Kitchen Quick Tips - Dealing With Greasy Build-up

Kitchens by default get greasy through normal day to day cooking.  The quickest, easiest and cheapest way to wash away grease deposits from all kitchen surfaces is household ammonia.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Nix the Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaners

Anti-bacterial kitchen cleaners are expensive, cause indoor air pollution and must be left on the surface anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.  Use 50% ethyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), a dollar store find, instead.  Pour the alcohol into  spray bottle then spray on kitchen surfaces to kill germs instantly while it sparkles surfaces.

Kitchen Quick Tips - End Water Spots on Chrome Surfaces

End water spots on chrome surfaces by rubbing with a piece of wax paper, coated side down.  This will remove white spots while leaving a thin coating that acts as a varnish to repel water spots from occurring.  Repeat as needed.

Frugal Kitchens 101 - A Mouse in the House

We have been happily married for over 30 years and while I did have to deal with mice in my childhood home, I was very fortunate to not have to deal with them until we moved to a rural location.  I have extensive experience with lab mice (they really don't like pap smears!) and pet mice,  I'm sorry but I do not tolerate wild mice in home.  Wild mice are vectors of disease while contaminating foods and surfaces.  I find nothing cute about them so take a very aggressive approach to rodent control.  They are nasty little, destructive critters!  Our second last house had a farmer's field behind and water in the front as did our last house.  This house backs onto a small farmer's field.  When the crops come off the mice come in.  It is a given.  I did the house walk-around, sealing every crack I could find here and when the crops came off though I was in the clear yet when we arrived home from vacation on December 21, there were mouse droppings in the pantry.  There were no signs of it getting into any food but aside from a few packages, all the food in the pantry is protected and when we checked the traps yesterday they were completely clean of the peanut butter!  My husband reset then with cheese, securing it tightly under the bait area.  This morning there was a mouse in one of the traps.

Rodents (eg. mice, rats, squirrels) can be a potential problem in any dwelling regardless of the age, style or location of the home.  They can create an health and safety hazard as well a fire hazard if they chew on the electrical wiring.  However, some locations such as those within a close proximity to crop fields are more prone to rodents getting indoors.  Older homes may be more prone as quite often they are not sealed as well.  If you live in a location where there is an existing higher rodent population (eg. inner city) there is a greater likelihood of a rodent getting into your house.  If one or more rodents get into your house there are four steps that must be followed:

• clean-up and removal - A mouse in the living area of the house is easier to deal with than one in the attic or walls.  Mice and rats are nocturnal so turn off the lights and television then listen for the pitter patter of little feet.  That will give you an idea what area of the house the rodent is in.  If you see the tell tale signs of rodent droppings, mark the location then vacuum them up and set traps in that area near the perimeter of the room which is the normal path mice take.  Do not sweep up rodent droppings as that can cause virii or bacteria to become airborne.  If the infestation is bad, call in an exterminator especially if dealing with mice in the walls or larger infestations.
• seal rodents out - Seal all holes or other sources of entry for mice.  Pay particular attention to where wires and pipes enter or exit your house, under the eaves and where the house sits on the foundation.  Caulk all cracks, crevices and holes.  If the hole is larger, patch it with the appropriate material then seal well. 
• remove all food sources 
• All food should be stored in glass, metal or heavy plastic containers.  Be aware that plastic can allow food odours to escape attracting rodents and rodents can chew through plastic.  All boxed or packaged foods can be stored in non-food grade plastic as the food itself will not come into direct contact with the plastic.  There are several styles of plastic totes and bins with lids that will help protect your food.  Be sure the lid snaps on tightly though.  An alternative to bins is to use a metal storage locker that rodents cannot get into.  Use a metal breadbox to protect breads and rolls or put them into the microwave for storage.  Use food grade plastic to store foods that will come into direct contact with the plastic.  Heavy plastic pails can be found at doughnut shops and restaurants, usually free for the asking.  This is a good source for large glass pickle jars suitable for dry storage as well. 
• Floors and countertops must be kept squeaky clean, free of any crumbs as should your stove surface even under the burners where crumbs can accumulate.  The best tools to ensure no crumbs is the vacuum cleaner, electric broom or hand held mini vac.  
• Maintain a food in the kitchen only policy.  That will keep any crumbs confined to one area of the house making it easier to clean.  During an active infestation, put away all foods including your candy dish and fruit bowl.  Once the potential for infestation has been eliminated, they can be brought out again.
• Protect root vegetables, squashes and apples in your pantry by placing in a mesh box.  This is a box constructed using a wood frame and solid bottom with finer weave carpenter's cloth for the sides and lid.  The food smells may attract any rodents in the house but they will not be able to get to the food.  This box is best set up after eliminating any infestation and sealing your house.
• Remove any garbage and food unneeded leftovers from the kitchen and place in secure garbage bin until garbage collection day.  Use a bungie cord if necessary to keep rodents out of your garbage bins.

• prevention - I tend to declare a rodent infestation over once all signs of the rodent are gone.  However, once a rodent has got into your house it pays to continue with a good prevention plan.  Here are a few tips to help you keep mice out of your house:
• habitat removal - Remove any tall grasses including ornamental grasses and English Ivy from garden beds around your house.  Both provide nesting areas for rodents.
• feeding the birds - Feeding birds using any type of seed will attract rodents who are happy to help with the ground clean-up.  Any bird feeders should be kept well away from the house and seed droppings should be kept cleaned up.
• bait - In some locations, the regular use of poisonous rodent bait will help control the rodent population.  However, this is not a method I recommend on an ongoing basis.  It presents a danger to children and pets, as well as hawks and owls that feed on the rodents.  Instead, use the laws of nature to attract rodent predators that will keep the rodent population in check reducing the risk of them getting indoors without using poison.
• electronic rodent deterrents - These are electronic devices that emit a sound frequency and/or use your household wiring to create a vibration that mice do not like.  There has been some debate as to their efficacy but I have had excellent luck with them.  I use six indoor (Weitech, Victor, Global Instruments) electronic devices all sonic with one sonic/vibration.  Simply plug in the device where it will not be obstructed to keep rodents out of the protected zone.  I plug them in on the first signs of mice in the house and leave them plugged in until I am sure the mice are gone and I've done a complete perimeter check for any entry points.  I also plug them in a few days before the crops come off and leave them on for a couple of weeks.  These devices use the same amount of electricity as a night light which isn't much but we don't really need them on year round.  In some locations though, leaving the electronic devices on year round may be wise.
• the Scarecrow - The Scarecrow is a motion activated device that sprays a stream of water while making a startling noise to drive away pests including the two legged kind in the garden or other protected area.  From experience they are very effective against cats, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, dogs and meter readers snitching tomatoes.  I would think they would be effective against rats as well but can't say for certain as I have no experience with deterring rats.
• attract natural predators - Cats are good predators for mice but not all cats are hunters.  You really need a cat with inborn hunting tendencies.  Snakes, owls and hawks are all good predators to attract into your garden to keep the local mice population at bay.
• don't let your guard down - Even if you have sealed your house to prevent rodents from getting it, remember rodents tend to chew their way indoors if there is no easy point of entry.  Keep an eye out for any signs that a rodent has been trying to get into your house and block that point of entry as well.  If you get snowfall, watch for any rodent tracks near your house and take immediate preventative measures if you see any tracks.

Frugal Kitchens 101 - Hand Washing vs Using a Dishwasher for Dishes

For years there has been a debate amongst frugalistas as to which is more frugal - hand washing dishes or using a dishwasher.  There's no doubt that a dishwasher uses electricity in addition to water heating costs but it is not as simple as saying that hand washing is more frugal.  The reality is even if you have a dishwasher you will be doing hand washing as well for certain kitchenware.  It is inevitable that certain items simply are not dishwasher safe.  I've had a dishwasher since the first portable used one bought for $25 for our first house.  Modern dishwashers have come a long way since those old machines no longer being energy and water guzzlers.  We do a lot of scratch cooking, usually three meals a day plus snacks and I do a lot of home canning a preserving.  For me, a dishwasher is very much a frugal choice but that doesn't mean I don't have to do a bit of hand washing each day.  Others who do not do a lot of cooking, don't can and perhaps are only cooking for two may find for them hand washing is the frugal choice.  Years ago the mother of a family of twelve (IIRC) told a talk show audience that neither were frugal for them but rather disposable plates were the frugal choice, bought on sale using coupons.   So the actual answer to this debate lies in your cooking style and household size.  Here's a few tips for hand washing dishes and using a dishwasher"

• hand washing
• order - Wash chef's knives first, followed by glassware, then lightly soiled pot and pans and finally heavily soiled items.
• soak - Soak heavily soiled items in hot water with a tbsp or so of baking soda. 
• water - Use hot, soapy water for washing and clear hot water for rinsing. Avoid using dish detergent with antibiotic properties.  Soap is quite effective in killing off bacteria.   If concerned, you can add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to the dish water.  Do not use chlorine bleach as it is a respiratory irritant.
• sponge vs dishcloth - Sponges have the tendency to accumulate bacteria, although they can be sterilized in the microwave.  Use a clean cotton dishcloth each time you wash dishes to avoid this problem. [A 24 pk of wash cloths costs about $4 in stores like K-mart and Walmart.].  Hang dishcloths to air dry before putting in the laundry to avoid attracting moisture seeking insects.
• air dry vs towel drying - Air drying is fine if you are in a hurry and you have no pets in the home.  However, towel drying using a clean t-towel is preferred to avoid any air contaminates from settling on the clean dishes. Cotton bar towels (Sam's Club, 24 pk $12) are thick and absorbent yet inexpensive enough that you don't need to worry about staining.  Air dry t-towels before putting them in the laundry.
• energy efficiency - Use hot water (125°F; 140°F can cause scalding in only 6 seconds) and don't leave water running while rinsing dishes.
• dishwasher
• do not use the dishwasher for - The following items should not be washed in a dishwasher:  any item marked not dishwasher safe, plastics containing BPA, vintage lusterware, Depression or pre-Depression glass, cut lead glass crystal, non-stick bakeware or cookware with the exception of silicone bake ware, chef's knives, wood chopping blocks, anything aluminum based,  and non-kitchenware like golf balls, lego, ball caps.  I'm sure there are a lot of other things that should not go into the dishwasher as well.  Use common sense here.
• scraping - Older dishwashers and some newer ones have built in grinders so dishes only need to be scraped to remove larger food particles.  Some brands (eg. Bosch) do not have a built in food grinder which keeps the dishwasher quieter so be sure to scrape.
• rinsing - Rinsing dishes before loading into the dishwasher is not necessary.  It wastes water as well.  I do rinse anything that had a tomato product in not because the dishwasher won't clean well but because the tomato residue will stain certain kitchenware.
• rinse agent - Newer dishwashers are designed to use convection heat in the dishwasher for drying the dishes.  This reduces the energy usage.  Rinse agent is mandatory for the convection heat to operate properly without leaving spots or streaks.  Now the good news is, you don't have to pay the high costs of brand name rinse agent you just have to use rinse agent.  The dollar store brand will do just as nice a job as the brand name.
• loading - Load your dishwasher according to your dishwasher's manual.  Be sure taller items are not blocking other items.  Don't overload the dishwasher but don't run it if it is not fully loaded.  
• diswasher detergent - Use a phosphate free dishwasher detergent.  Most newer dishwashers need only a tablespoon of detergent for proper cleaning although some are reporting that a little as one teaspoon of detergent still does a good job.
• pre-heat the water - Before starting the dishwasher, run the hot water tap briefly just until hot. This pre-heat helps the dishwasher clean better.
• dishwasher detergent - Try to use the detergent recommended by the manufacturer for best results.  Most dishwashers will clean nicely with reduced amounts of detergent.  Powdered or liquid detergent is best if reducing the amount as it is difficult to divide the dishwasher tabs in half.  Dishwasher detergent does have an expiry date so never buy more than what you will use within a 3 month period.
• cleaning - Do not use harsh chemical cleaners on the exterior or interior of your dishwasher. Clean the exterior with a soft cloth with soap and water.  Do the same on the portion of the door interior that  seals.  Once a month, pour in a cup of white vinegar then run the dishwasher empty.  This will remove any mineral deposits and built-up soap residue.
• energy efficiency - Run the dishwasher only when full and during off peak hours.  If replacing your dishwasher, look for the EnergyStar certification.  Choose the most energy efficient dishwasher possible with the desired features in your price range.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Cleaning the Microwave Oven

Place one cup half full of water in the microwave and run on high power for 60 seconds.  Let stand 5 minutes.  Open microwave oven, remove tray and wipe down the interior.  Wash tray and replace.  Your microwave oven is now ready for use.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Declutter

A no cost way to get more space and a streamlined look in your kitchen is to declutter.  Remove everything hanging on the fridge door, clear the kitchen counters off entirely and get anything that doesn't belong in the kitchen out.  Store all those small appliances in cupboards out of the way except those that are used on a daily basis.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Stainless Steel

Buff your stainless steel cookware and other stainless steel kitchen items to a sparkly finish by wiping with a soft cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Fruit Flies

During the summer months when more fresh fruits are available many find themselves with a problem with fruit flies.  To solve this, cut a banana into small pieces then put into an empty 2L pop bottle or similar narrow necked bottle.  The flies will go into the bottle but won't be able to get back out.  Clean out to re-use if neccessary.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Cleaning Those Cracks

The kitchen is filled with a multitude of small cracks ranging from large appliances, small appliances, and joints like where the sink meets the countertop.  All of these cracks are perfect hosts for bacteria that can cause food borne illness.  Sanitize these cracks by washing using an old toothbrush.  Dry well.  Then spray with rubbing alcohol working it into the cracks.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Coffee and Tea Stains

Both coffee and tea leave unsightly stains in mugs and cups, tea pots and on reusable coffee machine filters.  Get them sparkly clean by rubbing with a damp cloth coated with baking soda then rinse with hot water.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Clean-up

Borrow a tip from the top chefs - keep your kitchen work area neat and tidy while you are working.  Clean-up as to work in the kitchen to save time and prevent injury.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Refrigerator Scuff Marks

Scuff marks from containers and packages on refrigerator shelves and compartment sides come off in a snap using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Preventing Food Stains on Plastic Storage Containers

Spray a light coating of oil on the inside of plasticware before pouring tomato based foods into the container to prevent staining.  

Kitchen Quick Tips - Cleanup As Your Go

Kitchen cleanup is so much easier if you clean as you go!  Keep a wet dishcloth, spray bottle of rubbing alcohol or white vinegar for disinfecting handy for countertop spills and splatters.  Load your dishwasher as you use various utensils and wash kitchenware not going into the dishwasher as you use them.

Frugal Kitchens 101 - Kitchen Disinfectants

There have been reports out for years regarding bacterial issues with sponges and cutting boards as well as other kitchen surfaces.  As a result manufactures fed into and continue to feed into the fear by developing anti-bacterial kitchen cleaners.  Anti-bacterial agents are now found in dish detergents, kitchen wet wipes, kitchen de-odourizing sprays, kitchen hand soaps and kitchen surface cleaners.  Anti-bacterial agents are also found in some kitchen plastics such as some NSF® (National Sanitation Foundation certified) knife handles and in some plastic cutting boards.  The bottom line is when it comes to controlling bacteria in the kitchen the vast majority of the anti-bacterial products are not necessary.  In fact they have been implicated in the emergence of super bugs (anti-bacterial resistant bacteria) as well as the increased incidence of allergies and asthma.  In addition to these concerns anti-bacterial products are considerably more expensive than the eco-friendly alternatives.  This week's Frugal Kitchens 101 focuses on how to disinfect your kitchen without the use of specialized anti-bacterial products.

The following eco-friendly cleaning solutions will help control bacteria and bacterial contamination in the kitchen:

• soap - Soap as opposed to detergents is either animal (beef fat) or vegetable based.  Soap is eco-friendly because it does not contain phosphates, bleaching or anti-bacterial agents and is biodegradable.  By it's very nature simple soap and water can be quite effective at controlling bacteria on surfaces and hands.   Soap can be homemade or store bought usually in a bar or flake form (eg. Sunlight, Ivory, Fel Naptha) but can also be found in liquid form.
• white vinegar -   White vinegar has anti-bacterial properties while being an effective de-odourizer.  It is inexpensive and can be used on most kitchen surfaces.  It can be warmed in a mug in the microwave oven to clean and de-odourize it.  White vinegar can be added to the rinse water when washing t-towels to kill any bacteria that may be present.  A 1:1 (water:vinegar) solution in a spray bottle can be used to wipe down countertops, appliance surfaces, sinks and taps to not only shine but sanitize.  A cup of vinegar can be used in the dishwasher to remove any water deposit build-up while sanitizing and freshening the inside of the dishwasher.  Straight white vinegar can be used to kill off any mold or mildew on kitchen window sills or in the refrigerator as well as sanitize cutting boards.  A bowl of straight white vinegar can be used in place of anti-bacterial kitchen sprays to effectively eliminate kitchen cooking odours.  Add vinegar to the water used to wash fruits and vegetables to eliminate surface bacteria and residues.
• rubbing alcohol - Straight rubbing alcohol (denatured ethanol or isopropyl) is one of the most effect sanitizers you can use in the kitchen.  It will effectively kill bacteria from most kitchen surfaces without harming them.  Pour rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle for easy application.  Spray onto cutting boards after use and again after washing to kill any remaining bacteria.   

Kitchen Quick Tips - Sparkly Stainless Steel

Stainless steel can show water spots that are unsightly.  I wipe these away with a little rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth to get a sparkly finish.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Declutter the Kitchen

Spring is the perfect time to declutter your kitchen.  Get rid of all those kitchen gadgets you aren't using.  Clean out the kitchen junk drawer and the silverware drawer.  Then marvel at your new found kitchen space.

Kitchen Quick Tips - Clean-up As You Cook

Get into the habit of cleaning-up as you do any prep work and while cooking.  This will save both time and energy in the long run as well as reducing after meal clean-up.

Frugal Kitchens 101 - Decluttering the Kitchen

The very nature of anyone who loves to cook is they will invariably have a multitude of kitchen gadgets along with several small kitchen appliances and then some.  This is not a problem for those lucky enough to have a seemingly endless supply of kitchen storage space but let's face it most of us do not have the luxury of such space.  That means from time to time the kitchen gadgets and small appliances need to be culled to the point of keeping only what you really use.  This week's Frugal Kitchens 101 focuses on decluttering the kitchen. 

My kitchen storage is actually spread between the kitchen, the pantry and the 4 floor to ceiling storage cupboards in the laundry room.  The problem is I could easily stuff all storage spaces to over flowing and yet I am not a true kitchen gadget junkie by any stretch of the imagination.  I have kitchen gadgets that do the job I want (eg. manual can opener, grater, cherry pitter, and etc.) but I don't have gadgets I wouldn't use (eg. egg separator) or don't need (eg. kitchen timer).  I do however have quite the stash of spices, seasonings, teas and coffee that need an annual culling.  Still a good spring decluttering is in order.

As part of my spring kitchen decluttering I remove/cull:

• any gadget I am not using or haven't used over the past year - If the gadget is one that I may use only for canning then it goes to the pantry.  If it is a gadget simply not being used it goes into the donate box.
• any appliance I'm not using or haven't used over the past year -  I don't tend to buy any small kitchen appliance that I won't use.  However, sometimes buying a new appliance ends up replace a couple of appliances.  This was the case with my KitchenAid stand mixer with attachments that replaced my breadmachine, handheld mixer and a dying food processor.  So one appliance in, three appliances out.
• appliances or gadgets that need replacing - In most cases any culling here applies to a broken gadget (eg. broken cheese grater).  Occasionally a small kitchen appliance that can't be fix needs to be replaced but that really doesn't happen often.
• plasticware - I have very little plasticware to begin with but it tends to mulitple somehow.  We can't recycle plastic food tubs so I save those  for use in the garden.  During the spring declutting all these containers are taken to the garage for easier garden access.  Any plasticware missing lids also goes to the garage for garden use. 
• the silverware drawer - I have enough stainless steel cutlery to service 50 people.  Part is for daily use with the rest in a seperate cutlery tray for entertaining purposes.  What ends up happening is the entertaining cutlery tends to migrate to the main silverware drawer.  I don't have a kitchen junk drawer so little things like elastics and corks tend to accumulate in a small section of the silverware drawer divider so I move those to the appropriate drawers in the laundry room. 
• spices/seasonings - I go through both spice and seasoning cupboards.  Some need replacing and others are at the end of their usefulness.  I like to organize the cupboard with large container spices and seasonings in alphabetal order.  As the small spice and seasoning cupboard is being  organized I do an updated inventory list of the contents.

Bon Appétit!