My kitchen is a mess to clean! Help!?

Question

So I have a BEAUTIFUL kitchen.. Granite counter tops, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, tile floors. It was all remodeled before we bought the house a few months ago. However, I am having the toughest time finding ways to clean it!

Granite counter tops- I have tried to clean by spraying 409 on and wiping them with paper towels/sponges. I have also tried dish detergent. They always come out with big streaks on them!

stove/dish washer/sink(stainless steel)- 409 helps the stove/dish washer get all finger prints off but still gets streaks. I have not found a way to get the sink totally clean without water marks, streaks, etc.

409 usually cleans everything else, but I am still puzzled of what to do with the counters streaking and sink looking horrible all the time!

Answer 1

I made my own cleaner and I LOVE it

Mix 20 oz of water with 2 oz of ammonia and 2 or 4 drops of Dawn liquid dish soap. Mix in a spray bottle.

(or 10 parts water and 1 part ammonia)

It's a great all purpose cleaner. I use it for counters, windows, mirrors, and floor.

Think about it - all those over the counter cleaners are 90% water.

Answer 2

I wholeheartedly second Lisa's response about picking up method (they don't capitalize it) at Target.  It's a terrific company that makes biodegradable cleaning products for just about everything in the home that needs cleaned.  It's the only thing we use at our house, as the traditional chemical cleaners give me a sore throat and scratchy eyes.

Answer 3

Try windex.

Answer 4

the sink most likely can be clean with Comet and sponge.

use a soft cloth after your finish wiping. maybe your spraying to much spray cleaner on the stove.

You can also try Windex it safe to clean with.

Answer 5

Target sells cleaners especially for granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.  They are "Method" brand.  Works well.

Answer 6

Use baking soda.  I usually buy the biggest box and use it to clean everything.  I even got tea stains out of the sink when no other cleaning products would work!  You can dilute it in some warm water to clean most things.  If you dry the counter tops after cleaning them they shouldn't have streaks.  You can also run some vinegar through your dishwasher to clean it out and keep it smelling fresh.

Answer 7

I felt the need to respond since you are proud of your new kitchen, as you should be!  And I saw a few suggestions that made me semi-nervous.  

Never use an abrasive cleaner (or anything that contains bleach) on your stainless steel sink.  The cleaner may leave fine scratches which will make it less than beautiful and bleach could pit the material over time. If it needs a scour, try a very mild abrasive like Bon Ami or Bar Keeper's Friend or, better yet, Baking Soda, with a celluloid sponge or soft white cloth.  I could also say to make sure it's wiped down every night so no water spots form, lol.  

For the granite, keep it dust-free and use a just damp soft cloth with a little ph neutral cleaner (one formulated for stone is a safe bet and easily found at a hardware store) to clean.  Too acidic or alkaline cleaners can cause permanent damage to any stone.

Best bet is to start with the least harsh method and work your way up to 409 and the like.  They work for some things but a gorgeous granite countertop and stainless steel sink aren't two of them :)