Cleaning Hacks for Your Apartment Kitchen
Your kitchen is the busiest room in your apartment and also the one that can be the most difficult to clean. (Yes, even more difficult than the bathroom.) Your kitchen is a high-traffic area and the floors, countertops and appliances take a beating on a daily basis, especially if you live with roommates. Now before you head to the nearest discount store to stock up on cheap cleaning supplies, keep in mind that you do not own your kitchen, so you need to put some thought into how you clean it. Remember that when you move out, the property manager is going to go over the unit with a fine-tooth comb to look for any damages, which means they may have reason to hold your security deposit.
Here are some hacks that use all-natural ingredients that you can use to clean your kitchen. Most of the items you should already have on hand, but if you don’t, they are cheap and plentiful. Of course, you can also look for natural cleaning supplies at practically any store, just keep in mind that you will pay a premium for these brands and most of them contain stuff that you probably already have at home or can pick up on the cheap.
- Stainless steel appliances. You can restore the luster to your fridge and other appliances by using coconut or olive oil. Just pour a few drops of oil on a soft cloth or paper towel and buff your appliances. Keep in mind that stainless steel scratches easily, so avoid using scouring powder, “scrubbies” or bleach.
- Granite countertops. Granite can be finicky as you want to be careful to not nick or scratch the surface. A DIY solution is to use mild dish soap and warm water on a microfiber cloth. Do NOT use any acids like vinegar or citrus, abrasive scrubs, or steel wool.
- Vinyl flooring. First, thoroughly sweep or dry vac any debris from the floor. Use a solution of vinegar and warm water to mop the floor with a soft cloth or mop to prevent scratching. Scuffs can be buffed with jojoba oil or WD-40 and tough stains can be removed with a baking soda and water paste or rubbing alcohol.
- Removing greasy buildup. This sounds counterintuitive, but use grease to remove grease from your stovetop, backsplash and vent hood. Pour a few drops of vegetable oil on a soft cloth and wipe away the grease. Keep buffing then wipe away the excess oil.
- Microwave. The microwave is probably the most abused appliance in the kitchen and can get gross pretty quickly. Place a bowl of vinegar and sliced lemons in the microwave and let the timer run for two minutes. Leave the door closed for several minutes after the timer goes off to let the steam clean the interior. Open the microwave and wipe away all of the residue.
- Stovetop. If you have hard crusty stains that vegetable oil won’t get rid of, make a paste of baking soda and warm water. Leave it alone for about an hour, then wipe it away. If you’d like, you can then give the stovetop a good buff with vegetable oil.
- Sink. Your stainless steel sink needs slightly different care than the appliances. First, rinse the sink, then sprinkle it with baking soda. Use a paper towel to scrub the sink thoroughly, then spray on undiluted vinegar. Rinse away with plain water. You can use a toothbrush to scrub hard-to-reach areas.
It is pretty painless to clean the kitchen, but the biggest hack is to not let the situation get out of hand in the first place. There are many resources online that give great advice on how to keep your kitchen under control with daily use. Create a plan with your roommates on how to manage the kitchen during the week. You have better things to do during the weekend!
Live the Good Life in a Vision Community
At Vision Communities, our goal is to create the space for you to make it your own. We want you to feel at home when you join one of our Central Ohio apartment communities. Making your kitchen your own is part of that process. If you are looking for an apartment, check out our 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom floor plans, many of which offer a balcony space to build your own oasis.
Schedule an appointment to check out our spacious floor plans, and our friendly property management staff will be happy to show you around.