The kitchen is often called the heart of the home. It’s the place where people prepare meals for their family. And since the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in a home, it’s also prone to several issues.
Each homeowner must know these issues and learn basic fixes to keep their kitchen orderly. It’s also important to maintain a healthy home.
Clogged Drainage
In the time of a pandemic where proper hygiene is a must, people are encouraged even more to wash their hands regularly. And one study found that handwashing is one of the reasons for bacteria in sinks. You can keep your hands clean through handwashing. But that also means you need to keep your sink as clean as possible.
If you always use your kitchen sink, it’s eventually bound to get clogged. This problem can result in a foul smell and more bacteria that can lead to health issues. So you need to prevent this from happening.
There are many DIY ways to unclog your kitchen sink. You can pour boiling water into it to flush debris from the pipes. You can also pour a cup of baking soda and then white vinegar into the sink. Wait for 15 minutes or so before cleaning with hot water.
Faulty Faucets
A leaking faucet is one of the most common problems in the kitchen. The average household wastes 10,000 gallons of water annually. Water is not a finite source. Keeping a leaky faucet contributes to the global water shortage problem.
One sign of a leaky faucet is constant dripping even when the tap is off. And if it makes an unusual sound and the water is discharged at an irregular angle, your faucet may also be damaged.
The solution to a leaky faucet will depend on the problem. For example, you might only need to replace the O-ring and washers. If the entire fixture has been damaged, it will be more practical to replace it completely. Hiring a full-service plumber will help you get the job done more quickly.
Greasy Surfaces
When you cook, it’s normal for liquids to spill around the area. So having a greasy surface, whether it’s the counter top, the sink, or the floor, is normal. If left uncleaned, greasy surfaces will attract insects. Bacteria can also grow. A greasy floor is slippery, making it a safety hazard.
Thus, you need to keep surfaces clean and dry at all times. Wipe down the counter with a dry towel to blot the grease away. If blots of grease have dried up, dampen the towel with warm water and sweep the surface. Use a mop when you clean the floor to cover the surface easily.
Damaged Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
Kitchen cabinet doors and drawers can easily wear out due to constant usage. So it’s normal for problems to occur. Sometimes, the cabinet doors don’t close completely or are hard to open. Drawers get jammed and become difficult to pull.
You can easily fix these problems on your own. Lubricate the hinges in cabinet doors and the runners in drawers. If lubricating isn’t enough, you may need to replace them.
Poor Ventilation
A kitchen must always be properly ventilated. This way, grease that evaporates when you cook won’t stick to your ceiling or walls. When a kitchen is poorly ventilated, it will feel stuffy and uncomfortable. The smells of the food you cook each time might also stick for long periods.
Open the windows in your kitchen to improve ventilation. If there are no windows, consider installing an exhaust fan in your kitchen. Turn on the fan when you’re in the kitchen, especially when you cook. Installing a ceiling fan will also help as it can improve the air flow whether there are windows in your kitchen or not.
Poor Lighting
Light is an important element of a kitchen. Proper lighting will keep you from making mistakes while you cook. You’re also less likely to injure yourself if you can clearly see everything you’re doing while you’re in the kitchen. But not everyone has the luxury of having a spacious kitchen with big windows or grand light fixtures.
To address this issue, you first need to identify the dim areas in your kitchen. If the sink is dim, you can consider installing an LED light rope on the wall. Stick-on LED bulbs will also work.
Keeping your kitchen well-maintained takes a lot of work. But it’s necessary to prevent kitchen woes that will lead to even bigger trouble if not addressed.
