Surprising Fixes for Kitchen Spills and Slip-Ups

GK Hart & Vicky Hart/Getty ImagesHere's how to clean up mundane (and maddening) kitchen messes.
Related: 7 Common Cooking Mistakes


Splatters in the Microwave

Combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 cup water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat the mixture in the microwave to a boil; let it boil for 3 minutes and stand for 5 minutes to allow the steam to loosen the debris, says Marie Stegner, a consumer-health advocate for Maid Brigade, a national green-housecleaning service. Wipe down the walls with a damp microfiber cloth and the mess should disappear. To remove any lingering smells, heat a small bowl filled with 1/2 cup water and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract just until it comes to a boil. Leave the door closed, with the bowl inside, overnight.

Spill That Seeped Under the Oven or Refrigerator

For wooden floors, mix 1/3 cup white vinegar andSteven Errico/Getty Images 1/2 gallon warm water. Note: If your wooden floors are waxed, avoid vinegar and use a waxed-floor cleaner, such as Parsley Plus All Surface Cleaner ($6 for 22 ounces, ecos.com). If your floor is tile or stone, use only plain hot water or a special cleaner, like StoneTech Professional Stone & Tile Cleaner ($7 for a quart, stonetechdirect.com). Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture, wrap it around a ruler, and slide it under the appliance. Rinse and repeat until the cloth emerges clean.

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Allow the oven to cool. Dislodge large chunks with a plastic spatula, then sprinkle baking soda over whatever bits remain. "Spritz with water and let it sit over-night, then scrub with a damp microfiber cloth," says Raina Raflo, the president of Sponge & Sparkle, a housecleaning service in Atlanta. Wipe away any remaining residue with a wet Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Kitchen Scrubber ($4, pgestore.com).

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Turn off the lights and shine a flashlight into the dishwasher. Any shards will sparkle. Halve a raw potato, and put on heavy-duty gloves. Dab the cut face of the potato over any specks, says Stegner. The shards will become embedded in the potato, which you can then discard. Run an empty cycle to flush out any minute pieces.