By Tricks and Tips3 Comments on Brighten up Your Kitchen

I am usually the dishwasher at our house as well as the one who puts the dishes away. I have noticed more and more how tea stained our cutlery, mugs and cups have gotten.

My sister and I were reminiscing about Grandma’s spoons the other day. She had spoons in the kitchen in a wide cup on her table. When we were visiting them we were offered coffee or tea and we got to pick our spoon. The spoons were all different, some oval, some round and each handle was unique. I, too, keep spoons in a cup beside the Keurig and kettle ready for anyone to grab when making their favourite drink.

As a result of being used for coffee, tea and iced tea, the spoons at my house have become quite stained.

When we moved into our new home I decided it was as good a time as ever to get everything clean and shiny once again. I first tried using equal parts vinegar and water and let the utensils sit in it. While it did brighten them up a bit, it didn’t remove most of the tea stains. I then resorted to good old baking soda.

You could use a box that maybe you have had open for awhile or that box you have in your fridge to combat smells (don’t forget to replace it with a new box). Wet each utensil, put a little baking soda on them and give them a good scrub with your fingers. It doesn’t take long before the brown stains come right off. The same is true with mugs or cups; just wet them, sprinkle on some baking soda and scrub.

Here are two plastic cups my husband uses for iced tea. The one on the left was quickly scrubbed with baking soda and the one on the right was how it normally looked after being washed.


Here is a mug that I cleaned. Still a bit of spoon scrapes but much cleaner.

  • Before cleaning
  • Cleaned

I used the same method to clean the inside of the oven at the apartment we just recently moved out of. I wet down the burned food spots, sprinkled baking soda and then just used elbow grease with a scrubbing sponge. After the spots were gone I just wiped off the baking soda with water.

A New Year symbolizes new beginnings and brighter days ahead.
Seeing shiny clean kitchenware will definitely brighten my days.

3 Replies to “Brighten up Your Kitchen”

  1. Baking soda is the near perfect cleanser.
    Our other daughter had suggested a baking soda paste on rug stains. I finally gave it a try and stains are gone. I also try it on the arm of the couch, worked like a charm. ❤️

  2. I use it to clean the kitchen sink as well…add some vinegar and it works like a charm.

    Hope all is well with you and the boys. 🙂

    MaDonna

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