Hacks for Cleaning Stubborn Kitchen Messes

Spills, dirty dishes, the occasional smudge mark — when it comes to everyday kitchen cleanup, you’re always on top of your game. There’s just a few tasks that require a bit more than elbow grease and an all-in-one spray solution. Check out our hacks for these common stubborn messes to keep your kitchen running in tip-top shape!

Stubborn Mess #1: Burnt Cooking Pan
A burnt pan happens to the best of us, but it’s not the end of our culinary world. Instead of spending wasted time scrubbing over the sink, just try this easy trick. Add one cup of vinegar and one cup of water to the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add about two tablespoons of baking soda. Scrub away like you normally would clean your pan. For any truly stubborn spots that just won’t go away, make a paste using one tablespoon of baking soda to a couple drops of water and leave it on the spots for an hour or two. Proceed to scrub off after.

Stubborn Mess #2: Grease Splatter on Oven
If you’re cooking with meats, butter, oil or anything with a crackle, there’s going to be grease splatter on your oven and hood. Simply wiping it off with a wet rag doesn’t work and some cleaning solutions can be harmful. So what’s the best way to clean off that gunk? Dampen a paper towel with mineral or vegetable oil and see all the dust and grime wipe away. Crazy? Maybe. Effective? Definitely!

Stubborn Mess #3: Rust on Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel: beautiful, modern, but also capable of accumulating those dreaded rust spots if not taken care of properly. If you’re seeing a little red, don’t worry. We have a few solutions for getting your appliances and other stainless items back to their former glory. Read here. 

Stubborn Mess #4: Residue in Your Dishwasher
If you keep finding your dishes coming out with bits of food or residue on them or feel like your dishwasher isn’t cleaning as great as it could be, it’s probably time to clean your dishwasher filter. This hack is really more of a reminder to clean out something you may not have known needed cleaning. Learn how to do it here. 

Stubborn Mess #5: Smoothie Streaks in Blender
Didn’t have time to rinse the blender after your pre-work breakfast smoothie this morning? No worries. This simple trick cleans up in no time just by letting your blender do what it does best — blend. If there is any leftover mixture inside, rinse it out as much as you can. Next, add a little squeeze of dish soap and fill up the blender halfway with warm water. Put the top on and let that mixture blend until everything has been cleaned off the walls. Repeat with new soap and water mixture if needed.