How to Clean 3 Areas of Your Kitchen Without Using Harmful Chemicals

How to Clean 3 Areas of Your Kitchen Without Using Harmful Chemicals

The kitchen is an area of the home that should be cleaned quite regularly. Since you’re doing a lot of gathering and cooking here, it’s important that you don’t have germs and bacteria-harboring here. If you’re not a fan of using harmful chemical cleaning agents in your home, there are a number of safer alternatives that you can use. They will do the job just as well, but you won’t be inhaling anything that could be carcinogenic.

The Sink

A kitchen sink can get pretty grimy. After all, this is where you do your dishes, wash your dirty hands and handle raw ingredients. Depending on the type of material that your skin is made out of, there are some natural methods of cleaning you can use. Stainless steel can be quickly cleaned with a baking soda paste. The abrasive nature of the baking soda will quickly clean off any caked up messes. According to FirstKey Homes, if you’re worried about a clogged drain, pouring half a cup of salt down the drain followed by hot tap water can break down clogs in the sink caused by fat, oil, and grease.

The Stove and Oven

Even a brand new stove and oven can quickly get messy. If you’re someone who likes to cook, there are likely baked-on messes inside your oven and on your stovetop. A stovetop with coils can be taken apart. You can clean each part with soap and water. Reassemble when everything is clean and dry. A flat top stove is also easy to clean. Wet the top of the stove. Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on it. Use a soapy sponge to move the baking soda around. Leave it on the stovetop for 15 minutes before wiping it clean. It might take a few times rinsing with clean water to remove all the soap and baking soda.

Flooring

If you have vinyl flooring in your kitchen, this is one of the easiest surfaces to clean. Use a sponge or rag with soapy water to wipe everything down. You can use a dry cloth to absorb any excess moisture. Wood or laminate flooring should be wiped down with a dry cloth regularly. Tile is very durable. According to Rainbow International Restoration, you can clean it with a diluted mixture of vinegar and water.

The kitchen is a common focal point in a home. If you want your kitchen to shine while paying attention to the health of you and your family members, think about alternatives to harsh cleaning products. There are plenty of ways that you can change up your cleaning routine.

If you’re ready to update your kitchen with some new appliances, we have a great selection! Take a look at all the cooking appliances we have to offer!

How to Get Excited About Cooking in Your Own Kitchen

How to Get Excited About Cooking in Your Own Kitchen

If you love to cook but haven’t lately due to poor kitchen design or other undesirable kitchen issues, this article will get you excited about cooking again. Small changes in your cooking space can spark new motivation from within to feed your body along with providing plenty of nurture to your inner spirit as well.

Update Your Kitchen Aesthetic

One simple trick to boost motivation to spend time in your kitchen area is to update your current kitchen aesthetic. Outdated cabinets, countertop surfaces and even color choices can make the space feel ordinary and rather boring. Dark finishes make a small kitchen feel smaller.

If your kitchen tends to be on the tinier size, remember that dark finishes make a small kitchen feel smaller. Consider adding a beautiful backsplash in a more modern design and hue to transform your ordinary kitchen space into an extraordinary place everyone in the family will want to be.

Invest in New Appliances

Nothing will date a kitchen more than old-fashioned kitchen appliances. Upgrading your current undesirable appliances should be thought of as a smart investment. The decision to invest in new appliances can increase your overall home value and make it easier to store, prepare food and cook as an added bonus.

Newer energy-efficient refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, various ovens and even dishwashers can also save a homeowner a lot on the usual energy bills. Many kitchen appliances today can be customized to fit various sizes and decor themes. In addition, newer appliances are apt to work better resulting in less food waste due to inconsistent temperatures in an older model refrigerator unit.

Install Custom Kitchen Cabinets for Better Storage Space

The installation of gorgeous custom kitchen cabinets instantly improves the appearance of the space while providing ingenious new spots for storage space. The right cabinets can make your kitchen cleanup a breeze. Get personalized storage spots to hide away the usual kitchen clutter that can discourage even the best of cooks from embarking on a serious cooking spree.

Create a kitchen that is truly the heart of your home. Consider adding a space saving island that can double as a food prep station and extra seating while adding even more storage space. With a bit of thought and creativity, your dream kitchen can finally come to life just as you’ve always imagined it to be.

Looking to upgrade your kitchen? Click here to browse our discount appliances!

How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen That Doubles as Entertaining Space

How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen That Doubles as Entertaining Space

When the weather is nice, you might want to head outdoors for some fabulous food and fun. Designing an outdoor kitchen with space for other entertainment may seem complicated, but you can get very creative and bring your wildest outdoor kitchen dreams to life. Here are a few tips for you to follow.

Create Cooking Space

When planning your outdoor kitchen, you should do a strategic layout. There are a variety of features to consider when customizing your own cooking space. Your meal prep area can be separate from the eating space and the entertainment space or it can be an open floor plan where guests can be entertained and you’re not locked away from them. Make sure you plan in enough room to freely move about the kitchen. Keep in mind that you need space for a stove or grill, a sink, and possibly other appliances like a refrigerator or an ice maker. Don’t forget to have plenty of counter space.

You’ll want to make sure you choose a great counter material that can stand up to rain and harsh weather. You’ll also want the material color and design to go well with your yard.

Make It Entertainment-Friendly

Make sure, as you’re designing your outdoor kitchen, that you have enough room for a nice sized table and chair set, plus room for people to roam around and mingle. More importantly, make sure this area is set away from the kitchen. You may want to consider using your counter as the area divider. This way people won’t be in your way as you’re cooking or get injured because they’re partying and not paying attention to appliances.

Go Big or Go Home

Don’t spare any luxuries. When people think of an outdoor kitchen, they expect to see something mind-blowing. Get the best dining set, the best appliances, the most fabulous stone counters, and more. Aim to be the envy of the neighborhood. Another unexpected plus to this is that it will raise the value of your home in case you ever want to sell it. This means that your fabulous outdoor kitchen isn’t only for entertainment – you’re making a long-term investment.

If you live in an area with a lot of beautiful weather, you may as well take advantage of luxurious outdoor cooking and partying. The sky’s the limit when it comes to designing your perfect outdoor kitchen and entertainment area. With proper planning and a decent budget, you can build an outdoor kitchen that will make you forget all about your boring indoor kitchen.

Looking for the perfect grill for some serious barbeque? Click here to check out our Pro-style grills!

Pros and Cons of Using Ammonia as a Refrigerant

Pros and Cons of Using Ammonia as a Refrigerant

The first time ammonia was used for refrigeration, it was 1876. America was celebrating her centennial, and Ulysses S. Grant was wrapping up his last term in office. Even though it has now been used for a little over 140 years a refrigerant in industrial applications, it still remains popular today. However, there is still some debate as to whether it works in all circumstances. Are you wondering if ammonia would work for you and your industrial refrigeration requirements? Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pro: More Efficient

Ammonia is widely recognized as one of the efficient energy applications out there. First of all, Ammonia is 3–10% more efficient than the standard CFC refrigerants. Secondly, ammonia usually beats their DX R404A counterpart by a good 15–20%. Ammonia is even more efficient when it is paired with NH3 and CO2.

Pro: More Environmentally Friendly

An ammonia refrigerant is better for the environment. One of the reasons is that ammonia is classified as a natural refrigerant. Ammonia also has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) and an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) that is equal to zero. Another great thing about ammonia is that it is a renewable resource. Ammonia consists of one nitrogen atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. More and more individuals are recognizing ammonia as an effective green alternative fuel. Indeed, there are so many things you can do with it. You can burn ammonia, store it, ship it, or even convert it back into hydrogen and nitrogen. Additionally, although fuel cell cars seem to be a dying trend in the United States, Japan is still interested in this product and they continue to eye ammonia as a fuel choice for this efficient mode of transportation.

Con: Toxic

Unfortunately, ammonia is poisonous in high concentrations. It can be extremely hazardous to humans, and it definitely should be kept out of the reach of young children. Moreover, you should never mix ammonia and bleach. Even though ammonia will generally leave behind a foul odor, you shouldn’t take any chances if you are using this as a refrigerant. It’s always a good idea to label your pipes, but ammonia pipes, in particular, should always be marked.

Though figuring out which component is best to use as a refrigerant may be difficult, it’s important to figure out what will work best for you and your company. If you keep all of these factors in mind you will be better equipped to determine if ammonia is the right component for your industrial refrigeration system.

For all your refrigeration needs, Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre is here to help. Check out our selection of refrigerators!