J RUN'S CLEANING SERIES - THE KITCHEN / THE LOVELY COTTAGE

Well, you guys asked for it - the cleaning series with J RUN is happening!  We're not only taking you room by room and sharing the products we love + use with you, but also cleaning tips, laundry help, stain removal, and even outdoor tidying.  File this under: things I never thought I would blog about.  Including, but not limited to, chickens.  #thisis30  So, here we go!  

KITCHEN:

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Wooden Surface Cleaner - We use this on our kitchen island daily.  It not only cleans the surface well, but it smells AMAZING.  It's also safe to use on all types of wooden tables, including dining room tables, end tables, etc.  J RUN says it's the only cleaner he's used that hasn't left a film or residue behind after cleaning!

General Surface Cleaner - We use this on our granite countertops, range, sink, and more.  Anything really!  Even though it's a natural, non-toxic cleaner, it has a decent degreaser ingredient that works well to get rid of the hard to clean or left-behind residue on your stove top.  It's lavender, has a really fresh scent to it, and can be used all over your house!

Bar Keepers Friend - The best two dollars you'll ever spend, according to you know who.  I'm more of a dollar menu - double cheeseburger girl myself.  Kidding!  Kind of.  Anyway, Bar Keepers Friend makes your tough, non-scratchable surfaces look like new again.  It's a harsh compound, so don't use it on anything that's easily scratched or on your teflon cookware, but it's perfect for your stainless sink and pots and pans.  A little bit goes a long way - consider it the magic eraser of compounds. When cleaning your sink, sprinkle compound on damp surface and scrub, and rinse!  Thats it.  When you are done, squeeze fresh lemon on a paper towel and dry the surface of your sink. BRAND NEW! 

Lemon Pine-Sol - After trying more than a dozen floor-specific cleaners, we keep going back to the OG.  Pine-Sol is inexpensive, but effective.  After sweeping + vacuuming the floors, we typically use 1/2 a cup of Pine-Sol per gallon of hot water for mopping on our ceramic tile floors.  It's that simple.  If you have wooden floors in your kitchen, J suggests Bona.  You literally just spray and mop.  We use it on our hardwoods throughout our home!

Scotchguard Stainless Cleaner - Lots of trial and error went into finding this holy grail product!  The key to success with stainless steel appliances is using a clean, dry, and lint free cloth to apply.  Make sure the surface is free of any water, dust, or debris, spray the cleaner directly onto the stainless steel surface, and wipe in circular motions until surface is evenly covered.  Next, turn your rag over to the dry side and wipe until surface is streak-free.  Works like a charm!

Windex - Obviously.  For all of your windows and glass surfaces.

Jet Dry Dishwasher Cleaner - This is an easy one: purchase Jet Dry and follow the instructions on the container.  After running the cleaning cycle, it prevents your dishwasher from growing mold and eliminates any food smells.

Clorox Clean Up - We do our best not to use any harsh chemicals, especially in the kitchen, but certain circumstances require it.  Specifically after handling raw meat and dairy products, sometimes it's a must.  Clorox is super helpful for disinfecting or removing hard stains - if a harsh chemical is necessary, Clorox is our #1.  Especially if you "accidentally" spill wine on your light-colored, stone countertops, Clorox is one of the few things that will lift the stain.  

Ammonia - This is a household staple for many different reasons, but our favorite reason to use it in the kitchen - the disposal.  Pour about 8 ounces down your disposal drain, and let it sit for 30 minutes-ish prior to cleaning.  When you are ready to clean, use ICE!  Fill your disposal drain with ice (as much as it will hold) and run the disposal without running water for about 15 to 20 seconds.  Next, turn your water on and allow disposal to run for about a minute.  If you have never cleaned your disposal like this before, do not be surprised if water begins to back up in your sink.  Just continue to run your disposal until water drains appropriately.  Counteract any smells that come from your disposal with fresh citrus.  (We use lemon)  J promises you'll see a noticeable difference in the functionality of your disposal!

That's it!  Just a few, inexpensive products that really get the job done and make a huge difference in your kitchen.  Any other questions?  Leave them below and I'll make J RUN answer on his lunch break.  Haha, I'm really loving this whole - you're telling me what to type for my blog post thing, can you tell?!

Happy Monday, babes!  XX.

- J + Meg