5 Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Looking Great

The kitchen is, for many, the focal point of the home. It is usually at the front of the house, and is nearly always busy. (Especially for those with kids!) Keeping it clean and looking good can often be difficult, though. When a room is in constant use, keeping up with messes and clutter is inevitably a battle destined to be lost. But, of course, there are ways to put up a good fight against kitchen clutter, and keep it looking at least somewhat nice. These five tips are a great place to start.

Storing Recipes: It is no secret that many homes have at least one drawer full or pile of loose recipes just hanging around. It may be a pain, but in the long term it is well worth it to consolidate all of those loose sheets of paper into a binder. Also, try slipping them in plastic sleeves to protect favorite recipes from food drips and greasy hands.

Damaged Vinyl & Linoleum: It's inevitable that, through the course of kitchen flooring's life, some small tears will occur. If the flooring you have is vinyl or linoleum, this can be covered up nicely by caulk. Just be sure to level it with a rag and buy a color of caulk that matches the floor.

Keeping the Floor Shiny: Flooring in the kitchen not only suffers from tears and cuts, it also becomes dull over time. Next time you mop or wash your floors, add some vinegar to your rinse water to get rid of the soap scum left behind. It will leave your kitchen floor sparkling as if Mr. Clean himself did the job.

What to Do With Plastic Grocery Bags: Most people who are at least somewhat environmentally conscious make an effort to reuse plastic grocery bags. The problem is, they often end up stuffed in a cabinet taking up much-needed space. You can get rid of this problem by making a grocery bag dispenser out of an old 2 liter soda bottle. Just cut off both ends, and mount it upside down on an out-of-the way wall with a couple of screws.

Get Rid Of Odors without Baking Soda: If the fridge is reeking and you're in between trips to the store, try using a cup full of coffee grounds. Just stick it in the fridge overnight, and when you wake up, repeat the process. It is a surprisingly effective way to save you and your family's noses.