Kitchen Tips
Tips for Cleaning Tableware
* When washing china or crystal by hand, place a rubber mat or towel on the bottom of the sink to act as a cushion.
* Soak dishes with dried-on food in warm, sudsy water; avoid using harsh abrasives or steel wool.
* Antique dishware should be washed by hand. Modern dishware, including china, can be washed in the dishwasher.
* Fine crystal may occasionally be washed in the dishwasher with the utmost care in proper loading. But if it's used often, it's better to wash it by hand.
* To keep crystal spot free, add a little vinegar to the rinse water.
* Remove coffee, tea stains or cigarette burns from fine china by rubbing it with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda.
* Sterling, stainless steel and silver plate are all dishwasher-safe. Allow silver to reach room temperature before drying and storing.
* Use a pipe cleaner dipped in silver polish to remove tarnish from between tines of silver forks.
* To get rid of brownish stains on stainless steel, rub them with a dish cloth dipped in household ammonia. Or try oven cleaner, and rinse well.
* Launder table linens promptly after use. Informal linens should be washed and ironed at home. Formal linens usually require dry cleaning. To eliminate creases in your tablecloth, store it rolled around a tube.
* If you choose to store your tablecloth folded, fold it wrong side out to prevent dust from showing on crease lines.
Tips for Cleaning Tableware
* It's always a good idea to have an empty dishwasher at the start of a party. Then you can stash dirty dishes away more efficiently.
* To clean spills in the microwave, cover the spill with a damp paper towel and turn the oven on high for 10 seconds. The mess wipes up easily as the oven cools.
* To quickly clean the barbecue grill, place the cool grill inside a plastic garbage bag and add enough powdered dishwasher detergent and hot water to cover it. Tie the bag shut, let it sit outside for a few hours, and then rinse it.
* Scrub your cutting board with a solution of two tablespoons of bleach per quart of warm water. Rinse under hot water and dry.
* When food has spilled in the oven, immediately sprinkle it with salt. Later, when the oven is cool, brush off the spilled food and wipe the oven with a damp sponge. Or sprinkle the oven bottom with automatic dishwasher detergent and cover it with wet paper towels. Wipe it clean a few hours later.
* To clean chrome burner rings, put them in a plastic garbage bag and pour in a couple of cups of ammonia. Seal the bag and leave it outdoors for several hours, then rinse the burner rings with a hose.
* To remove stains from a nonstick-finish utensil, boil two tablespoons of baking soda and one cup of water in the utensil for fifteen minutes. After the pan has been rinsed and dried, coat it with vegetable oil.
* Line your broiler with aluminum foil to cut down on cleanup time. A little water added to the pan will help absorb smoke and spatters.
* To quickly clean your blender, simply pour hot water and some dishwashing liquid into the blender and puree.
* Any appliances that are stained can be cleaned with baking soda. Use it to clean coffee and tea stains from china cups.
* To remove burned food from a pan, heat the pan on the stove until it is fairly warm. Then place a mixture of dry bleach and dry detergent over the burned-on food. Cover it with hot, wet paper towel. Leave it for twenty minutes to an hour and then rinse.
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