Kitchen Clean

One of the most annoying aspects of a kitchen is it's forever dirty and messy. Stoves get used every day as do plates . However thanks to old fashioned cleaning methods and new fangled gadgets, the most used room in the house can always be sparkling and bright.

Everybody has to do dishes - whether by hand or by dishwasher.  It helps if you have a dish detergent that gets rid of grease and sauces along with leaving a gleaming finish. For dishwashers many opt for Cascade ,  while others are looking into more natural types such as Seventh Generation.The last has no dyes or fragrances, perfect for those who have allergies. For those who aren't as lucky to have a dishwasher, there's Dawn dish soap. This is a favorite of mine (and yes, I still wash  dishes by hand.I have the old fashioned notion that hand washed dishes and pans are somewhat cleaner) I like the way it thoroughly rids surfaces from chocolate to  tomato sauce.It's also gentle on skin which is important during these raw winter days.It cuts down on chapped skin, Dawn is so mild that it's been used to clean birds that have been unfortunately victims of oil spills Another plus is that it comes in a wide variety of scents, from lavender to a refreshing waterfall scent.For those who do their own manicures, wash hands in Dawn before putting on  nail  polish. It gets rid of any  body oils and makes the color stay on longer.

Vinegar is a time honored classic , used for more than one hundred years. It's is wonderful on windows, cutting through soot and dirt.White distilled vinegar can get rid of any stain  - no matter how greasy or grungy. The insanely fun gadget Angry Mama below) uses it to clean the interior of

 the microwave. I bought her at What On Earth, a neat catalog company that specializes in the fun and the fantastic. Vinegar and water are poured into her body. and then heated for seven minutes in the microwave. This produces a potent steam that comes out of the holes in her head.From there the moisture is wiped away, along with grease or food particles with a paper towel. The vinegar also deodorizes the microwave, taking away any lingering odors. Let the liquid cool and it becomes an excellent cleaner for the stove top.

It pays to have a clean kitchen. There's nothing more disgusting than a grungy one,. Luckily there are so many soap, cleanserss and gadgets that can help.

Dishpan Foodie

Unfortunately with the cold weather and cooking comes dishpan hands. Even we can't escape dry rough skin and reddened knuckles. What to do? Eat out more often? Just make sandwiches ? Devour more instant , less mess foods. No, prepare ourselves with some helpful aids that deter any cracked m scaly skin. Good bye lizard claws, hello nice looking hands.

The most obvious answer is to use gloves. I don;t because for some reason I enjoy dipping my hand s into overly hot water and getting food bits under my nails. Unfortunately my fingers, cuticles and manicure suffer mightily. Rubber gloves do protect and they 're great if you have to use any scouring agent on especially messy pots or pans. Using a mild, aloe infused dish soap is another must. Dawn dish detergent is about the best. Besides being gentle it's also pleasant smelling and comes in a variety of fruity and floral scents. (some soaps smell too medicinal)I also like Dawn because it vows to protect the environment as well and it's used on wildlife that have had a run in with oil spills. Another bonus - it leaves everything sparkling clean with out any filmy residue.

Lotion is another must have for the kitchen active foodie. I recently discovered Skin MD Natural an all natural paraben free lotion. It's quickly and easily absorbed into the skin and practically melted into my hands. There's no greasy film afterwards and I don't have to wipe off any leftover lotion the way I normally do with most kinds. This is a great one to have on hand especially if you do a lot of general kitchen cleaning. Let's face it most of th e stuff we use to scrub our burners and ovens are harsh and are chock full of nasty irritants.These might be good in getting rid of that bake d on coffee stain however they're sheer havoc on skin. Skin MD helps to alleviate any side effects that comes with those products.

Keep your hands looking just as nice as your kitchen. Nothing is worst than having dry, rough dishpanned hands. Treat them as you would an elaborate meal. Use tenderness and care especially during these cold , rough days

CVS and A&P stores sell both Dawn and Skin MD