MELISSA MAKER’S TIPS
How To Remove Greasy Sauce In Container
Grab dish soap, ripped-up paper towel, warm water. Shake for a minute and see what happens.
If that doesn’t work, you can apply baking soda and dish soap, allow to sit overnight and scrub next morning. Consider using glass jars from tomato sauce to store leftovers.
How To Remove Fingerprints From Stainless Appliances
To remove them, use a microfiber cloth and a vinegar-water solution. Spray on, wipe off. Then, take a nickel-sized drop of mineral oil and apply to a paper towel. Wipe with the grain and remove excess oil with paper towel. Voila, a shiny, even, and fingerprint-resistant finish.
How To Remove Rust Marks on Knives
Soak rusty knives or stained cutlery in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and boiling hot water. After 10 minutes, remove and scrub with a nonscratch sponge. Rinse well and dry! You can also stab a potato and let the knife sit overnight inside the potato. It contains oxalic acid, which will help eat away at the rust. Just don’t eat the potato after.
Other easy hacks to share:
To clean a microwave: Halve a lemon and squeeze both halves into a microwave-safe bowl. Fill the bowl halfway with water and drop the lemon in there, too. Microwave for 3 minutes or so, and remove with a gloved hand. Take a microfiber cloth or sponge and wipe the microwave – this has steamed the insides loosening dirt and making the job quick and easy.
To clean a cutting board: Halve a lemon and sprinkle coarse salt on the board. Scrub well in a circular motion. It’s like doing a deep scrub like what you’d do at a spa on your cutting board. Rinse, dry and finish with a coat of mineral oil to seal the wood.
To clean a cast iron pan: Never use abrasive tools nor soap, we don’t want to ruin that patina we’ve worked so hard to build up. Rather, while still warm, fill the pan a third of the way up with water and leave on a simmer for a few minutes. Turn the heat off and chuck a quarter cup of coarse salt into the pan. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the salt around the pan to ‘deglaze’ the bottom, dump out and wipe clean with a paper towel.
To clean a food disposal: Toss a small handful of ice and half a lemon in there. Run it for a minute or two until everything has been ground up. The ice helps to keep the blades sharp and the lemon helps break down grease and leaves a fresh scent behind.
Cleaning the sink with dish soap and baking soda: Mix equal parts baking soda and dish soap to create a luxurious cleaning paste. Apply with a non scratch sponge, scrub well and rinse with hot water. Buff with a microfiber cloth. If you’re out of your regular cleaner or scouring powder this is a solution that is quick, inexpensive and easy and might just change you into a cleaning product DIYer!
