4 Things You Should Be Concerned About in Your Kitchen

There are just so many things that we attend to daily. At the start of the day, the first thing we do is prepare meals for the family. This sounds more of a routine, but there is more than that. Some homeowners may even plan to have new kitchens to make such routine easier.

Whether your kitchen is new or not, still you need to maintain it. And maintenance is not just cleaning. It is also checking regularly if everything is doing fine. The following are the things that you should be concerned about in your kitchen:

     1.   Safety

Are your hanging racks and cabinets properly attached to the wall? Do you think they can hold heavy items that you store in them? If their contents fall, would those harm the person who gets hit by them? These questions are all leading to taking safety measures in your kitchen.

It is always better if you have taken enough precautions by seeing if the hinges of your kitchen door are still intact, or if there is any sharp edges on your island, than to be sorry once an accident happens.

     2.   Expiration dates

The next thing we have to be concerned about is expiration date. Always check whether your food items are still safe to eat. If you eat them beyond their expiration, there is a big possibility that you would poison yourself.

One thing you can do to make your tracking easier is to buy food items which expiration date would still be after 3 months or more. Most likely you were already able to eat them by that time.

     3.   Water supply

Water is one of our basic needs for living. It is also a need to maintain cleanliness. To make sure you have a smooth preparation in your kitchen, especially during rush hour, having a good supply of water is important.

If you think you are not getting enough, your pipe could be clogged or leaking somewhere. Look for a plumber to check it for you.

 

     4.   Broken appliances

Make food preparation easier and quicker with working appliances. If you fail to use your kitchen appliances properly, you are increasing the risk of breaking them. One example would be spilling some water on your microwave oven, which could lead to breaking circuits.

Always check the manual before using the appliance to make sure you are following the precautions and terms of usage.

New Kitchens for Minimalist Houses

Many of us are already living in small houses and apartments especially if we chose to move to a larger city. One of the main issues that we are dealing is with new kitchens and how to make them fit to our home which has limited space.

But we can do something to end up the worry. By choosing kitchen items carefully, what to add and what to remove, we can create a more comfortable kitchen. 

Below are some of the things that should be considered with minimalist houses:

    1.   Countertops

Who says countertops are only for big kitchens? They are actually ideal for minimalist houses to make the kitchen area more organised. You can use countertops even as dining table if you think adding one would eat much space.

You can also use countertops as preparation area for cooking. Incorporate cabinets and drawers on it where you can store your food items and kitchenware.  

     2.   Cabinets

Cabinets are inevitable in one’s kitchen. But you have to be specific on the design to make it fit for minimalist houses. Do not settle for traditional cabinets where compartments are limited. You can add your own divider to separate kitchens items.

You can also have cabinets even very close to the ceiling above your sink. Some homeowners do not do this because they do not think it is okay. But it is!  

     3.   Sink

For minimalist houses, you do not need a big sink. You can have a small one provided that it has a drainer on the side so you can wash and dry your dishes easily.

You can have a small basin while dishwashing to easily contain your utensils. You do not have to have a dishwasher since it would occupy more space. Do not forget to have a high-absorbent rag near you so you can easily wipe away water when splashed.

     4.   Lighting

No matter how small your kitchen space is, do not depend on the greater light near that area. There should be a dedicated light on it so that you will not have problems when cutting, chopping, and cooking ingredients. Remember, kitchen is one of the places where injuries commonly happen.

If you ample lighting on your kitchen cleaning will become better and faster. You will be able to check the corners for unwanted substances easily. Another good thing about having enough lighting is the clean feeling that it gives to your kitchen.

4 Indicators That You Need a New Kitchen

Change is part of our daily life and it is inevitable; just like getting new kitchens. Part of making change possible is spending which also becomes a stumbling block for our desire to make our kitchen space more comfortable. With too many upcoming and unexpected expenses, when can we really say that we are ready to upgrade our kitchen?

Prevention is always better than cure. We can’t afford to wait for something to happen in order for us to make a move. We should always be prepared to face this inevitable situation so that we always have the upper hand.

Indicators that you are ready to renovate your kitchen into something new are:

1.   It is difficult to move around

Your kitchen is probably the place which has the most safety risks. This is because that is where your gas plumbing culminates, your stove creates fire when cooking, and sharp knives are used and kept there. Can you imagine what would happen if you can’t move around your kitchen easily?

You might end up hurting yourself and others due to improper distribution of space. You can only make this better if you reposition your furniture and appliances.

2.   It takes longer to prepare meals

Meals are expected to be prepared quickly especially when your family members have to go to school and work. It will be difficult to do so if your appliances are performing less effective than what it used to be.

You can solve this issue with the upgrade since it includes electronics aside from the structural changes that you want to do for your kitchen.

3.   Pests are visible and increasing

Do you already see small holes on your cabinet doors? Have you seen some animal discharge lately? If yes, pests are increasing in your kitchen. This would make it unsafe for you and your family.

Shooing them away can’t be done instantly especially if they have already established themselves in your kitchen. But with an upgrade you can cover up those holes at the same time make sure that no possible entry can be made again for those creatures.

4.   Power consumption is increasing

When power consumption is increasing, we normally think that it is due to the increase in number of electric appliances. But it is not always the case. It could be that your appliances are depreciating and consuming more power compared to its performance.

Safety Risks in New Kitchens that You Can Avoid

Designs of new kitchens are especially appreciated in showrooms. Homeowners tend to think that they are perfect for their own kitchens without knowing that there are risks associated with them. Magazines, shows, and billboards showing these kitchens influence people’s taste and preference, and most of the time disregarding their negative side. 

If you want to have a good kitchen that you and your family can enjoy, here are some risks that may be associated with an upgraded kitchen:

1.   Gas plumbing System

Gas plumbing system is present in most of our homes, but they are often neglected because we do not see it. We just start to think about our gas plumbing when it starts to malfunction. But did you know that leaks coming from this system, when not properly responded to, would cause fire and suffocation that would endanger our lives?

If you are going to have an upgrade you should also be informed of the changes of your plumbing system especially for gas. Make sure that you listen to your plumber very well by the time he discusses the summary of your plumbing system.  

2.   New Appliances and Furniture

Not having enough knowledge in operating new appliances and using new furniture leads to safety risks. This includes both electronic and non-electronic ones. There are cases when homeowners get too excited to use their new electric appliances without paying attention to voltage then directly plugging it to the electric outlet. Such act would lead to fire.

3.   Working Area

Being capable of managing your kitchen even with a limited space is a skill. When you have a new kitchen, it may be awkward at first on how to move around in preparing meals and making things organised.

If you do not feel comfortable navigating your kitchen, you might stumble over some furniture, and cause damage to the things around the kitchen. You might also even hurt yourself. 

4.   Storage Solutions

Choosing the wrong storage units for your kitchen would most likely cause accidents. Most homeowners think that any unit can work as storage. They in turn, place inappropriate kitchen items to storage units, hence a mismatch. For example, using hooks for scissors and knives instead of cabinet drawers with locks.

To avoid this from happening, we should always think of safety first and not merely organisation or beautification. Remember that safety is more important than a good-looking kitchen space.

New Kitchens for Smaller Spaces

Smaller spaces are becoming more and more popular right now especially that more people are moving into metropolitan where getting a big house is means you have to be rich. Small apartment units require much creativity just to make things fit.

Certainly kitchens should not be taken for granted just because of smaller space. Fitted kitchens seem to be the solution for this to make sure that you get what you need and you are more comfortable using it. 

     Here are some of the things that you can do for smaller spaces: 

    1.   Hanging cabinets

Cabinets are indispensable. These are where you should place your utensils. Those include plates, bowls, glasses, and cups. These cabinets should be hanging way above your sink to make sure that they are out of your way if you are preparing meals or washing dishes.

You can also use hanging cabinets to store food and can goods. You also have to make sure that your cabinets are securely attached to the wall.

    2.   Electric cooker

For smaller apartments, it is best not to use gas. The gas tank is too bulky to store. Electric cookers, which are usually flat, are the best alternative for gas stoves. They can also be slow cookers compared to gas stoves because they do not give off instant heat.

Electric cookers are best especially if you are not always in a rush, or if you do not have a lot of time to watch over what you are cooking.

    3.   More under compartments

Under your sink, you should utilize space, and this means having more compartments. Here, you can place all your cooking pots. It should also work more of a cupboard so that you can go for smaller refrigerators.  

You can also use these under compartments to place kitchen appliances after you use them. These appliances would include microwave oven, a toaster, or a blender.

    4.   Lighting

Good lighting is very important for smaller kitchens since you have to make sure that spillages and things that may lead to accidents are prevented. You do not have to worry, because you just need one piece of light for this, preferably to be positioned right above your sink.

This light should be flat as much as possible, and most of the time should be installed with a protective casing to make sure that it does not get disturbed or short circuited when bumped into.