7 Kitchen Cleaning Myths & Tips
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. So, it’s no wonder it tends to need the most cleaning. Here are some simple kitchen cleaning myths and tips:
1. Myth: Citrus Cleans Your Garbage Disposal
Lemons may smell fresh, but putting them down your disposal won’t actually clean the system. The acid in the lemon can cause the metal of the disposal to corrode, and the fresh smell might mask the odor, which could warn you about a major plumbing issue.
Tip: It’s best to thoroughly clean your garbage disposal when you smell that stink. After you turn the power off to the unit, you can safely clean the inside, including the rubber splash guard. Pour baking soda and vinegar into the unit, allowing it to sit. Then restore the power and flush it through for a thorough clean.
2. Myth: Vinegar Works on All Surfaces
While vinegar is a great cleaning agent, it isn’t recommended on many kitchen surfaces like metal or stone. The acidic property of the vinegar might damage or corrode the surface.
Tip: Err on the side of caution and always check with the manufacturer to safely clean surfaces.
3. Myth: Handwashing Your Dishes is Better for the Environment
You might think you are saving water by hand washing your dishes, but new high-efficiency dishwashers do the job better and more efficiently.
Tip: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save about 8,000 gallons per year by relying on an ENERGY STAR® rated dishwasher instead of handwashing.
4. Myth: You Have to Scrape Your Dishes Before Loading them in the Dishwasher
While older dishwashers required pre-rinsing of your dishes, newer high-efficiency models and more effective detergent combine to do the job without the pre-rinse.
Tip: Just scrape off the loose food, load, and voila—clean dishes!
5. Myth: Use Hot Water to Help Grease Go Down the Drain
Putting grease down your kitchen sink will get you in hot water!
Tip: Grease should never go down the drain because it will solidify in your home’s plumbing system and create a drain clog. Pour grease into a container to let it cool and compose or toss it.
6. Myth: Eggshells & Ice Can Sharpen My Garbage Disposal Blades
Your garbage disposal uses a system of small shredding blades that spin to grind up food. It’s important to maintain your garbage disposal by only putting acceptable waste into the system.
Tip: Items like ice may have to move waste through the disposal, but it doesn’t sharpen the blades. The same goes for eggshells. They can also entangle the impellers and create clogs in your pipes.
7. Myth: You Can Ignore Your Refrigerator Water Filter
Think of how many times your refrigerator dispenses water every day! You expect that water to be clean and refreshing.
Tip: The water dispenser filter must be changed every six months to ensure it is doing its job. Don’t ignore your refrigerator’s change filter indicator if it has one.
Turn to Neffsville Plumbing for All Your Plumbing Service Needs
Don’t fall for quick kitchen cleaning hacks. Cleaning your kitchen the right way can help save you money and preserve the life span of your appliances. At Neffsville Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Services, we make plumbing repairs the right way, too.
Call us anytime at (717) 625-1000 to request same day plumbing services in Lancaster, York, Lebanon, Dauphin, and Cumberland Counties.