Top 10 tips for a clean kitchen

Keep it clean

Get out the rubber gloves it\'s time for a spot of spring cleaning - simply follow our guide and your kitchen will not only sparkle it will also be a hygienic space in which to prepare, cook and store food.

By Elspeth Pridham

Fridge fresh

Keep your fridge food-friendly with a thorough spring clean. First take out all the food and throw away anything that is past its \'use by\' date. Wash removable parts, including drawers and racks, in hot soapy water and while these drip dry wipe out the inside of the fridge using a cloth soaked in warm soapy water. Don\'t use a scourer or harsher cleaning fluids than washing up liquid. Rinse with warm water, then replace all the pieces you removed earlier and the food, make sure you give bottles and jars a wipe before they go back in as they can get sticky.

Dishing the dirt

A build up of greasy deposits in the filter and spray arm of the dishwasher will make your dishes dull and your glasses grimy. Run a specialist treatment, such as Finish Dishwasher Cleaner, through the machine to bring back the sparkle. Alternatively, placing half a lemon in the cutlery basket for a couple of washes will not only brighten your plates and clean the filter but it will also give your machine a fruity fragrance.

Outstanding ovens

Baked-on grime is harder to shift so make a New Year\'s resolution to clean your oven on a regular basis. Sponge the oven walls with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water, turn the oven on low for 20 minutes, allow to cool and use washing-up liquid and water to rinse off. Wipe with a cloth wrung out in the bicarbonate solution and leave to dry - this leaves a grease-absorbing layer that makes subsequent cleaning easier. To get the stains off the inside of a microwave put a quartered lemon in a bowl of water on high for five minutes. Grime then wipes off really easily and the oven smells fresh too.

Wonderful worktops

Prevention is better than cure so avoid stains and scratches spoiling your work surfaces by wiping up spills immediately. Always use a chopping board and place hot pans and dishes with a rough base on a heat resistant mat or trivet. Tea, red wine and curry are the worst culprits in the kitchen but these stains can be removed from laminate work surfaces with a cream cleaner or mild bleach solution. To bring back the dazzling shine to granite tops try a spritz of window cleaner followed by a polish with a soft cloth.

Loath limescale?

In hard water areas limescale can be a real problem - clogging up appliances and causing unsightly marks on the taps and round the sink. By installing a water softener you can condition the water used in your home which will result in softer, brighter laundry, sparkling dishes and less wear on the dishwasher and washing machine. Plus, soft water reduces the amount of detergent and soap powder required. Ask your plumber for advice on the best options available. Alternatively there are a variety of products on the market for removing limescale deposits from taps and appliances. Try Lakeland for gel descaler and laundry tablets.

Bin buddy

Don\'t be ashamed of your bin! Keep it presentable with a regular hot soapy wash and a spritz of antibacterial spray. Wrap sharp objects in newspaper to avoid them splitting the bag and keep a supply of bin bags or old carrier bags conveniently to hand to encourage you to empty the bin regularly. It is always advisable to take smellier items such as fish bones straight to your outdoor bin. Lakeland sells a variety of pedal bins and compost caddies as well as a range of recycled plastic bags.

Down the drain

Never throw tea leaves, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings or cooking oil down the drain as they will gradually accumulate and result in a blockage. Instead poor a kettle of boiling water into the sink once a week to prevent greasy build up. If the kitchen sink does become blocked try flushing down a handful of washing soda dissolved in 500ml of hot water.

All that glitters

Metal surfaces in the kitchen can quickly lose their lustre. However, hard water deposits around taps can be removed by rubbing with a paste of salt and vinegar and then buffed to a shine with a dry chamois leather. And you can remove stains and grease marks on chrome with a damp sponge dipped in bicarbonate of soda. Always use a cream cleaner and soft cloth to avoid scratching a stainless steel sink - tough stains (such as tea) can be removed with a mild bleach solution.

Underfoot

Having a doormat by all external doors will prevent dirt being walked into the kitchen. Washable Turtle mats are particularly absorbent. Regular sweeping will prevent the build up of dirt and a weekly wash down with a damp mop and general purpose cleaner should keep vinyl, ceramic tiles and stone looking their best. Dirty grouting between tiles can be cleaned with a soft bristled brush

Green alternatives

Visit The Natural Store for a variety of ethical cleaning products such as Maison Belle\'s orange and rosemary kitchen cleaner. In addition the E-Cloth will polish glass and chrome to a shine without the use of chemicals. Or make your own eco friendly alternatives, for instance you can use vinegar to dissolve hard limescale deposits. Simply soak some paper towels with vinegar, place over the limescale and leave overnight.