It’s officially spring and if you’re anything like me, your home is due for a thorough cleaning. If you’re looking around at all the clutter that has accumulated over the winter and you have no clue where to start, we’ve got you covered. Here are some links to tips and tricks from the experts to get your home in tip-top shape for the spring. Your home will be fresh and clean in no time.

Spring Cleaning the Kitchen [Martha Stewart]
Spring Cleaning Made Easy [HGTV]
Spring Cleaning Tips [Good Housekeeping]
Your Spring Cleaning Checklist [House and Home]
Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist [Lowe's]
How to Spring Clean Your Kitchen [Organic Gardening]

If you usually host the family’s holiday dinners, you know that entertaining can be chaotic. Cooking a large meal – especially if you don’t have a large kitchen – can be quite hectic, and even hazardous. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home cooking fires spike on major feasting holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Luckily, with the proper precautions, you can prevent your holiday meals from turning into a major disaster.

The one thing to remember when cooking a large meal is to remain alert. When there’s a lot on your plate, it’s easy to forget that you have something on the stove. It’s very important that you remain in the kitchen while cooking, especially when frying, grilling, or broiling your food. When boiling, baking, or simmering, be sure to check on the pot or oven regularly. If remaining alert is difficult due to exhaustion or even alcohol consumption (hey, it’s the holidays!), it’s best to leave the cooking to someone else. Better safe than sorry.

If you have a small kitchen with limited space, it’s understandably difficult to find a proper place to put everything. Leaving your oven mitt on the stovetop for just a moment while you run to check on your kids or guests may seem harmless – but is it worth taking the risk? No matter your kitchen size, and no matter what the circumstance, keep anything that isn’t a pot or a pan away from the stove. If you usually light scented candles to prevent the smell of fried foods from permeating through your home, be sure to keep curtains and other flammable objects away from the flame.

In the event that a fire does occur, leave immediately, ensuring that everyone leaves with you. Also be sure to close the door behind you. Alert the authorities, and do not try to fight the fire if you do not know what you are doing. If you’re dealing with a small grease fire, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the stove. Never, ever throw water on a grease fire. If the fire begins in your oven, turn it off and leave the door closed.

For more information, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website: www.nfpa.org.

Courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

While entertaining your family for the holidays, your kitchen may become dirtier than usual. From raw meats to sticky dessert batter, your kitchen sink is bound to be exposed to a number of substances. Because of this, it’s important to properly clean and disinfect your sink. Rather than using harsh chemical household cleaners, you can give your kitchen a sufficient cleaning just by using products commonly found right in your kitchen. Here’s an article from apartmenttherapy.com with instructions on how to properly clean your kitchen sink:

The kitchen sink should be one of the cleanest surfaces of our home. Unfortunately, it’s an easy one to neglect and simply rinsing it out until it appears clean is not going to rid it of germs and bacteria. Here’s a step-by-step to get your kitchen sink sanitized and gleaming — without the use of harmful chemicals or cleaners.

Continue reading here

Purchasing discount kitchen cabinets does not mean that you have to choose between storage and style. Your discount kitchen cabinets can still allow you to have a trendy, stylish kitchen with lots of storage options, without breaking the bank! This week, we’ve compiled a list of links with storage solutions to help you decide on the kinds of pieces that will best suit your needs. Once you’re ready to begin purchasing, head on over to the main page to get started. At StockCabinetExpress, we offer wine racks, garbage pull-outs, and many more stylish storage options at affordable, discounted prices.

Your Quick Links:
Kitchens.com – 12 Storage Solutions
BHG.com – Affordable Kitchen Storage Ideas
Traditional Home – Great Kitchen Storage Ideas
HouseBeautiful – Storage Ideas for Your Kitchen
Houzz.com – Kitchen Storage Ideas

Source: HGTV.com

When designing your kitchen, it’s important to take into consideration the kind of ambiance you want to create. In addition to the cabinetry, materials, and paint color, there’s another aspect of your kitchen design that you may not have considered: the lighting. Your choice of lighting can make or break your entire design. Harsh lighting might cause your bold colors to look unappealing, while dull lighting may cause your kitchen to look darker than it really is. If it’s within your budget, it’s probably best to change your lighting to complement your entire kitchen design. However, if you’re like most people, you probably don’t know much about the intricacies of lighting. Once again, to make your life easier, we’ve compiled a list of links to various resources to help you out:

HGTV’s Kitchen Lighting Design Tips
Overstock.com: How to Choose Kitchen Lighting
Houzz.com: Kitchen Islands: Pendant Lights Done Right 
HGTV Remodels: How to Choose Kitchen Lighting
HGTV: Six Tips to Light Up Your Kitchen