Courtesy of StatePoint

Prepare. Eat. Clean up. Repeat. In the kitchen, it’s a never-ending cycle of conquering messes. These seven simple cleaning hacks, tips and products that will cut down time spent restoring order in your space.

1. Start with the Sink- Before cooking, always empty the sink to make space for washing dirty items, including your hands. Combat lingering odors from garlic or onions by rubbing your hands on your stainless steel sink to remove the smell. Be sure to disinfect the sink first, as research shows that Salmonella and E. coli are found on 45 percent of kitchen sinks!
2. Find a Fabulous Faucet- Rethink your faucet. Simplify cleanup with a high-arc pull down spout, which provides extra room for large pots and pans, and the ability to reach all corners of the sink. Plus, new spray technologies, such as Moen’s Power Clean, can provide more spray power while containing splash and minimizing mess. Greater force means faster cleanup and less water used on tough-to-rinse foods, like peanut butter.
3. Make Microwave Miracles- Your sink and faucets are the workhorses of the kitchen, but your microwave is probably next in line. So, what happens if your eggs explode or your sauce splatters? Place a bowl of water with cut lemons in the microwave and run it until the water boils. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the steam to loosen the splatter and then wipe clean. In the future, always cover your items with a microwave-safe lid, paper towel or even a coffee filter!
4. Get Creative with Coffee Filters- Coffee filters are perfect for many cleaning (or mess prevention) hacks in the kitchen. They work as a spoon rest, a strainer or a wrap for ice cream cones to catch drips, and can be placed under greasy foods like bacon or french fries to soak up excess oil and cut down on cleanup (and calories).
5. Go Streak-Free – Tired of the constant fingerprints and streaks on stainless appliances? Ditch harsh cleaners for a simple solution: water and a microfiber cloth, which feature microscopic fibers that pick up more than regular cloths. Better yet, choose faucets and appliances with finishes that repel these unsightly marks, such as Moen’s exclusive Spot Resist faucet finish, which helps resist fingerprints and water spots.

6. Don’t Trash Food: Dispose It- More than 60 million homeowners rely on garbage disposals to assist with daily kitchen cleanup, according to Moen Consumer & Market Insights. This handy appliance can significantly reduce the amount of trash you create, which means sending less to the landfill and fewer smelly garbage cans! Choose a powerful, dependable garbage disposal, such as Moen’s complete line that quickly and powerfully grinds food scraps, allowing you to spend more time at the dinner table and less time at the sink.
7. Protect the Pantry- Most pantry doors are shut for a reason — there’s a mess lurking in there! From sugar spills to syrup leaks, many shelves are a sticky situation. Non-adhesive shelf liners are an ideal solution for easy cleanup. The solid surface will help contain spills and, since they’re machine-washable, you can toss the liner in the wash and re-use it.

Life in the kitchen is messy, but with a few tips and updates, cleanup can be a breeze.