How to Clean Kitchen Dishes and Utensils

Not only what we cook is important for a healthy lifestyle, but also the cleanliness of the surroundings. In the kitchen it is even more important, because all the bacteria and impurities in the accessories and cooking utensils, reach us directly on the plate.

If you need advice to keep cutlery, dishes and various kitchen accessories clean and keep germs and bacteria away, no matter what materials they are made of, read the following lines.

How to clean plastic dishes and utensils

Plastic is quite easy to clean, especially if you haven't cooked with a lot of grease. In this case, you can leave your plastic dishes and utensils soaked overnight in a solution that you can make at home, detailed below. You can wash it with anything, as it does not scratch and does not retain food scraps or ingredients from the cleaning solutions.

• Plastic pans in which you kept fatty foods can be left to soak overnight in water with detergent or a solution of baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice.

• The smell of plastic containers can be removed by putting crumpled sheets of newspaper in the box and cover with a lid. The next day wash the dish with warm water and a little dish detergent.

How to clean aluminum dishes and utensils

Aluminum dishes and objects should be washed quickly because they stain over time, so it is ideal to always be clean and dry.

• Aluminum dishes are washed in the sink or washing machine immediately after use and dried. Aluminum pans are washed with water and mild detergent, then rinsed with hot water.

• To restore the shine of blackened aluminum vessels fill the pan or pot with a liter of water and add two tablespoons of potassium bitartrate (tartar cream) or lemon salt. Keep the solution on the fire until it boils, then rinse and dry the pot.

• Also, a trick to restore the shine of aluminium accessories is to boil a liter of water with a few sachets of lemon salt, with which to rinse the objects. Dry them well after this procedure. You can also boil the utensils in a mixture of water with about 8 tablespoons of vinegar, for the same effect.

How to clean stainless steel dishes and cutlery

• Stainless steel dishes are washed in the sink or in the washing machine with water and detergent, immediately after use, so as not to stain.

• How to remove white stains from stainless steel dishes or cutlery: rub the stains with a cloth soaked in white vinegar, then wipe with a clean napkin.

• Do not use hard or wire sponges for aluminum and stainless steel, as they are very abrasive and will scratch the material.

How to clean wooden kitchen utensils and accessories

Wooden spoons or spatulas are indispensable in any kitchen and it is not surprising. They are light, easy to use, do not heat up so easily and do not damage the pans.

The disadvantage, however, is that they must be washed very well and disinfected from time to time. Wood is a porous material, so bacteria and food debris penetrate the material very well.

• Wooden utensils should be cleaned immediately after use with a hard sponge or a rough brush, with a quality dishwashing detergent and rubbed very well at each corner or curve. In the end, rinse well under running water as hot as possible. If you can, leave them to dry in the sun.

• Use rubber gloves every time to protect your hands, which dry very well from detergent and hot water.

• You can disinfect wooden objects for several uses with a simple mixture of a cap of chlorine and 20% of water. Keep them in a bowl, in which they are completely covered by the solution, for an hour. Then you can wash them normally. Eventually soak the utensils for a few minutes in detergent water, so that the smell of chlorine comes out of them. 

• To eliminate the smell of chlorine, you can try rubbing them with half a lemon and salt, then air dry them.

• The wood should not be left in the sink even overnight. Water and moisture damage the utensils, which will crack and become a host for even more bacteria.

How to clean cutting-boards

• Use different boards for raw meat, cooked meat and vegetables. Regardless of the material from which the board is made (wood or plastic), wash it as soon as possible after use. You can put it in the dishwasher if it is made of plastic, or use the rough part of the sponge to clean it with dishwashing detergent, if it is made of wood.

• Regularly disinfect the cutting-board by wiping with a solution made of one part chlorine and ten parts water, then rinse well.

• To avoid the formation of unpleasant odors, place the board on the edge so that both sides are ventilated. If the smell persists, rub the board with half a lemon soaked in salt. 

• Do not keep the wood board in the water for too long.

How to clean non-stick cooking utensils

• Remove burnt food residues: fill the pan with warm water and liquid detergent, then let it soak for about an hour.

• After that, wash it as usual, using a non-abrasive sponge if necessary. 

• Then recondition the non-stick coating with a little cooking oil spread on the surface of the pot with a paper kitchen towel. In this way you will help to restore the non-stick properties.

How to clean cast iron dishes

• Cast iron pots are cleaned with oil: grease the base and walls of the pot with sunflower oil, heat it on the stove or in the oven over low heat for an hour. Then drain the oil and wipe off the residue with a paper towel.

• Wash with warm water and dishwashing detergent, then dry well to prevent rust. If rust spots appear, rub them with steel wool and a little cooking oil.

How to clean and maintain knives

• It is very important to prevent rusting of knives, first of all. To do this, always wash them immediately after use and dry them immediately or leave them in a warm place. It would be ideal to store them in a wooden or magnetic support, so as not to chop the slats.

• To remove rust from knives stick the blade of the knife in an onion, move it back and forth a few times and leave it there for a few hours.

• Carbon steel knives are washed in the sink immediately after use and dried in a warm place to prevent rust. If there are traces of corrosion, rub lightly with a steel wool sponge or salt and waxed paper. Rinse well and polish with a cotton cloth.

• Do not keep the knives in the drawer, because their blades will be crushed. Use a magnetic wall bracket or a wooden table support.