Kitchen Spring Cleaning Tips

It is that time of year again, time for spring cleaning and the kitchen is a REALLY great place to start. When the kitchen is fresh and clean, the whole house feels clean. Use these tips to get yourself motivated and started . . .

Microwave
 Fill a microwave-safe mug two-thirds full of water and add a few splashes of lemon juice or some fresh lemon slices. Microwave it on HIGH for 4 minutes. When it's done, leave the door closed and keep it in there for another 4 minutes. The moisture from the steam and the acid from the lemon will loosen the food particles. After 8 minutes total, remove the mug and wipe down the interior with a wet paper towel. Take out the glass plate and give it a good washing with soap and water. To finish up, wipe off the outside of the microwave with a surface-appropriate cleaner.

Refrigerator

Remove everything from your fridge and take out the bins and shelves. Wash them in hot, soapy water to remove any food bits and get them clean. If you want to disinfect, or if the mess is really caked on, add a little bleach to your water as well. While they're drying, use disinfecting wipes to scrub the walls, floor, inside door, and wire shelving. If any spots are discolored, mix some baking soda, lemon juice, and water to make a paste, and scrub at these spots. They should come clean and whiten back up.

To finish, use your vacuum hose and clean the bottom vents and coils in the. This will help your refrigerator to run at its peak capacity, keeping your energy bills down and your food cold. Finally, use a surface-appropriate cleaner for the front and sides, and you're done! Keep up with this every month or so, and you'll be on your way to a continually clean kitchen.


Stove and Oven
Start by cleaning your stovetop to get rid of cooked-on food particles and film that can build up over time.

Electric Stoves
For food on the coils, use a mild soap and water mixture and clean them. Make sure they are fully dry before reattaching them. Take out the metal trays under the coils and soak them in hot, soapy water. Scrub off all food stains with an abrasive sponge and clean them thoroughly. If they seem beyond repair, you can buy new trays for a small cost. Using a soapy sponge or antibacterial wipes, clean off the stovetop and get any food bits and crumbs out of underneath the coils.

Flat Top Stoves
When it comes to cleaning kitchen appliances, these are the easiest to clean and keep clean. For a quick cleaning, use a soapy sponge and wipe off any residue. For tougher stains, use a specially-formulated Flat Top Stove cleaner such as Scotch-Brite Scratchless Cooktop Cleaner.

Gas Stoves
Many gas stoves now have removable grates that can be washed in hot, soapy water or even put in the dishwasher. Check your manufacturer's instructions and wash them accordingly. Then, take a soapy sponge or antibacterial wipes and scrub the stove surface clean.

Oven

Most ovens now have a self-cleaning feature so you don't have to work so hard. However, the fumes are strong, so open up the windows and stay out of the kitchen while it's going through the cleaning cycle. When spring cleaning your kitchen, save this task for last and relax in another part of the house. For small messes that don't require an entire self-cleaning cycle, a spot cleaner like Easy Off® Fume Free Oven Cleaner works well.

Coffeemaker

Depending on the quality of your water, mineral deposits can build up inside the water reservoir over time, affecting the taste and quality of your coffee. To clean it, mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water and run it through the coffeemaker without any coffee. Depending on how much buildup your machine has, you may need to repeat this. Finally, run a pot of just water through a brewing cycle before making coffee to clean out any vinegar residue.

Cabinets

One cabinet at a time, take out the contents and wipe down the shelves with antibacterial wipes. Clean out any expired food, and make sure dishes are arranged in a way that best serves your daily life. If you use shelf paper, replace any paper that's too dirty or torn. Finally, use a mild dish detergent and water to wipe down the fronts of each cabinet. Clean the handles and pulls as well. And use glass cleaner to polish up any glass-front cabinets. The results will give you a clean kitchen that shines.

*Note: Check the manufacturer's instructions beforehand for any special cleaning precautions for your particular cabinet finish.

Pantry

Since the pantry is behind closed doors, it's east to constantly take food out and put more in without giving much thought to its order (or the food wedged in the back). But over time, things can become so disorganized that you forget what you have, and food goes bad or you end up buying more of something you don't need. Begin by removing everything from the pantry and following the kitchen cleaning tips for cabinets, above. Lay everything out on a countertop or table, and take stock of what you actually have. Start by throwing out any expired foods. Then, organize foods into like groups, like canned goods, spice packets, and cereals. For smaller items, wire shelving like these from the Container Store can help you get organized. If you have a lot of small items like dry soup mixes and spice packets, try hanging a plastic shoe organizer on the inside of the door. The compartments are the perfect size for smaller odds and ends that tend to get lost.

Follow these kitchen cleaning tips for spring cleaning your kitchen and enjoy a neat, organized, and clean kitchen all year long.

Turning "Trash" into Functional Treasures

Something that makes R & W different than some remodeling companies is that we're not just about sticks and bricks, getting the building done, collecting the last check and moving on to the next build.  We're also about making homes beautiful and a place of enjoyment for our customers.  So, today's blog post is about decorating the home in a style that I am particularly fond of.

You've heard the expression, "From Trash to Treasure", but this Better Homes and Garden article shares tips for what to do with those antique, "trash" treasures that gives the items functionality.

Functional Form Add architectural character while creating a perch for treasured collectibles by turning salvaged decorative molding into a shelf. Position it at eye level to make a big statement.


Mail Stop Perched on a table or desk, an old porch railing becomes an instant organizer. The slats keep letters, postcards, and bills neat and within easy reach.


Looking Up Give a weathered mantel new life as an eye-catching headboard. There's no hanging required -- simply prop the mantel against the wall and let the bed frame hold it in place. Take advantage of the mantel's shelf to showcase treasured mementos.


Mirror Magic Instead of the more traditional boxy medicine cabinet, create an instant focal point by using an ornate mirror above a sink or vanity. Spray paint the frame a color that coordinates with your bathroom's color scheme to create a one-of-a-kind accent.


Shutter Style Add character to plain rooms by propping architectural salvage, such as these vintage shutters, against a bare wall.

One of our favorite, local "treasure" hunting stores is Junk Warehouse in Barrington, Illinois.  Check out their website to see what items they carry and to find out what their store hours are.  We spend quite a few weekends browsing Junk Warehouse checking out their latest finds.  They also teach how to distress-paint furniture or will do the job for you.

Happy treasure hunting.  We would love to see what you do with your treasures.  Please post your rooms/pictures to our Facebook wall.

Our Latest Project - With a Touch O' Green

It has been far too long since an R & W blog has graced the airways.  We apologize for this very long lapse and will strive to blog more often.  Life got in the way this winter and now here it is, almost March.

In one of our latest projects, the customer approached us to design and remodel their kitchen and mud room using green products where possible.

"Eating Area"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

We chose frameless cabinets from Holiday.  They maintain their own forests for the manufacture of cabinets.  We also chose to use Quartz countertops for their long-lasting beauty, easy cleaning and the fact that they are non-porous which makes them safe for food preparation.

"Island"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

We used Benjamin Moore Natura Zero V.O.C. (volatile organic compounds) paint on the walls, ceiling and trim including doors.  We used red oak flooring and finished it with a waterborne clear coat, which like the paint is odorless, thus keeping the home environment healthy.

"Pantry"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

High-end, Energy Star appliances were also installed.  During a remodel is the perfect time to change out any poorly functioning, high-energy-drain appliances that will not blend well with your new space.

"Appliances"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

We used LED under-cabinet lighting fixtures which use less energy and will last 20-plus years.  We especially like the thin, sleek design of these particular lighting fixtures made by Kichler.

"LED Lighting"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

We used Water Sense fixtures by Kohler throughout the remodel.  Water Sense is a program started by the EPA that lends their seal of approval to a company's product that has water-saving features.

"Mud Room & Powder Room"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Every job needs a superintendent to make sure the job stays on track. Our's was the owner's beagle, Yogi. He was a great addition to the crew and the overhang of the countertop on the island was put in place at the customer's request to keep Yogi covered and secure for when he is enjoying his meals.

"Yogi"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

The Not So Big Author and Architect

Recently Randy and I had the privilege and honor to meet the author and architect behind the Not So Big concepts that we model our business after, Sarah Susanka.  Sarah is part of a program with Marvin Windows called The myMarvin Project, a program where they've approached known names in the design world and asked them to design their own signature window (see Sarah's window below).  The Marvin Windows Gallery in Lake Bluff recently invited Sarah to visit and give a talk on her Not So Big concepts and it was a fabulous event.  Sarah is one of the nicest, most down to earth people I have met and she just lives and breathes her beliefs like it's just the way it always has been and always should be (and she's right on the last part!).

Randy and I with author and architect, Sarah Susanka

Sarah's Signature Marvin window designed through the myMarvin Project

Okay, but here's the coolest thing . . . Sarah has been asked to design one of the houses in a new subdivision that is being built in Libertyville, Illinois called The School Street Homes.  It is a remarkable new development going in that (in their words right off their website - I couldn't have said it better) develops a streetscape of 26 Front Porch Revival homes in harmony with transforming the historic Central School into 15 Urban lofts. Enhance SchoolStreet resident's quality of life to align with the cultural shift in the United States of how people want to live. Promoting a New Urban lifestyle that is connected to the community, pedestrian friendly, less excessive, more sensitive to the environment and within steps of Libertyville's vibrant downtown.  Sarah got involved in this project as she was investigating builders who were interested in building smaller, smarter homes and because of the current economic culture we are in, she wasn't finding any who were willing to go outside the box.  Click here to read more about her involvement in the School Street Homes project.  As you will see from her website, there is an public meet and greet with Sarah tonight from 6 - 8 p.m. at The Libertyville Civic Center, 135 West Church St.  She really is a genuinely nice, intelligent and passionate women who is worth the time to go meet.

Illustration of School Street from porch

Folks this is our passion, this is right up our alley, THIS IS SO COOL!!!  YES!  Let's get back to porch living, being an involved and productive member of our community - let's actually talk to our neighbors and do life with them, all while living in homes that are sound for the environment and are built to last!  Learn more about this amazing development by click on their name above.  Enjoy scouring their website - be inspired and get excited!  I know many of us aren't in the market for a new home, but check out Sarah's Not So Big Books and website and get inspired to make changes in your own home to make it more suitable to the way you and your family live.

Creating Beauty from the Wreckage

On one of our latest jobs, we had a customer come to us as a referral from another job we did, who had water damage in her house and her insurance company sent in an adjuster to investigate the damage.  In the process, however the contractor the adjuster sent out to investigate did way more damage than she started with, inappropriately cutting into materials and slicing at the hardwood floor to where she needed much more repair work done because of the damage he caused.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

 
After seeing a spot on the news last night about an insurance adjusting scam that is currently going on, I have to wonder if that is what happened here, but thankfully, she did not have any further involvement with the adjuster and instead, found her own contractor to do the work.

To stay within her budget, we replaced the kitchen cabinets in the same general layout that they originally were in, we moved the refrigerator to give her more counter space and added some nice, personal touches to give her a new space to call her own.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Our motto and focus in general is that we strive to give our customers an enjoyable, stress-free remodeling experience.  But, especially when there is stress and strife to begin with on a project, we make sure to take the absolute best care of our customers so their minds can be at ease in knowing they are going to end up with a lovely, comfortable space and they can leave the memory of what went before in the dust.

It's Time for Some Autumn News!

R & W Construction's Autumn News E-Newsletter is out.  Check it out for great information, a helpful Fall/Winter Home & Yard Maintenance checklist and the scrumptious recipe for Pumpkin Soup!  Check it out HERE!

Remodeling in Stages

When we moved into our home 17 years ago, it was pretty much a disaster.  Peach shag carpeting covered the bedroom floors; dark cabinetry, with doors and drawers threatening to fall off their hinges, graced the tiny square kitchen; flimsy dark paneling covered the basement walls; the windows were ancient and you could hear the wind howl through them with chilly fierceness in the middle of winter; and the bathrooms were in MUCH, MUCH need of updating and TLC!  Let's just say it never would have passed the stringent home inspections that are the norm these days.  We weren't blind to any of it - we knew what we were getting going in, and frankly, were just fine with it because we knew what we could turn it into - eventually.  There was absolutely NO way we could have remodeled it all at once, but by remodeling it in stages, it was both affordable and emotionally do-able.

Doing your own demo work can save on the cost of your project.
  We had a ton of fun as a family doing some of the work together.

If your budget is limited, start with paint and flooring.  We replaced the carpeting in the bedrooms and added colors to the walls.  We also took a 4th, small bedroom and turned it into an office right in the middle of our home.  Our office started out in the basement, and especially with the dark, panelled walls I mentioned before, that got very depressing and for me, a young mother needing to keep my finger on the pulse of what was going on in the house, working in the basement just wouldn't work.  We had a half wall that led to the basement that we built one desk up against and used the closet for an office closet that we kept open and added shelving to.  We painted the office a beautiful copper orange color giving it a warm, peaceful, welcoming feeling - a place where we would want to spend many hours in daily.  Think ahead to what you are using your rooms for and be sure to make them as inviting and functional as you possibly can.

The next phase of our remodeling involved adding on a 14' x 14' addition to the kitchen and completely gutting the kitchen.  We wanted and needed a space where we could gather with family and friends around a nice, big table (we had an 8' table built out of recycled barnwood and have surrounded it with mismatched chairs that we have found at garage or antique sales).  With gutting the existing kitchen, we were able to add new flooring and paint the walls easily before cabinetry was installed.  We kept the layout of the kitchen to keep costs down regarding moving plumbing and electrical, but we removed soffits and installed new, beautiful cabinetry in a layout that perfectly fit the way we live (baking center, coffee/tea center, bread drawers with liners for dog food, under cabinet lighting, wine rack, etc.).  The new addition off of the kitchen is filled with windows all around, so now was also a perfect time to replace all of the windows in the house, which we did with beautiful, Marvin double-hungs throughout the entire house along with a fabulous sliding door that rolls like butter, screen door too, to this day and two picture windows, one with an eyebrow window above it.  It also made sense during this phase, since putting on the addition affected our old deck, to put on a new deck that we have enjoyed many, many meals and fun times with friends and family on.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

A few years later, it was definitely time to attack the basement with a completely redesigned overhaul as we had teenagers coming up and needs of our own that we were ready to have met.  Randy was tired of sharing a bathroom/shower with three females, so we added a full bathroom to the basement, complete in manly decor, so he could enjoy a bathroom to himself.  It includes slate tiles, a rainhead showerhead and masculine colors.  We turned another bedroom in the basement into an open craft room/exercise room.  By taking down the wall seperating it from the rest of the basement, we gained even more space to comfortably fit a wall of craft cabinets and a treadmill with suspended TV on the opposite wall.  Now, I too, have a space to call my own (I do share it on occasion).

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Because we wanted our teenagers to feel comfortable having their friends over, we wanted the basement to be a self-contained area where they really had their privacy, so in a space next to the stairs, we included a kitchen complete with a microwave built in under the stairs and a full-size fridge also under the stairs.  We even made the most of the bottom space under the stairs for storage of their toys they would want to keep for their own children someday.  The cabinetry in this kitchen doubles as storage for our more formal dishes and silverware.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

A new laundry room was also included in the overhaul, complete with folding counter, plenty of cabinets and a clothes pole.  A new Kenmore energy efficient washer and dryer set completed the job and the room actually makes doing laundry a pleasure instead of a chore.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

We have a third phase that we want to tackle down the road that involves reconfiguring the front porch, turning the deck into a screen room, turning the single car garage into a two-car garage, reroofing the entire house and changing the chain-link fence into a nice, new wooden fence, creating a beautiful backdrop for our gardens.  With the recession and the decline in home values, this phase will just have to wait, but someday . . .

Thankfully, with phased remodeling, we've been able to turn what was a disasterous house into the home of our dreams - one we plan to stay and grow old in.  With careful planning, you too can avoid the stress of moving multiple times to accommodate the different phases of your life.

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Randy and I are both Certified Remodelers and would love to work with you to create a home that is personalized to your life and that grows with you and your family.  Visit our website to learn more about our business and use the Customer Contact Form to set up an appointment today.