| How to Clean a Kitchen Posted: 23 May 2020 05:00 PM PDT Cleaning the kitchen may seem a daunting task. Break it up into manageable sections, add some great music and you'll be coasting your way through the cleaning task. Scroll to Step 1 and let's get started. [Edit]Cleaning the Stove Top - Wipe the burners. You have to clean your gas or electric burners every now and then. Gas burners can be removed and washed by hand with warm water and soap. If you are lucky to have gas burners that can go into the dishwasher, throw them in there after you scrub off excess food. For electric burners, wipe debris with a moist sponge.[1]
- The type of grate determines how you wash your burners. If you have an uncoated grate, use a scouring pad to clean the grate. If you have a coated grate, use a soft sponge.
- Wipe the stove surface. Use a sponge and soap, or invest in some Clorox wipes to really break down those stains. If grease spills on your stovetop, clean it up right away because it becomes difficult to remove as it hardens.
- Remove the control knobs and wash them. Wash them in the sink using warm water and mild dish soap. Avoid using a soap that has abrasives or ammonia in it, as these components will wash away the markings on the knobs.
- Wipe the outside of the vent hood. Use a soapy cloth to clean the vent hood. Wash away the suds with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth. Once a month, remove the vent filters and soak them in warm, soapy water. Gently scrub to clean, then let them dry thoroughly before putting them back.[2]
- If you have a stainless steel hood, use a cleaning product meant to be used on stainless steel.
[Edit]Cleaning the Oven - Clean the grates of the oven. Remove the grates from the oven. Fill a tub or bucket with warm, soapy water and soak the grates for several hours. Anything coated on the grates will be easier to scrub off. Use a scouring pad to scrub the grates.
- Give your oven a good cleaning. You should deep-clean your oven every few months, or as soon as it starts to smoke while you are cooking. An effective oven cleaning mixture is ¼ cup salt, ¾ cup baking soda, and ¼ cup water. Cover any bare metal or clog openings with foil so that they do not get damaged by the mixture.[3]
- If you have an electric stove, remove the racks and put the oven on cleaning mode. When the cycle has ended, use a damp cloth to remove any residue left by the cleaning cycle.
- Spread the mixture all over the inside of the oven and let it remain overnight. Use a plastic spatula to remove the mixture. Wipe the oven clean with a rag. Replace the racks when they are dry.
[Edit]Cleaning Out the Fridge - Remove all food from the fridge. Sort through each item. Throw out any items that have expired or gone bad. If possible, do this before going grocery shopping so that the old expired stuff can be thrown out, thus making space for new groceries.
- Combine two tablespoons baking soda and one quart water. Dip a sponge in the solution, then wipe down the entire surfaces of the fridge, making sure to scrub out sticky stains.[4]
- Wipe down every drawer and shelf, not just the main part of the fridge.
- Wipe the solution away with a damp cloth. Dip a clean rag in water and wash away any residue left behind by the baking soda solution. Use a clean towel to dry each surface.
- Leave a box of baking soda in the fridge. If your fridge smells bad, open a box of baking soda and leave it in the fridge. Baking soda absorbs odors and makes your fridge smell fresh.
[Edit]Cleaning the Freezer - Clean out the freezer. First, unplug the refrigerator. After you have done this, remove your frozen items. Throw out expired items and put the rest in a cooler while you clean.
- Cleaning solution. Combine 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon dish soap, and 1 teaspoon white vinegar. Shake the solution well. If possible, put the solution in a spray bottle so you can just spray the whole freezer.[5]
- Spray the freezer with the mixture. Be sure to dowse every surface. If you don't have a spray bottle, dip a clean rag or sponge in the mixture and wipe down every surface. After the freezer has been wiped down, dry it off with paper towels. Plug the refrigerator back in and restore your frozen goods to their proper places.
[Edit]Cleaning Cabinets and Counters - Clean out your cabinets. Whether they contain food, kitchen supplies, or your secret stash of candy, clean your cabinets out every once in a while. Throw away expired items and wipe the cabinets with a wet, soapy rag to remove dust and crumbs.[6]
- Clean the front of your cabinets. Grime and grease can build up on the fronts of cabinets. Wipe them down with a wet rag and dry them thoroughly to avoid any color distortion.
- If you have wooden cabinets, consider using a cleaning supply specifically made for wood.
- Wipe down your counters. You should do this every night after you are done cooking. Use a sponge and soapy water to wipe counters down. Wipe them dry with a clean rag or paper towels.[7]
- You could also buy some cleaning supplies to wipe your counters down with. There are many anti-bacterial sprays, disposable wipes and de-greasing products.
- If your counters are made with granite or stone, you should use cleaning supplies specifically made for that kind of countertop.
[Edit]Cleaning the Sink - Wash all of your dishes. Either rinse dirty dishes and cups and put them in the dishwasher, or wash them in the sink. Make sure to do this before you start cleaning the sink.
- Wipe the basin and fixtures of the sink. To avoid mold growth or water stains, wash the basin with warm, soapy water and a sponge. Rinse along the edge of the basin, as well. Remove water stains from the fixtures.
- Clean around the faucet. To clean hard to reach crannies of the faucet, use a toothbrush dipped in warm, soapy water. Buff out any water spots left behind with a dry cloth.
- Get rid of mineral deposits. If your water has a high mineral content, you may notice a mineral deposits. To get rid of these deposits, combine one part water with one part white vinegar. Gently scrub away the deposit with a rag. Rinse the area and let it dry.[8]
- Keep your garbage disposal working properly. If your sink is having a hard time draining, run the garbage disposal to get rid of anything that might be lurking down there. Its important to sanitize your disposal once in a while as well. Make frozen cubes of vinegar in an ice tray, drop them down the disposal, then pour boiling water into it as you run the disposal. This will also sharpen your garbage disposal's blades.
[Edit]Cleaning Smaller Appliances - Wipe down the microwave. Use warm, soapy water and a sponge to wipe any splatters inside your microwave. For really tough stains, use a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of water. Rinse with clean water, then dry with a clean rag.[9]
- Consult appliance manuals on the best way to clean small appliances. While you can simply wipe each part of an appliance (aside from the electrical part) you should always consult the manual that came with the appliance. Appliances you should clean include your...
- Keep all of the appliance parts together. When you clean your appliances, make sure you know where each part goes. Do not lose any parts of the appliance. Clean each appliance one at a time so as not to get confused.
[Edit]Finishing Up - Sweep the floor with a broom and dustpan. Before you deep clean your floor, sweep any specks of dust, crumbs, and garbage that might be on the floor.
- Mop your floor when necessary. Use a mop and bucket of soapy water to deep clean your floor.[10]
- Put everything back in its proper place. After you have finished cleaning, put all cleaning supplies back in their proper place so that you don't trip over them.
- Take out the trash. Last of all, take out the trash. You should do this last because while you are cleaning you will undoubtedly find things you will want to throw away. Wash the trash can with soap and water. Replace the bag with a new one.
- Regularly replace cleaning materials such as rags and sponges, to avoid contamination.
- Play music while you clean to keep yourself motivated and entertained.
- Clean the kitchen frequently so you don't have to do big jobs.
- Use a disinfectant such as Lysol, 409, or Fantastic.
- Cover the tops of your kitchen cabinets with wax paper if they do not go all the way to the ceiling; it will collect grease and dirt. When dirty, just discard and replace.
- If you have a cleaning sponge that is still good but needs cleaning, kill bacteria microwave the sponge when it is soaked full of water for one to two minutes (watching it carefully to ensure that it doesn't dry out and catch on fire), or place the sponge in the dishwasher for a full cleaning cycle.
- Don't forget to clean the kitchen exhaust fan when you notice grease and grime buildup on it.
[Edit]Warnings - Never mix products that contain bleach with products that contain ammonia. The mixture makes a very poisonous gas.
- Never cook and clean at the same time; poisons may contaminate food.
- Keep all cleaning supplies and chemicals away from children and pets.
- Don't use bleach on dark or wooden floors.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Dish soap
- Kitchen cleanser
- Glass cleaner
- Vinegar
- Ammonia
- Baking soda
- Broom
- Cloths or rags
- Kitchen spray
- Disinfectant
- Sponge for washing dishes
- Paper towels
- Floor cleaner
- Mop
- Bucket
- Abrasive sponge or steel wool
- Floor squeegee
- Vacuum
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Barbecue Posted: 23 May 2020 09:00 AM PDT Grilling your food gives it a unique, yummy taste, as well as those beautiful black grill marks. Whether you're using a gas grill or a charcoal grill, you'll need to preheat the grill before adding your food. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness, and be aware that your meat will likely continue cooking after you remove it from the grill. [Edit]Grilling a Simple Meal - Use a charcoal grill for a natural smoky flavor. A charcoal grill requires coals to be lit in order to begin grilling, which can be done using a fire starter and a long match. Wait for the charcoal to heat up for about 20 minutes before starting to cook.[1]
- When you're done with the charcoal grill, close the lid and let the coals cool down naturally before emptying the ashes.
- Charcoal grills get hotter and impart a more natural flavor, but they're more difficult to clean and keep at a constant temperature.
- Opt for a gas grill for an easy-to-use, convenient option. A gas grill often uses a propane tank that will need to be properly attached before starting to cook—you can do this by connecting the grill's gas line to the propane tank nozzle. The gas grill has controls that you can easily turn on and off to light the grill, as well as control the temperature and placement of the fire. [2]
- Gas grills tend to be more expensive but are easier to work and don't take as long to heat up.
- Make sure the gas is turned to the off position before hooking the propane tank up to the grill.
- Keep your grill clean and maintained. Clean your grill lightly before each use and then heavily clean it about once or twice a year. Use a wire-bristle brush to clean food and debris from the tops and bottoms of grates or rods, scraping the brush back and forth against the grate to give it a good cleaning.[3]
- If you're using a charcoal grill, empty the ashes from your previous grilling session, if necessary.
- You can heavily clean your grill by heating up the grill for 15 minutes to loosen any food particles, turning the gas off, and then using a wire-bristle brush dipped in soapy water to scrub the grate clean.
- Use direct heat for faster-cooking foods. If you're cooking something like burgers or hot dogs, it's best to cook them over direct heat since they cook faster. The section of your grill with direct heat will be the hottest.[4]
- A gas grill will have settings, such as Low, Medium, and High, that you can easily adjust to get the right heat level.
- Your charcoal grill will just be set up normally with lit coals underneath.
- Use indirect heat for slow-cooking meats. Foods such as ribs are often cooked over indirect heat for the slow and steady smoky flavor. Set the indirect heat section to low heat on a gas grill, or place your food on the side without coals underneath on a charcoal grill.[5]
- For charcoal grills, keep your coals or briquettes on one side of your grill—the direct heat side—and keep the other side (the indirect heat side)—free of coals.
- Close the lid for slower-cooking foods to keep the heat in.
- Preheat your grill 10-20 minutes before cooking. To preheat your grill, you'll either light your charcoal grill with a chimney starter or turn on the gas to the gas grill. Let your grill heat up for 20 minutes to ensure it's ready to start cooking.[6]
- A gas grill only takes about 10 minutes to warm up while a charcoal grill will take 20.
- To preheat a gas grill, just turn the dial to your desired heat setting.
- To preheat a charcoal grill, light the coals using a flame and flammable material (such as newspaper or lighter fluid).
- Use quality grilling tools throughout the BBQ process. When you go to place your meats or veggies on the grill, use a pair of tongs or a spatula, as these are likely your most useful tools. It's also a good idea to have grilling mitts and aluminum pans that you can use as well.[7]
- Make sure you're not handling cooked foods with a tool that has uncooked meat residue on it.
- Try to flip your food only once or twice to keep in the juices.
- Save basting for the last 2-5 minutes of cooking. If you're putting a sauce or other liquid over your meat, it's best to wait until it's almost done cooking to avoid burning the additional flavor. Use a baster or brush to apply the sauce a few minutes before taking the food off of the grill.[8]
- Test for meat doneness using a thermometer. Stick the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, keeping it away from the bone. You can use either a dial or digital thermometer, just make sure to wait long enough for the thermometer to get an accurate reading.[9]
- The internal temperature of poultry should be while pork and fish should be .
- Beef ranges from which is rare, to which is well done.
- Make sure you're using a thermometer that's made for meat and poultry.
- Remove the meat from the grill once it reaches its ideal temperature. Your meat will continue to cook for roughly 10 more minutes after you remove it from the grill. If your food is close to done, take it off of the grill and let it sit for a few minutes before cutting into it so that it can continue cooking.[10]
- While your meat will continue to cook a bit after it's removed, don't take it off the grill if it's still undercooked.
[Edit]Choosing Different Foods - Learn how to grill vegetables and fruits for great sides. Lay the veggies and fruits either directly on the grill or wrapped in foil on the grate. Fruits and vegetables have different densities and cooking times, but most should only take about 5-10 minutes on the grill.[11]
- Grilled veggies make an excellent side to a meal, and barbecued fruits, like pineapples or bananas, make a good dessert.
- Denser vegetables such as potatoes benefit from being boiled before you grill them.
- Place the veggies and/or fruits on a kebab to easily grill them.
- Try grilling filet mignon for a tender piece of meat. Most people choose thick cuts for filet mignon, and it's best to cook them over direct heat. Use your meat thermometer to test for doneness, with the cooking time depending largely on the size and thickness of the meat.[12]
- For medium-rare, aim for a temperature of , while an internal temperature of is medium.
- Put salmon on the grill for a tasty fish. It's best if you choose salmon with skin, putting the salmon skinless-side down on the grill first. Cook it until it's a little over halfway cooked before flipping it over to finish grilling.[13]
- It's recommended that you cook your salmon to about and then let it sit and cook off of the grill a while longer.
- Add lemon to your salmon once it's finished for flavor.
- Grill chicken wings for a yummy finger food. You can put the wings in a marinade before cooking them, giving them even more flavor. Grill your chicken wings over medium heat, flipping them over once they look charred on one side. The grilling process should take about 20 minutes.[14]
- Chicken wings should have an internal temperature of —just make sure the thermometer isn't touching the bone if you go to take the temperature.
- Make barbecue ribs for a classic meal. A simple rub makes ribs even better, and they cook well when slow-cooked over indirect heat. If grilling them slowly, it can take about 5-6 hours.[15]
- Check for an internal temperature of at least .
- The size and thickness of your ribs will determine how long it takes them to cook.
- Add wood chips to your grill for that smoky flavor.
- Dip a paper towel in oil and use tongs to pick it up so you can lightly oil the grate, if desired.
- You can barbecue must cuts of meat, including steak, round, brisket, and chunks.
[Edit]Warnings - Keep a fire extinguisher next to your grill in case of unexpected flare-ups. If a flare-up does occur, don't attempt to remove meat from the grill and extinguish the flame completely.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Grill
- Wire bristle brush
- Chimney starter
- Charcoal or gas
- Meat of your choice
- Meat thermometer
- Metal barbecue tongs
- Metal barbecue spatula
- Cooking oil for grates
- Fire extinguisher
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Improve WiFi Reception Posted: 23 May 2020 01:00 AM PDT This wikiHow teaches you how to improve signal strength and minimize interference on your home wireless network. Your ability to maintain a consistent connection to Wi-Fi depends on many factors, including the physical location of your wireless access point. Placing your router in the best possible location and minimizing interference (both physical and wireless) can greatly improve network performance. - Remove physical obstructions between your computer and the router. A Wi-Fi signal can usually travel about 1000 feet, but every wall drops that by about 100 feet. To maintain the most reliable connection, make sure your computer has line-of-sight access to the router. If that's not possible, you can still improve reception by minimizing some barriers:
- Place the router high up, such as on a wall mount or high shelf. If the router is on the floor or on a low table, you'll be wasting much of the router's signal 360-degree range.[1]
- Glass from mirrors and windows reflect Wi-Fi signals back around the room. If you can't move the router away from glass, try covering the glass with a curtain or cloth.
- Thicker walls, such as those made of brick, concrete, or stone, seriously impact signal strength. You may also run into trouble if your walls contain metal ducts, studs, and pipes. If your walls are impeding the Wi-Fi signal, open the door to the room where your router is, and place the router is as close to it as possible.
- Tall furniture and appliances can block signals, especially when leaning against thick walls. Avoid setting up your wireless router in rooms with lots of tall objects.
- Switch to 5 GHz. If you have a dual-band router (2 GHz and 5 GHz), log in to your router's admin website and switch the wireless band setting to 5 GHz.[2] Because fewer devices operate at this frequency, this band is less crowded, resulting in a speedier and more reliable wireless connection.[3]
- Eliminate 2.4 GHz wireless interference. If you're using 5 GHz you can skip this step. If your only option is 2.4 GHz, interference from common household electronics and neighboring networks can lead to dropped connections and slow speeds. Try minimizing interference from the following sources:
- Your neighbor's wireless network. Move your router closer to the center of your home or office if your neighbor's router is too close to yours.
- 2.4 GHz cordless phones and Bluetooth accessors.
- High-voltage household items like air conditioners, microwaves, refrigerators, and washing machines.
- Baby monitors and wireless security equipment.
- Connect the Wi-Fi router to a less-busy channel. If too many of your neighbors are using the same Wi-Fi channel, your connection is likely slow and/or spotty.[4] Try a free Wi-Fi scanning tool like inSSIDer by MetaGeek to identify the least crowded channel to connect to.
- If you have a 2.4 GHz wireless router, you'll want to make sure it is connected to one of the three non-overlapping channels—1, 6, or 11. This can be done in your router's administration portal in the Wi-Fi or Wireless section. Look for a sub-menu called Radio or Channel.
- If you have a 5 GHz router, there's less chance of a crowded channel resulting in a slow connection, though it's still possible.
- Add a wireless range extender or additional antennas. If it's not possible to be within 50 to 100 feet of your router and/or there are physical obstructions, you can use a range extender to rebroadcast your router's Wi-Fi signal in other parts of your home or office.[5] You can also try adding more antennas. For example, you might have one antenna at a 45° angle, one at 60°, and one at 35°. That way, the signal will blanket the area.
- See this wikiHow to learn how to set up a range extender.
- Another option is a mesh router.[6] This type of router consists of multiple access points placed throughout the home to boost signal in those locations. The advantage of a mesh router to a range extender is that you can manage all of the access points from one central admin interface.
- Restart your router at least once a month. To do this, turn off the router, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. Let it run for about 5 minutes, and then check your internet speed.
- Create an aluminum foil reflector. If you're unable to boost your Wi-Fi signal far enough and don't have a repeater or mesh router, you can make a parabolic reflector out of aluminum foil to place behind your router's antennas. Here's how:
- Cut about 11" of aluminum foil from the roll.
- Tightly wrap the foil around a 2-liter soda bottle.
- Unwrap the foil after a few seconds—it should now be curved.
- Place the curved foil behind the antennas of the router so the open part of the curve is facing the direction you want to send a higher level of signal.
- Disconnect unused computers and accessories from the network. If you have multiple computers, phones, tablets, printers, Smart TVs, and other accessories using your wireless network at once, you might be slowing down your wireless network. Turn off or disconnect the devices you aren't using to improve network speeds for those you are using.
- You can limit the number of devices your router will allow to connect at a time. This is typically done by logging in to your router's administrator website and adjusting settings in the LAN or Local Network area.
- Update your router's firmware. If you're still experiencing poor reception, your router may be in need of a firmware update. This can usually be done in your router's admin portal, but some routers require additional steps. See this wikiHow to learn the basics of updating your router's firmware.
- Get a new router about every 3 years. If you've had your router for 3 or more years, it's probably time to replace it. That's about their average lifespan, since they're typically on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and they're often exposed to things like power outages or surges.
- Make sure that your router is set to full transmission power.
- Depending on your brand and model of wireless router, you may be able to replace the built-in software with a replacement open source solution that adds much more capabilities and the option to increase the power to your wireless antenna.
- The computer case itself can be a significant barrier to the Wi-Fi signal - try positioning the case so it doesn't come between the network card and router antennas.
- The addition of a "high gain" (higher dBi) external antenna will often provide increased reception signal and performance. Note that a higher dBi increases the signal horizontally, but decreases vertically. If you need to cover several floors, a higher dBi will probably not help. In this case, you might consider buying a Wi-Fi amplifier, which will boost your signal.
[Edit]Warnings - If you replace your router's firmware, it may void your warranty. If not done properly it can damage your router irreparably.
- If you turn the power up too high on a modified wireless router it may suffer permanent damage.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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