The kitchen is probably the most important room in the home. For many families, it’s the central hub of the household – the engine room for nourishment and conversation, and one of the places you will spend the majority of your time. The trouble is because kitchens are one of the most-used rooms in the home, they also have the most problems. And unless you know how to address a few common and recurring issues, it can impact your ability to cook efficiently – and hygienically.
There will be times, of course, when only professionals such as plumbers can fix some if your problems. Damaged piping, gas trouble, and nasty leaks will likely require a tradesperson’s experienced eye. But for the most common issues, a little kitchen knowledge and a few DIY skills can help you get by. With this in mind, here’s how you can avoid kitchen nightmares with the following tips.
Lack of Light
Light is critical to your kitchen – and all the work you do in it. Not only does it help you cook efficiently and safely, but it also ensures you can see all the dirt and mess properly when you are cleaning up. Common light problems include small windows and low-quality bulbs that don’t supply enough light to work effectively. Try bright bulbs, instead – and if you have the budget, think about having additional fixtures installed under the cabinets or resizing your windows.
Drainage
Most households will experience drainage problems from time to time. And the natural reaction for many people is to call in the plumber straight away. However, before you reach for your wallet, why not try a few simple fixes yourself? The good news is that fixing a greasy and smelly sink can be done with some basic items that you will find in the pantry. For example, a mix of baking soda and lemon juice can work on the stuck oil, grease and old food deposits as well as removing the smell. Just pour your natural remedy down the drain and leave for 15 minutes and then rinse it with clean, boiling water.
Blockages
But what if the problem is a blockage, rather than just a stinky lining of grease? The simplest fix is to use a small pump or plunger to address the issue. You can also turn off your water and access the u-bends in your sink beneath it to clean out the pipe by hand. If it is a recurring problem, try thinking about what you are pouring down the drain. You can’t catch everything, of course, but scraping remnants of meals into a trash can – or a waste disposal unit – will prevent further problems.
Filthy surfaces
Grease, build-ups of food, and general dirt are all major problems in a kitchen. And even if you are meticulous about cleaning up after you have prepared meals, there will be areas where you simply cannot reach. There are a few solutions. First of all, try granite countertops instead of wood, as they are far easier to clean thoroughly. If you have a problem with grease, however, things are even more straightforward. Get yourself a microfiber towel, dip it into white vinegar, and clean your kitchen from top to bottom. The vinegar will break down the grease and make things incredibly easy.
Loose cabinet doors
How many times do you open and close your cupboard doors? The chances are that it happens dozens of times a day. Not surprisingly, this causes a major issue in that when you use your cabinet doors repeatedly; they can – quite inevitably – become loose. You’ll notice that they don’t close properly anymore, which means your dishware might fall out at inopportune moments, and it could even cause a risk of physical harm. The solution? Keep the screws tight – check them every few months or so. And also, consider using lubrication on your hinges. Finally, if the loose screws and weight of the doors have caused the holes to expand and wear away, you can use wood filler to give it back its stability.
Broken or frozen pipes
As we move towards winter, we will begin to see one of your kitchen’s biggest issues starting to reveal itself – frozen and burst pipes. Now, if this occurs to you – and it’s a lot more common than you might think – then the first thing you must do is call the plumber. However, while you wait, you can take some action. Use nylon paper to tie up any leaking areas to reduce the damage – and potential danger – of water running into your home. This won’t be possible in some cases, of course – if the pipe is located behind a wall, for example. But it can be effective in limiting water damage, so wherever you can, try and stem the flow. To try to avoid that burst pipe in the first place, simply open the cupboard doors below the sink when temperatures are sub-freezing. The flow of warm air from the rest of your home can keep the pipes warm enough in most cases. Running a trickle of water through the tap also helps to keep from freezing.
Sticky drawers
When your kitchen is first installed, your drawers will work as smooth as butter. But over time, things can change dramatically. Dirt and dust can get in between the rollers and the rails. The drawers also lose their lubrication. And the result is a certain type of stickiness that can be incredibly irritating – and potentially dangerous. So, if you have sticky drawers, try this simple fix. Take out the drawers completely and wash out the rails – both on the outside of the drawer itself and also in the housing unit. Dish soap is more than effective, and once everything is dry, you can use a few drops of your standard household lubricant to give things a little grease. Do this once a year, and you should never have a sticky drawer problem again.
Kitchens are a hard-working room in your home – possibly the hardest working. These tips should help you keep your kitchen clean, safe and hygienic. Ultimately, the hub of your home is hard enough as it is to remain in good shape. But a few simple ideas can help you take back control and get to grips with the most common kitchen nightmares. Good luck!