Kitchen cleaning tips to change your life

Fed up of coming home to a dirty kitchen? Fear not, we've hunted down the best cleaning tips to make your job easier.

Find out which products work best, banish stubborn stains and bring the sparkle back to your cutlery in our essential guide.

How to clean kitchen work surfaces

Kitchen worktops can be breeding grounds for germs and bacteria.

Make sure you know how to clean different materials for maximum results.

* Porcelain and ceramic

Porcelain and ceramic surfaces are beautiful - follow these tips to help them stay that way.

1) Prevent damage from acids and harsh abrasives by washing with warm or hot soapy water.

2) For light stains try warm water and vinegar.


* Stainless steel

Stainless steel is great for resisting stains but it will dull over time and show oily fingerprints.

1) To remove rust, mix one part cream of tartar with a little lemon juice and apply the paste to the rust stains and rub in. If the rust is heavily embedded, leave the paste for a few hours. When finished, wipe clean.

2) Get a sparkling finish by removing streaks with baking soda and a cloth.

3) Standing water in a stainless steel basin can cause spotting, prevent this by wiping the sink dry after each use.

4) Remember not to use coarse scouring materials as this will scratch the surface.

How to clean kitchen sinks

Cleaning your sink and taps on a daily basis will stop any build up of dirt and stains.

Use detergent and warm water, rinsing clean with fresh water. Keep cleaning wipes, microfibre cloths or paper towels near to the sink to give the sink a quick wipe down after each use.

Follow these steps to keep your sink sparkling:

1) Remove excess dirt with a cloth or sponge and clean with soapy water. Make sure you replace sponges regularly to avoid germ build up.

2) Squeeze sink cleaner over the basin and draining board and scrub with a non-abrasive cloth. A cream cleaner works best on kitchen sinks as the thicker consistency is great for tackling grease and dirt.

3) 
Pay attention to the plug, taps and fixings. Remember to clean the base of taps as well as handles and spouts - an old toothbrush is perfect for the job. Repair leaky taps to prevent staining and limescale build up.

4) For lime and mineral deposits, wrap vinegar-soaked paper towels around faucets for about an hour. This breaks down the mineral scale, and the chrome will be clean and shiny after buffing with a dry paper towel.

TOP TIP Use Cillit Bang Universal Power Cleaning Crystals to remove baked on grease and soap scum - perfect for taps, sinks and draining boards.

How to clean your oven

Fed up of spending ages scrubbing the inside of your oven? Follow these simple tips and your cooker will be sparkling in no time.

1) Open your oven and sprinkle the door, bottom of the oven and oven roasting tray with bicarbonate of soda.

2) Using a water spray, spray the soda until damp and leave to sit for a few hours before wiping out with a wet sponge.

TOP TIP Remember to line your oven with foil when cooking anything that might spill over - this will save vaulauble cleaning time at a later date.

How to clean your dishwasher

If your dishes aren't coming out sparkling clean, you need to sprinkle a cup of baking powder inside of the dishwasher and run it through a short cycle. This will also help if it has a stale smell.

* To prevent a build up of grime, rinse plates and bowls before stacking them in the dishwasher.

* It also helps to remove them as soon as possible once the cycle has finished.

How to clean you dining room

Throwing a dinner party? Bring the sparkle back to your cutlery by soaking it in hot water.

Add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to help remove stubborn stains. After ten minutes rinse and buff with a tea towel for a spectacular shine.

Want your wine glasses to shimmer on the dining table? Hold one above your kettle as it's boiling and let the steam fill the glass. Use a clean tea towel to polish.

How to clean your microwave

Clean your microwave regularly to avoid a build up of dried food and bacteria.

A quick solution is microwaving a shallow dish filled with slices of lemon for 2 minutes. The steam will soften the dried food and the lemon will leave it smelling fresh.

Need more cleaning advice? Download our handy cleaning chart.