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Whether you clean on a daily basis or once in a while, your kitchen is probably the least favorite place to clean. From the daily use of your counters to the dark corners under the fridge that are never touched, they can both become just as dirty as the other. To make your life easier, here’s a number of DIY cleaners to reach even the most problematic corners of your kitchen.

Top 5 Spots that get Forgotten

Before we move on to our favorite DIY kitchen cleaners, we need to find out which spots of your kitchen that are forgotten. Here’s a quick list of the top spots that are often neglected.

Light Switches & Door Knobs

First of all, not too many people take great care of cleaning light switches and door knobs. When you think about it, we all touch them at least several times per day. It’s terrifying to think how much bacteria can build up on them. Luckily, you’ll be able to disinfect them regularly with one of the homemade cleaners we mention below.

Coffee Pots

You can neglect cleaning your coffee pot without even realizing. The process of cleaning heavily depends on whether you use a regular coffee pot, coffee machine, or a French press, as well as if you use your own coffee grinder. Still, all of this demand cleaning to keep your morning coffee the way you like it, grime-free!

The Splatter Zones

Not only do your kitchens get splattered with grease, sauce and anything else you might be cooking, but so does your backdrop, underneath of your top cupboards and the fan above your stove. Make sure you take the time to clean these areas as regularly as possible to avoid any sort of buildup.

Your Dishwasher

While we all know that your dishwasher is an appliance that washes things, most people don’t realize how dirty it can actually become. Make sure to clean it every now and then by starting it without any dishes in it. For a more deep clean, pull out the sponge and get down on your hands and knees and wash it manually, putting it through a rinse cycle after to finish getting rid of the remaining soap.

Windows

If you have windows in your kitchen, you’re probably aware that you pretty much only wipe down the glass. One of the most important parts of cleaning your kitchen is to ensure that you remove any unwanted microbes that could accidently fall into your food, including the window panes, handles and curtains.

DIY Cleaners You’ll Love

For Switches, Door Knobs and Handles

For this purpose, it’s best to use disinfectant wipes.

What you’ll need:

• 20 pieces of cloth
• 1 part white vinegar
• 1 part water
• A few drops of essential oil (for scent)

Dip the cloths into the disinfecting mixture before use or leave it to soak to be able to quickly grab a cloth anytime you want. Adjust the liquid depending on how much cleaning you would like to do.

For Appliances

When it comes to kitchen appliances, especially ones that are stainless steel, vinegar is your best friend.

What you’ll need:

• Paper towel
• Microfiber cloth
• Vinegar
• Mineral oil (or any other food-safe oil of your choice)

This homemade cleaner is applied from a spray bottle, so mix the vinegar and oil inside the bottle of your choice and start cleaning! You can use this mixture as a both a disinfectant and a cleaner, simply wiping it off with a paper towel after spraying.

Wood Cutting Boards

While washing your wood cutting board with soap and water after every use is a good way to keep it clean, there are several inexpensive ways to maintain your cutting board to ensure its longevity. If you don’t already own a wood cutting board, we highly suggest you get one or two to ensure having the best cutting board possible. To find out the best ways to sanitize, deodorize, remove stains and simply maintain your wood board, check out this article on DIY Cutting Board Care.

Cleaning Around Kitchen Appliances

Spots around and under your stove, refrigerator or dish washer need particular attention. However, you’ll also need to do some scrubbing.

What you’ll need:

• ½ cup of baking soda
• Liquid castile soap
• Essential oil (for scent)

Mix these ingredients together to form a paste and start using your own homemade soft-scrub cleaners today!

All-Purpose Homemade Cleaner

Vinegar and baking-soda seem to be the winning combination and if you want to have an ultimate solution and an all-around cleaner.

What you’ll need:

• ½ cup of vinegar
• 2 tbsp of baking soda
• Essential oil (for scent)

You’ll have your very own all-purpose cleaner made from just two ingredients. Never worry about running out again!

Now that you know both the spots to focus on and the cleaners to use, grab your wood cutting board and start getting your DIY cleaners ready now!