Kitchen Clean Up Tools 

Due to karate class, gymnastics class, and a back to home school party all in one evening, I didn't cook last night. I declared, "You're On Your Own" night. It worked out fine, we had delicious leftover black bean enchiladas and Monday night meatloaf to chow on. Therefore, I don't have a food recipe today, but I would like to share my favorite clean up tools with you.

A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND
This morning, as I cleaned my kitchen, I fondly remembered how my Memaw kept house. (My grandparents were my parents, just so you know.) Memaw liked washing with dish clothes that have a scrubby fabric on the back. She kept a large tea towel draped over her shoulder to dry her hands & dishes. And of course, she always wore a pretty, homemade apron around her waist. She washed the dishes by hand and kept the kitchen and house clean at ALL times.

This is why I cannot handle seeing dishes around a counter, piled in the sink or uncleaned dinner pots left out on a cold stove. All dishes must be put away at all times. I don't like spill spots or toast crumbs. I cannot tolerate a messy house, either, but that's another blog, another day. When I add in my fascination with Biology and that extra semester of Microbiology, I come across as a "Neat Freak." Honestly, it's not for the sake of what other's think, it's all about my peace of mind.

MY FAVORITE CLEANING TOOLS

1. Latex Rubber Gloves (Medical type) - are AWESOME! I wear them whenever I handle raw meats, sticky doughs, or when I clean house. Of course, one fresh pair for each job. You can find them in the pharmacy area of most stores. I keep a box in the drawer next to my pot holders.
2. Bounty Napkins - these are my FAVORITE, I use them in place of green scrub pads for wiping out gooey pans. They are really strong and hold up to cleaning. I keep a stack in my dish cloth drawer. I have no guilt about tossing away after one use. I can dip them in a disinfectant solution and use them when I run out of store bought disinfectant wipes.
3. Disinfectant Wipes for quick clean ups.
4. Green scrub pads - cut into 1.5" squares for cleaning gooey or burned on messes. The cleaning pad is small, but I have no guilt about trashing it after one use, either.
5. Chef mate Plastic Scraper - I love using this to scrap off burnt on food from cookie sheets, when I have forgotten to cover my pan with foil.
6. Dish cloth with scrubby fabric and drying towels - I use one fresh dish cloth & towel for each day. Yes, I have a full drawer of towels. I launder them separately in hot, bleach water in the clothes washer, regularly.

(As for cleaning solutions, I keep generic green scrubbing powder, Mr. Clean and bleach under the sink.)

I'm not qualified to discuss the wonders of bacteria, their favorite hiding places and their exponential growth rates. That's another blog. I will say it is important to keep a clean kitchen. If you don't like the act of cleaning, teach your kids to do it. You'd be surprised how well those little hands can clean. Their future roommates and spouse will love you for it.

What are your favorite cleaning tools? Do have a special solution that will clean anything? I want to know about it!