A Simple Way to Clean Your Blender

If you're a big fan of smoothies, juices, or soups then you probably use your blender a lot. This probably leads to the occasionally gross and stained blender. Check out this easy way to get it sparkling again in "A Simple Way to Clean Your Blender"!

I diligently wash my blender after every smoothie, juice, and soup, yet recently I noticed it was still looking scummy. I mentioned this to my friend Angela, who recommended a super simple way to get my blender looking clean and clear. (Yes, these are the sorts of riveting conversations that occur between Vitamix cult members. The tip is totally applicable to all blenders, though!)

Angela pointed out that the stains on my blender container were probably the result of hard water build-up. The solution? A lemon!

I filled the blender halfway with warm water, a drop of dishwashing liquid, and a coarsely chopped lemon and ran the machine for about a minute. Voilà — my blender was sparkling again. One could also use white vinegar to cut through the scum, but I think a lemon smells better.

Do you have any tips for cleaning a Vitamix or other blenders?

(Image credits: Dzinnik Darius/Shutterstock)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/clean-your-blender-tips-from-the-kitchn-199583

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How To Clean a Kitchen Trash Can

Taking the trash out doesn't always mean the end of the trash day chores. Making sure that your kitchen trash can doesn't become more gross than the contents of the bag inside it is a must for a clean feeling. Check out "How To Clean a Kitchen Trash Can" for the best steps to avoid mess and smell.

Cleaning the kitchen trash can is a household to-do that's easily overlooked, but things get gross in there fast. Even I was surprised how many cracker bits and unknown liquids had made their way past the inner liner of our trash can (toddlers, anyone?). A lingering smell is an obvious sign that it's time to clean the trash can, so grab your gloves and get to work!

A few easy steps are all that's required for a clean, fresh-smelling can.

For deep-clean lovers (guilty) and over-achievers, it is an oddly satisfying thing to know that something meant to be dirty can actually be clean. After you've followed these steps and given your trash can a thorough cleaning, maintain your hard work by wiping down the inside and outside of the can with a disinfectant spray each time you empty the trash can. Beware: If you don't live alone, this request could invite an eye roll from your roommate or spouse.

Now, let's get to cleaning!

How To Clean the Kitchen Trash Can

What You Need

Rubber gloves
A hose (if you have outdoor space) or a bathtub

A clean toilet brush or other long-handled, nylon bristle scrub brush

A disinfectant spray of your choice

Paper towels or old towel

Instructions

1. Don your rubber gloves: Cleaning the trash can can be a nasty business, so pull on some rubber gloves!
2. Empty trash can and remove any lingering food particles: After you've emptied your trash can, remove any large pieces of food or particles you see in the bottom of the can. Your goal here is just to get rid of any major gunk you can see outright.
3. Wash out the can: If you have access to a hose, take your trash can outside and hose it down. If you don't have outdoor space, you can also do this in your bathtub. Pat dry with a paper towel.
4. Spray the can with a disinfectant: Using a disinfectant cleaner of your choice, liberally spray down the inside and outside of the trash can. Don't forget the top and bottom of the can.
5. Scrub the can: Take a clean toilet brush or other long-handled nylon bristle brush and scrub the can thoroughly. After scrubbing, let the cleaner sit for 5 minutes.
6. Rinse and dry: Rinse the can thoroughly with your hose or in the bathtub. Dry with a towel, or let air dry in the sun.

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-the-kitchen-trash-can-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-204780

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Redecorating on a Budget

Are you tired of the same look in your apartment? You do not need to redo every room in your house to get a fresh feel. A few adjustments with what you have can be the redecorating wish you are looking for. Apartment Therapy has more information about all of your redecorating questions.



Usually, when your space feels dull and boring, the first impulse is to buy something new. Stop! Before you plunk down for another throw pillow, try these tricks I often use when I'm styling someone's home and don't have the luxury of time to go out and buy the perfect little something.

Move the furniture: Moving the furniture can often solve problems in a room. Swap the position of the bed to a different wall (or try floating it to take advantage of a nice view), move the living room arrangement off the walls and into the center of the room. On a recent job, moving the rug just a bit so that the front legs of the couch rested on it made the room feel much more anchored and cozy.

Break up pairs: We've all been taught that the nightstands in a bedroom should match, that matching lamps should go on either side of the couch, that two matching chairs face a sofa. Yeah, yeah. Dull and boring. What if you broke up those pairs? Use one of those living room chairs in the bedroom, try one of those lamps in the kitchen, drag one of those nightstands to use as an entryway piece. Just because you bought two things together doesn't mean they have to, or even should, stay together.

Steal from another room: That throw pillow in the bedroom might be just what the living room needs to perk it up, that rug you've had in the dining room might work better by the front door, your living room console might work as a desk in your office. You can always put things back where you found them. While it might be challenging to move a couch from one room to another, accessories are easy things to swap in and out.

Regroup the accessories: Just because that vase has always had a place on the coffee table, doesn't mean it has to always be there. Move things around. Try grouping it with t two other vases you like (groups of three are particularly pleasing to the eye). Sometimes, something as simple as putting a nice pile of books on a coffee table with a plant on top of them, bringing in a bright throw, or remaking a bed, can perk up an entire room. Stumped for accessories? Think outside the box: a beautiful pair of shoes, like those bright pink heels you never wear but love, can be just as pleasing on a coffee table as on your feet; those mixing bowls from grandma might get more use on your credenza than they ever did in your kitchen; mismatched glasses can be used as vases and scattered around the house; a collection of neckties are interesting swung around a shelf bracket; a jar of earrings lets you enjoy them off your ears as well as on.

Edit: Most rooms have too much stuff in them. Try stripping them down to their basics (in the living room that would mean things like the sofa and the media center) and then layer things back in piece by piece. You may find that you prefer the room without a rug or that the lamp works better on the other side of the sofa. Taking pictures can help you get an objective viewpoint.

Swap rooms: Would your dining room work better as your living room? Maybe your office would make a better bedroom than your bedroom does. Living in a small space that only consists of one large room that has to multitask is no excuse. These spaces can still get stuck in a rut.

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4th of July

We'd like to wish everyone a happy 4th of July!

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