel to remove any water droplets. It looked great after one and a half hours. By contrast, the cold water microfibre cloth method takes 10 minutes to end up with the same result. - Andy_Mann
Just remember with the likes of orange powder, lemon and vinegar to keep them away from marble and other natural stone surfaces as the acid will eat into them. Also, don't be tempted to use vinegar on floorboards as it will strip off the polish. For stove burners, take about a quarter of a cup of ammonia and seal it up with one of the burners in a large zip-lock bag and leave it overnight. In the morning you should be able to just wipe them clean - CathD
Use BBQ stainless steel cleaner on all the stainless fittings and fixtures. She also loves the dishwasher and puts practically everything in it, including believe it or not, the BBQ cast iron grill plates. They come out a treat. A quick coat of spray oil and they are ready to go. - darylhewston
If you hand wash dishes and want to wring the water from a scourer so that it doesn't drip all over the place when putting it away, here's the go. Lay your dishwashing cloth out flat, place the scourer flat on the dish cloth, preferably near one end of the cloth so that when you fold the 2 together, the dish cloth is in contact with both sides. Next, roll it up & twist each end in opposite directions, & you'll be amazed at how dry the scourer becomes.
Note: If you use a kitchen sponge for dishwashing, this technique isn't suitable, as you won't get the squeeze/compression needed, and you'll trash the sponge every time. Micro fibre cloths rule, they wash well, dry the sink & table top nicely, & clean up easily. - Andy_Mann
Dryer sheets are great to clean baked on food from dishes and oven racks and trays. Just cover the dish or rack in warm water and lay a dryer sheet over the item. Make sure it is in contact. Wait two hours or more and wipe off the black and brown stubborn burnt on grime. - Dee-Cluttered
I haven't used a commercial surface spray cleaner for decades. I make my own! It does an excellent job on grease and works better than most commercial cleaners. If anyone's not happy with their spray cleaner, this is a good alternative. Here is the formula:
- 1.5 litre water (1 cup boiled)
- 300ml vinegar
- 60ml dishwashing liquid
- 25ml eucalyptus oil
- 3 dessert spoons "Lectric" soda (washing soda)
Procedure:
Mix washing soda with about 1 cup boiling water to dissolve, add remaining ingredients, then pour into a 2 litre bottle (I use the plastic vinegar ones).
This nearly fills the 2 litre bottle, then I decant into spray bottles for benches and laundry. It also can be used in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, makes short work of outdoor furniture and barbecues, it even cleans up joggers and dirty sport shoes. Use it in the toilet, on floors, to clean painted surfaces, to clean showers and tiled surfaces. Happy cleaning!
For cleaning heavy build up on the bottoms of fry pans, I recently tried oven cleaner. I sprayed a pan and left it overnight, then scrubbed the base with steel wool and most of it came off. I think a second application will get the rest off. - Prof
This video on cleaning the bottoms of pans suggests baking soda, vinegar and steel wool:
- AndreaNg
