If you do one thing this week...

DE-GUNK THE KITCHEN CABINETS.

The kitchen is one of the dirtiest rooms in our homes. Because it is usually a high traffic area that gets daily use, kitchens get dirtier, faster than other areas of the home. Kitchen cabinets are often the dirtiest area of the kitchen because we are often afraid to clean cabinets for fear of ruining them.

Kitchen cabinets can get really dirty over time though, if they are left unattended. Everything that comes in contact with them, or that is in the air in your kitchen builds-up over time and causes your cabinets to look dull, dingy and old. Grease, food particles, smoke, moisture, finger prints, grime, smudges and more are all found on the face of cabinets, with the bulk of it being found on handles and other high contact areas. In most cases, if your cabinets are starting to look bad, a good cleaning is all they need.

Cleaning kitchen cabinets can be a quick and easy job, but many people make it harder than it has to be. One rule of thumb is that the longer you wait to do it the more time it will take to complete. All that dirt will pile up over time if you let it. The main problem, though, is the grease. This sticky substance is like the glue that holds all of the other dirt and grime together and makes it so hard for you to remove.

Wondering what to use to cut the grease? Vinegar. All natural undiluted, white vinegar. Vinegar is one of the best cleaning materials in the kitchen. It's slightly acidic to help with the grime, but with no harsh chemicals to damage anything. Conventional household cleaners are usually not the best choice when cleaning your cabinets. They often don’t work as good as you would like them to, and sometimes don’t work at all. When they do work, you are still left with a sticky residue due to the chemicals in those cleaners. Your cabinets will sometimes look clean, but this residue actually attracts dirt and the stickyness causes it build-up faster. You will actually have to clean your cabinets sooner than if you used a cleaner that leaves no residue. These chemicals can also be dangerous for the cabinet surface, as well as hazardous to your health. The practice of spraying a bunch of chemicals all over the room where we prepare food and store all of our cups and plates can’t be too healthy though. This is why it is so beneficial to use a chemical-free cleaner in the kitchen. You won’t have to worry about damaging your cabinets or jeopardizing your health if you use an all-natural cleaner like vinegar.

So this week I encourage you to get out your bucket or spray bottle and step stool and get degunking for an instant, all natural - and free - facelift to that worn-looking, germy kitchen.

What you will need: Vinegar, spray bottle or bucket and rag.

Step 1: Mix 1 part vinegar and 1 part warm water in a bucket or spray bottle, depending on the number of cabinets you need to tackle. Mix a stronger vinegar solution if the grease buildup on the cabinets is thick by altering the ratio to ¾ vinegar and ¼ water.

Step 2: Climb up your step stool and wipe off surface dust and cobwebs from cabinet tops with a damp rag. Rinse and wring out your rag.

Step 3: Spray down upper cabinets with the vinegar/water solution, or apply it generously with your rag. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. Wipe the surface, using some pressure, in small circles, moving from the top of the cabinet face down. Open the cupboard door and wipe the edges of the door opening as well. Move to the next cabinet.

Step 4: Wring out and rinse your cloth frequently, applying additional vinegar/water solution and pressure to particularly tough areas. Allow the cabinets to air dry or buff with a dry cloth.

Step 5 (optional) - Buff the cabinets with lemon oil for instant shine and to hide the vinegar smell.