Cleaning Tips for Kitchen Tools

If you don’t properly clean your kitchen, bacteria and germs quickly spread there. This is particularly bad in locations where you prepare and cook food. Imagine how many germs and bacteria will enter your stomach when the kitchen utensils and tools that you use aren’t cleaned and sanitized properly. But what are the best practices for cleaning and disinfecting your kitchen utensils?

We’ve compiled cleaning tips for your kitchenware to make preparing meals enjoyable.

1. Dishes and Kitchen Utensils

Spices, such as turmeric, curry, masalas, etc. can leave stains on your dishes and utensils that can be time-consuming and difficult to remove. You need to wash and sanitize any pots, kitchen utensils, dishes, and pans you have, but the cleaning solutions that you use should be safe for your health. Here are some steps you can follow to wash dishes and cooking utensils:

First of all, detach removable parts, such as plastic handles, screens, blades, etc.
Large portions of leftover food can be thrown in the garbage after scraping them off of your utensils, but it’s better to use our tips to reduce food waste, anyway avoid throwing food scraps down the sink will clog the drain and make cleaning up a bigger problem.
In the kitchen sink, close the drain before adding hot water. The latter makes it easier to remove dirt and break down food particles.
Wash the detached parts, all tools, and cookware in hot and soapy water, using a brush.
After thoroughly removing the stains, rinse all of your tools with fresh water.
After placing the items in a container, sanitize the items by submerging them in the solution.
Put your dishes and cooking tools and utensils in a dish rack and air-dry them.

2. Wooden Utensils

Wooden utensils need to be cleaned more thoroughly than they usually are. Here is how to rid your wooden utensils of any lingering debris in the creases:

You need to soak the wooden utensil in a warm and soapy solution. For that, add 2-3 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid to a large bowl of hot water. You can use a sponge to scrub the utensils and then rinse them with water.
Use lemon and salt to remove any unpleasant odors. Lemon’s acidic qualities help eliminate any odors, and when coupled with salt, they make it easier to remove dirt and stains.

With that in mind, use half a lemon, and cover it with salt. You can use this to rub the stained parts of the wooden utensil. Continue the process until all of the salt has disappeared and use cold water to rinse.

You can use baking soda as well which can help clean the stains completely. You can mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a cup of lemon juice. The paste can be scrubbed on stains and then rinsed with cold water.
Air dry your wooden utensils or keep them under the sun to dry.

3. Aluminum Utensils

Here is how to take care of aluminum utensils:

Use soapy and hot water to wash them. With steel wool pads and soapy water, scrub any uneven surfaces. Don’t scrub the plated aluminum surfaces, as this could remove the finish.
For discolored utensils, take a pan and fill it with water, then add 2 to 3 tablespoons of cream of tartar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, or lemon juice for each quart of water. Boil the pan for about 15 minutes and then scour it with steel wool, wash with soap and water, then rinse and dry.

4. Iron Cookware

What about iron cookware? Everybody enjoys good grilled food and barbecue, but cleaning your cast iron afterwards can be a real pain. Don’t worry, we have a few cleaning tips for that:

Hand-wash your cast-iron cookware with a small amount of soap and a pan scraper if there is food stuck on the surface. If it doesn’t help because of the stuck-on food, you can simmer the pan filled with a little water pan for about 5 minutes, then once it’s cooled, use the pan scraper to remove the food.
Use an oil-soaked cloth or commercial rust remover to remove any remaining rust from the pans.
Repeatedly wash in warm, soapy water, rinse, and completely dry.
Use a paper towel or lint-free cloth to quickly and completely dry. If there is a small amount of black residue on your towel, don’t worry, it is simply seasoning. Use a lot of unsalted cooking oil to season iron cookware and tools. Heat for 2-3 hours in a 250°F oven. This will make it possible for oil to soak into the metal’s pores. After seasoning is finished, remove any extra oil by wiping.

5. Stainless Steel Utensils

Here are a few tried-and-true cleaning techniques that are effective on most finishes:

Generally, a gentle cloth soaked with warm water will be enough for cleaning stainless steel pans and pots.
Keep in mind that you need to wipe in the direction of the grain to prevent leaving streaks.
To avoid water spotting, towel off after cleaning.
If there is grease that is hard to remove with just soap and water, dampen your microfiber cloth with vinegar and rub the grain to remove the grease. While the vinegar dries, use olive oil to dampen another microfiber cloth to rub the oil on the grain. This easy and quick process will help to clean and shine your stainless steel.

There are some precautions that you need to take when cleaning stainless steel, such as:

Don’t use brushes or steel wool as they can scratch the surface which will increase the likelihood of rust and discoloration.
Also, cleaning agents with abrasives will dull the finish and harm the surface.
Avoid using cleaners and bleach that can cause damage and leave stains.

6. Copper Utensils

Because of exposure to air and water, copper and brass develop tarnish — a layer of corrosion.

We suggest polishing copper with a specialized copper cleaner every six months to prevent tarnish. For cleaning the copper pan, gently wash the copper pans and pots with dish soap, hot water, and a soft sponge. Here are two other ways to clean the copper naturally:

Mix lemon juice or vinegar and baking soda, then thoroughly stir them. Apply the mixture to the surface and then rub with a soft and clean cloth in a circular motion. Then rinse and dry.
Use salt and vinegar to create a paste and then apply it to the surface and rub with a soft cloth to rinse and dry.

7. Brass Utensils

For brass utensils, follow these steps:

Use mild detergent and water to clean brass pots.
Use a toothbrush to rub the impacted areas and a soft cotton cloth to clean.
A paste made of flour, salt, and vinegar can be used to polish tarnished metal. Apply this paste to the harmed brass, then leave it on for about 15 minutes.
Use warm water to rinse, then pat dry with a soft cloth.

Consider these tips and clean your kitchen utensils. Good luck!

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Jeff Campbell

Jeff Campbell is a father, martial artist, budget-master, Disney-addict, musician, and recovering foodie having spent over 2 decades as a leader for Whole Foods Market. Click Here to learn more about me. Click Here to learn more about my site. Editorial Policies.