HOUZZ.com
had some recent great ideas, tips and tricks on white kitchens that also apply
to white kitchen islands and carts …
Many,
many home owners have many, many concerns about how to keep very white kitchens
very white and clean. However, you don’t have to be obsessive-compulsive to have
an all-white kitchen. You only need some diligence and the tips listed below.
This
is an ideal white kitchen because it looks as if no one ever cooks in it, which
is the best way to keep a sparkling white kitchen. If you feel you have to cook
in your kitchen, in the long run you'll have cabinets that yellow, grease
and grime that accumulate on surfaces, and sinks and countertops that are
stained and scratched… Not conducive to a sparkling white kitchen.
A
considerable contributor to Yellowing white cabinets is direct sunlight, which can
fade painted wood and laminated surfaces. Utilizing draperies, blinds, shades
or film on your windows will shield your cabinetry from direct sunlight and
make a difference in how long they stay white.
Another
major contributor to yellowing is using your stove. When cooking, the aromas waft
into the air in the form of microscopic food or grease particles, which land on
your white cabinets where they can turn them yellow. For prevention, don’t
let grease accumulate on cabinets. Turn on the exhaust fan or range hood when
you boil, broil or fry foods to filter out some of those minute particles
before they reach the cabinets and other surfaces.
Writer Lorna Hordos offered
this method to remove a yellow tinge: Wash cupboards with a mixture of 1 cup
vinegar, 2 cups warm water and 1 tablespoon baking soda.
Also
when you cook, dirt and grime accumulate from splatters spills. Never use
abrasive cleansers or scouring pads on painted cabinets, as they can scratch or
dull the finish. A soft cotton cloth with warm water is usually sufficient
to clean your cabinets and keep them looking white. If more thorough cleaning
is required, use a solution of mild dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water. After
cleaning, wipe all surfaces with a clean, damp cloth. Dry immediately using
another soft, clean cloth. Remember not to let those stains linger. Prolonged
exposure to spills can cause permanent discoloration or damage to your
cabinets’ finish.
These sinks are gorgeous and would look that way until it started to look as if it got used. It takes very little time for white sinks to look dirty and messy. Household bleach is the best way to brighten them and remove stains. Experts suggest laying paper towels flat across the bottom of the sink and wetting them with bleach to prevent the bleach from running straight down the drain. Leave the paper towels in place for half an hour to allow the bleach to do its job, then remove them and rinse the sink thoroughly with warm water.
For a more
natural solution, fill the sink with club soda and lemon juice and let this
mixture lift the stains as it soaks in. After you empty the sink, apply
straight lemon juice directly to any stubborn stains. You may have to repeat
this process several times. If this sounds like too much work, you can take a
shortcut with Bar Keepers Friend. Using it on your sink every day eliminates
the need for any other cleaning.
White
tiles with white grout? Consider sealing the grout and don’t even contemplate
living with unsealed grout. Otherwise, writer Tami Mason offers this grout remedy:
Combine baking soda and vinegar with water to create a paste. Pour a little
vinegar into a spray bottle. Apply the paste to the grout and then spray a
light coat of vinegar onto the paste. Scrub with a scouring pad or toothbrush
and rinse thoroughly.
Plastic laminate has gone from being the poor stepchild of kitchen design to a great and economical choice. But it can still stain, especially if it is white.
Hordos suggests this process to clean laminate stains:
1. Mix a 1 part mild household detergent with 3 parts baking soda to create a
firm paste.
2. Apply the baking soda solution directly to the stain and scrub with a
firm-bristled nylon brush for about 20 strong brushstrokes (excess brushing may
weaken the laminate finish)
3. Rinse with a damp cloth using just enough water to wipe away
the baking soda and stain residue, and then buff the counter dry.
White
marble or granite counters show stains easily so prevention is the best
cure. Blot all spills immediately before they penetrate or dry on the surface. To
make stains disappear use a solution of hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of
ammonia added. The naturally occurring chemicals in peroxide and ammonia will safely
remove even tough stains, or you can use a granite cleaner from Weiman,
which is much easier.
And
do remember that whether a kitchen is white or dark, they all have the same
issues when it comes to cleanliness! White kitchens are simply less forgiving.
So if you love the look of a white kitchen, but avoid it because it will be a
cleaning nightmare, look at it this way: Any kitchen is a cleaning nightmare.
So prepare to roll up your sleeves, and pick the kitchen you really want.
Until
next time …
