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Wiping down the counter and tossing out last week's Indian take-out is a start.

Washing the dishes and sweeping the floor is even better.

But getting down and dirty with kitchen grime involves more than you might realize -- especially if this is your first time playing resident maid.

Illness-inducing bacteria and funky odors thrive in kitchens; some are in places you might not expect.

Kitchens need a deep cleaning about once a month, says Jaimee Zanzinger, Real Simple magazine's executive editor of special projects.

"People always forget the dishwasher -- it's kind of counter-intuitive because you think a machine that washes dishes must be clean," she says. "It's the same thing with the coffee maker."

Clean as you go, and the monthly scrub-up won't take so long. Don't forget, those kitchen appliances need a little Mr. Clean lovin' too.

You probably already know the basics -- clean the sink, the oven, the floors, the counters and the cutting boards.

But before you put away the soap and sponge, add these appliances to the to-do list.

Coffee Maker

Pour 2 to 3 cups of water and white distilled vinegar into the coffee pot, then brew as usual. Stop halfway through the cycle, and allow the cleaning mixture to sit for several minutes. Resume brewing. Brew again with two cups of water to rid machine of any residual vinegar.

Dishwasher

Fill the detergent cup with white distilled vinegar and run the empty dishwasher to wash away lime deposits, stains and mildew. Or, Zanzinger says, a packet of powdered lemonade works just as well. Kool-Aid lemonade is her favorite.

Garbage Disposal

Grind orange skins (lemon or lime also work) with a handful of ice cubes. The ice sharpens the blades, and the fruit takes care of the smell.

Microwave

Pour one cup water and one cup white distilled vinegar into a glass container. Place the container in the empty microwave and cook for four minutes. Remove container, and wipe up remaining food particles.

Stove Burners

Pull the burners out of the sockets, put them on a towel and clean them with a cloth dipped in hot, soapy water. If needed, make a paste out of baking soda and water to remove tough stains.

The Supplies

It might not be as fun as stocking your shoe closet, but having cleaning supplies on hand is even more essential than having this season's latest kicks. Make mom proud and add these to your collection of mops, brooms and rags:

White distilled vinegar

Dishwashing liquid

Disinfectant wipes

Microfiber cloth

All-purpose cleanser 2-gallon bucket

Baking soda

If you'd rather not spend gas money on a trip to the store, Consumer Reports offers these recipes to brew your own kitchen cleaners:

Glass And Window Cleaner

7 pints of cold water

1/2 cup soapy ammonia

1 pint rubbing alcohol

Fill a 2-gallon bucket with the water, then carefully add ammonia and rubbing alcohol. Mix well and pour into spray bottles.

Silver Cleaner

Aluminum foil to cover the bottom of a plastic or glass container

1-2 tablespoons baking soda

2 quarts very hot water

Place the foil along the bottom of the container. Put the tarnished silver on top of the foil. Sprinkle silver with baking soda and cover it with the water. Soak until bubbles stop, then rinse and polish the silver with a soft cloth. Because this solution removes tarnish uniformly, don't use it on antique or intricate silver.

Wall Cleaner

3 quarts water

1 quart chlorine bleach

1/8 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP)

Fill a 2-gallon bucket with the water. Add the TSP and bleach, mixing well. Apply the cleaner with a sponge or soft brush, working from the bottom up. Rinse the surface with a dampened cloth.

Sources: Jaimee Zanzinger, Real Simple magazine's executive editor of special projects, Consumer Reports, cleaningtips.com

Contact Katie Reetz at 691-5091 or kreetz@news-record.com.