Whether you saw them on TikTok or heard about them from a friend, kitchen cleaning hacks are everywhere. Some do not work as well as they claim and create a lot of mess, or even end up damaging surfaces.
The kitchen is the engine of the home and tends to double the living space. It’s no surprise, then, that cleaning the kitchen can seem like a huge undertaking.
Here are the cleaning hacks that experts say don’t work, and alternative cleaning tips and methods you can try instead.
Kitchen cleaning hacks that don’t work
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1. Use the oven’s self-cleaning feature
“We do not recommend using the self-cleaning feature to clean your oven,” says Marilee Nelson, founder of non-toxic cleaning company Branch Basics (Opens in a new tab). “The high temperature of self-cleaning ovens releases highly toxic chemicals which then pollute the indoor air.”
If you need to use the self-cleaning feature, run an exhaust fan over the oven, turn the clean feature on and leave it for a few hours, she suggests. Then when you return, ventilate the house so that the smell from the oven is gone.
“Open windows on both sides of the house and use fans near the windows to help suck air in from the kitchen and blow air out of the house,” she says. Considering how much effort this all sounds like, we’d prefer oven cleaning with a more manual method.
Marilee Nelson is a Texas-based environmental consultant and co-founder of Branch Basics. I started Branch Basics after learning how harmful chemicals in our products and food can affect our health. She found that detergents and laundry detergents have a significant impact on home air quality. Marilee is on a mission to inspire, motivate, and empower people to take proactive responsibility for their health and experience the transformative power of creating a truly healthy home and diet.
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2. Vinegar and baking soda on the grout
Mario Moses, Founder of Tile Sealing (Opens in a new tab)She has extensive experience in maintaining and cleaning kitchen tiles. In his view, the common hack of using vinegar and baking powder on grout can do more harm than good, ruining the grout and making it more difficult to clean. “Another hack that doesn’t work is using abrasive scrubbers or steel wool on tile surfaces, as you can scratch and damage the tile,” he adds.
the solution? “Instead of relying on ineffective cleaning tricks, try using a pH-neutral cleaner designed specifically for tile and grout which is a great way to remove dirt and grime without damaging surfaces.”
3. Bleach on kitchen counters
Using bleach to clean surfaces after using raw meat, poultry, or fish is another cleaning method that’s not worth the hassle, Marelli says. Bleach is highly toxic to humans, pets, wildlife, aquatic life, and the environment. Bleach fumes also create volatile organic compounds, which can trigger asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and headaches.
Instead, use 3% hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant After, after Clean surfaces to deal with germs.
(Image credit: Future PLC)
4. Use lemon juice – on some surfaces
Beatrice Flores, Cleaning Expert at Living Pristine (Opens in a new tab) He says many kitchen “hacks” cause more problems than they solve. “Using lemon juice as a cleaner may seem like an economical way to keep things shiny, but acidic cleaners can damage many surfaces like marble and granite counters,” warns Beatrice.
Instead of trying these hacks with potentially harmful results, try natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar for degreasing and scrubbing purposes in both the kitchen and bathroom.
5. Mix the vinegar and baking soda on the work surfaces
A lot of household cleaning supplies include a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, Sarah San Angelo of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady (Opens in a new tab) She says it’s most effective when used alone. We found that baking soda and vinegar work well when cleaning the oven, but Sarah isn’t a fan.
“Mixing it after a mystery offering that promises shimmering surfaces gives you nothing but water and salt,” she says. “It’s Chemistry 101. Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. Together they cancel each other out.”
Alternatively, use equal parts vinegar and water in a kitchen and bathroom spray bottle. Vinegar is a wonderful disinfectant. Make sure not to use it on natural stone as the acid can damage this type of surface. Cleaning with baking soda is great if you have stains – Sarah recommends sprinkling it in the toilet to get rid of stains.
(Image credit: Future PLC)
How do I make my kitchen easier to clean?
“The first step to making your kitchen easier to clean is decluttering,” says cleaning expert Beatrice Flores. Once you clear out the items you no longer use and reorganize the closets for easier access, she says you need to find a way to incorporate cleaning into your routine. It’s all about discipline, Beatrice says, so wipe down surfaces daily, wash dishes as soon as you use them and put them away promptly.
“Get rid of the idea that you need a different cleaning product for everything in your kitchen,” adds Allison Evans, co-founder of Branch Basics. All you need is a good quality surfactant or soap for all your kitchen cleaning needs. It simplifies your cleaning routine.
It will also help organize the kitchen in an efficient manner. For example, Alison is adept at storing her kitchen, placing cups, bowls, and plates in cabinets within easy reach of the dishwasher, so everything is right there and easy to empty.
When it comes to specific kitchen cleaning tasks like mopping, wiping surfaces, or cleaning grout lines, Mario Musa says: Break the work into smaller chunks and spread it out over several days if necessary. Working in short bursts will help maintain your levels of enthusiasm and motivation, as we found when we tried the 5-Minute Cleaning Challenge at Home.
What is the fastest way to clean a dirty kitchen?
“Get your cleaning supplies ready,” says Sarah. Gather everything before you start cleaning. I tell people to keep their kitchen cleaning supplies together under the sink or to have a cleaning caddy that you can carry around with. That way you don’t waste time running around the house trying to find cleaning products.
Another top tip is to clean up while you’re gone and help your kids or family members. “Teach kids how to clean their own dirt or wash their dishes early so it becomes second nature as they get older,” says Allison Evans of Branch Basics.
We put all our dirty dishes in the sink and spray them with Branch Basics. While those are sitting, I spray the work surface,” she adds. Then I go back to cleaning and loading the dishwasher and finally wiping down the countertops. Leaving the cleaning product on surfaces and dishes for a few minutes allows residue to break down and come off faster.
