Keeping my new kitchen 'new', the OS way!

MandM90

We had gloss cupboards in our last place. DW was really worried they'd always look mucky but in fact they always looked sparkling clean (even when they weren't ). We just used all purpose.

If you're getting an electric hob (though if not too late I'd advise against it as they are a nightmare and inevitably end up ruined ) our carpenter showed us how to clean cooking bits off with a stanley knife type thing which lays flat to the hob and has a handle perpendicular to the knife (I'm sure there is a technical name for it...). At first I was too scared but it really doesn't scratch them and works a treat.

My mum lines her big pot cupboards and shelves with silicone mats she got from a DIY store. They stop things sliding about and are very easy to clean.

Sainsburys have the big kilner jars (2ltr) I think for £1.20 at the moment. We've bought a few for flour, pasta etc as plastic/paper packaging is a pain. I wish we had those stores with 'bulk bins' like they have in the USA where you can buy things like grains and flours with minimal packaging and decant at home.

PasturesNew

MandM90 wrote: »

I wish we had those stores with 'bulk bins' like they have in the USA where you can buy things like grains and flours with minimal packaging and decant at home.

Some of those do exist - but the reality then hits you .... do you really want to be scooping out foodstuffs for your belly not knowing who has pawed inside the tubs or coughed over them before? I can't even bear to buy bread rolls that are exposed in shops because you just know everybody's poked and touched them and their kids have coughed over them.

MandM90

PasturesNew wrote: »

Some of those do exist - but the reality then hits you .... do you really want to be scooping out foodstuffs for your belly not knowing who has pawed inside the tubs or coughed over them before? I can't even bear to buy bread rolls that are exposed in shops because you just know everybody's poked and touched them and their kids have coughed over them.

Gosh I'd never thought of that...and you can't even give them a wash like fruit/veg!

I was thinking of these bins that come out in taps, so you kind of 'pour' them down. I always see photos of them on 'simple living' type blogs and get envious.

chanie

I use a plastic cupboard liner, which I bought from IKEA on a roll, which you cut to size. It probably isn't very MSE, but it mean that any spills can be dealt with locally, rather than having to empty out the whole cupboard to replace newspaper, if you know what I mean.

Oven liner, I bought a cheap one from ALDI, which is great (much cheaper than those catalogues that come through your door).

SIL tip - line your hob with tinfoil, so you can just replace that rather than constantly having to wipe it down.

I keep my herbs and spices in plastic tubs, so they are easy to find.

Don't overload your cupboards and drawers - I know its easy to, but if you put too much stuff in your cupboards, they are more likely to get damaged.

Don't let too many people loose in your kitchen. I know this probably sounds barmy, but my MIL lets the world and their dog rifle in her kitchen, in addition to overloading the cupboards with heavy dishes - her kitchen is about 5-7 years old but loads of bits and pieces need repairing.

luxor4t

I've lined my china & glasses shelves with non-slip paddy liner. Mine came from Poundland, but I first saw the idea at Lakeland.

angelaloveschocolate

WOW M&M90, great suggestion about cleaning the hob! I know the scraper thingy that your talking about, in fact I actually have one and never would have thought of using it

Chanie, I know what you mean about overstuffing the cupboards, a timely reminder as I want to start as I mean to go on.

I love the suggestion of the silicon on a roll, unfortunately, my nearest Ikea is over 80 miles away So I guess I'll just have to trawl the pound shops for anything similar, thanks for suggesting that Luxor4t. In the meantime paper lining will have to do.

Thank you all for such great suggestions, keep them coming