Cleaning the kitchen is a chore. I like to clean as I cook but some cleaning must wait until after the meal. I made a list of handy cleaning tips for some of your toughest cleaning jobs.

Let’s start with a recipe for a basic cleaner. This works well for cleaning dirt and grime from most kitchen surfaces and is a wonderful grease cutter.

Mix together:

2 cups hot water

2 teaspoons borax

½ teaspoon baking or washing soda

½ teaspoon liquid detergent or soap

Place in spray bottle, shaking well before using.

For a heavier duty cleaner:

2 cups water

1 tablespoon ammonia

1 tablespoon liquid laundry detergent

Place in spray bottle, shaking well before using.

I use a cutting board for all my cooking. When done, I wash with hot soapy water or place in the dishwasher. At least three times a month, I disinfect my cutting boards with vinegar and water. Place cutting board in sink and fill with hot water, covering the cutting board. Add 1 cup vinegar and mix with a spoon. Let soak for 15-30 minutes then rinse and dry. For wood cutting boards, use a spray bottle filled with ¾ vinegar and ¼ water. Wipe clean and dry.

If your cutting board smells from strong odors like fish or onions, sprinkle coarse salt on board and rub in. Next, take a half of lemon and rub over the board. Let sit for 10 minutes then rinse and dry. Wood boards may need to be reseasoned after cleaning.

When cleaning stainless steel appliances, add a little baby oil or mineral oil to a soft dry cloth and clean being sure to wipe with the grain. This quickly removes prints and smudges from the surface. Shine with a second clean soft cloth.

Apply lemon juice to hands for removing onion, fish, or other odors. Grinding up lemons in your garbage disposal will remove odors and freshen the air.

For dingy countertops, pour club soda on counter then clean with soft cloth. Rinse with warm water and dry. This will also clean stainless steel sinks.

Dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol or vinegar to remove water spots from stainless steel sinks.

For fresh air, place a cotton ball in small jar and pour 1 teaspoon of desired extract on cotton. Poke holes in lid and place on jar. Lemon, orange or cinnamon are wonderful for the kitchen. For other rooms, try essential oils like sandalwood, evergreen or mint.

If your dishwasher smells, at night, before bedtime, put one cup of white vinegar in an empty dishwasher and turn on. Do this once a week for a clean smelling dishwasher.