How To Clean An Oven Vent

I'm sure you have tried to clean an oven vent at one point in your life. I run into these little "goop catchers" as I like to call them, in just about every house I clean. Sometimes, they are REALLY bad, and sometimes they aren't so bad. Either way, if you have them, you need to clean them.

I have found the easiest way to clean these is take them off and lay them in your sink and run hot water over them for a few minutes. I liberally sprinkle baking soda all over the vent making sure to get it into all the little nooks and crannies. I then spray the entire thing with vinegar. This creates a chemical reaction that should fizzle a little. I let that soak in for a little while, then I use a stiff brush to clean it out. If you have an old toothbrush laying around that works well too. I usually spray it one more time with vinegar just to make sure it is grease free. Rinse it with hot water and viola you should have a clean vent.

The more you cook the more often you need to clean this. I suggest cleaning it at least once a month. If you do, that task won't be as difficult the next time!


Do you have a question for The Cleaning Fairy? Let me know in the comments!

Who Needs Mr. Clean?

Did you know that you can make your own Magic Erasers? These little gems can remove scuff marks from floors, hand prints on walls, and recently I removed a large purple "rub" spot from bedding on a wall. I have used them to scrub stoves, tubs, and showers. The problem is they are expensive. So I did a little search on Pinterest to see if I could find something cheaper, and I did! All these are is melamine foam, and water and they become magic!

Click here to buy them on Amazon!

DIY Projects To Help You Clean

Have you ever thought "WOW! I love my swiffer sweeper but I am out of cloths?" Well the crafty gals over at Natural Nesters have just the solution! You can save money, recycle an old towel AND reduce waste.

Do you like handy cleaning wipes? I know I use them around my own house, and even when I am cleaning some of my clients homes. Why not make them yourself and save money and avoid all the chemicals? Visit the folks over at Organized Home to find out how.

Do you have a shower door that just isn't shiny anymore? Maybe a rust stain? Try this DIY Shower Scrub and you will never go back to scrubbing bubbles again! I didn't believe it myself until I tried it on hard water stains on a shower door, and like magic they were gone!

Do you have a DIY cleaning product you would like to share? Leave it in our comments!

More Ways To Use Vinegar...

I promised you more ways to use vinegar in cleaning today so here they are!

• Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.
• Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.
• Wipe grease off exhaust fan grids, the inside of your oven, or anywhere grease gathers with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar.
• Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight.
• Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.
   

I will be back tomorrow with more! What is your favorite use for vinegar!?

Green Cleaning

Did you know that you can clean without spending a fortune on store bought cleaners? 

I bet you didn't know you can clean most everything in your home with just a few simply ingredients from your KITCHEN! This week's topic is Vinegar.

White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical.

Just SOME of the ways you can use vinegar to clean in your home...

• Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
• Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.
• Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.
•  Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.
• Easily clean your mini blinds by wearing pair of white cotton gloves.  Dip gloved fingers into a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm tap water, and run your fingers across both sides of each blind.

 Check back tomorrow for more tips on how to clean with vinegar!