Make sure your kitchen appliances are ready to party!

Kitchen appliances

Did you know this is the busiest time of year for home appliance repairmen?

Is everything in your kitchen working perfectly? If don’t want any extra guests (the emergency repair crew) over for Christmas, follow the tips of appliance pros  so they can spend time with their families over the Holidays, instead of hanging out in your kitchen while you should be cooking and relaxing.
Let’s make sure everything you need to throw the party, and clean up afterward, actually works as it should! We went through the tips for cleaning and organizing your kitchen, we’re sure you did all that! Now let’s look inside the appliances and make sure those are in top working condition and clean.
 
Happy Holidays in Denver

Before you get busy preparing for the party…

The most tragic thing that ever happened to me (and my amazing new kitchen) was for Christmas 2013, right after we got done remodeling. We invited both sides of the family. Parents, in-laws, sibling and kids, and then some. We thought it would be fun to make it a whole day event, so we started early. The menu was exciting, everything was ready, cookie dough was out of the freezer. What could go wrong?
It feels like everything did! Oven didn’t work well, something was making a horrible noise, the garbage disposal was smelly, the fridge started dripping, the ice tasted bad…. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating. But it felt that tragic. And everyone was over and watching. It was not a success. The good thing about starting early was we had time to change plans and ordered in. That was not the plan. So I promised myself I would always remind people to check all their necessary appliances BEFORE the guests arrived and the party started. If you discover today that anything needs fixing, a week is enough time to get a repairman or change plans.
kitchen 2

Check and clean the oven with time

Begin with the oven, one of the most important. Know that this is not a good time to run the self-clean cycle on the oven. It requires the oven to get very hot any old food burning up inside can fill the house with nasty odors that won’t go away easily. On the other hand, the self-cleaning function is really stressful on the oven and can actually trigger a breakdown, threatening the success of your holiday party.
To clean the oven properly, remove all racks. Use baking soda and water and apply all over the inside, remember to spray the bottom and walls of the oven. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with warm water.

Don’t forget your microwave

Place a microwave-safe cup full of water with a shot of liquid detergent in the oven and run it on high for a couple of minutes. Let the steam stand inside to soften buildup, then wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Your best friend the dishwasher

Remember you are going to be using way more dishes than usual and this is when you look at your dishwasher and realize how much you love it. Therefore, it is important to make sure it runs efficiently. The dishwasher washes stuff, but it doesn’t wash itself. To clean it properly, run the dishwasher empty except for a cup of vinegar on the top shelf. Check the drain and clean off any residue. Wipe off the rim of the door and the door gasket, using white vinegar and a sponge to remove any gunk. Clean the filters under the lower rack.
dishwasher tips

Now you can focus on friends, family and quality time together, knowing your appliances are working perfectly. Enjoy the Holidays!

 
 

May your Thanksgiving dinner cooked in your TKS kitchen, be delicious!

Happy Thanksgiving from TKS

 

We wish you peace, love and joy
on this Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is many people’s favorite holiday. It’s a perfect moment to think about what we’re grateful for.
We send a special thank you message to all of our customers!
We owe our company’s very existence to all of you! We are what we are today of our faithful customers, and we are continuously committed to delivering the best customer service and the best quality products for your kitchen and bathroom projects in Denver.
We wish you and your family a holiday season filled with peace, love and joy of being gathered around the kitchen, creating valuable memories with your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving2

We Are The Best Option For Your Kitchen And Bathroom Remodeling Project In Colorado

For over 30 years, The Kitchen Showcase has been helping homeowners, builders, and interior designers make great decisions and increase the value of their homes. We’ve helped thousands of customers navigate each step of the remodeling process. From cabinet planning and design to proper ordering, careful delivery and installation. Our professional staff will take care of you from the start to the end, and help you create a beautiful home for your budget.
We invite you to stop by our new beautiful kitchen and bathroom design showroom, located in Centennial, Colorado. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Evenings and Saturdays by appointment. Also, you can send us your questions on our website, and we will give you the answers.
Avanti 3

Holiday Hours at The Kitchen Showcase

Upgrade your Front Range kitchen

Like most people, we’ll be closing the shop and heading home to our own kitchens to prepare a big holiday meal for our families, or maybe we’re heading to someone else’s kitchen, nibbling on snacks and watching football while someone else slaves in the kitchen. Whatever the holiday season has in store for you, you can almost be certain that the kitchen is going to play a major role. So, while we don’t have time to remodel our kitchen days before the holidays, we can warn you about common Thanksgiving and holiday mistakes that people make when it comes to prepping, cooking, and serving.

Remodel your kitchen in Denver
We can’t fix your kitchen before Thanksgiving, but we can point out common cooking mistakes to help your cooking go smoothly.

Holiday hours for The Kitchen Showcase in Denver:

Thanksgiving November 24th – 25th  CLOSED

Christmas, December 23rd – 30th  CLOSED

New Year’s, December 31st, 2016 – January 2nd, 2017  CLOSED

Remodel you Denver kitchen
We love gingerbread cookies, but make sure you have enough real food to serve your guests so that they don’t just fill up on sugar.

Holiday cooking mistakes

The three biggest mistakes that people make when cooking their holiday meals are:

  • Not buying enough food – Mainly, not buying enough turkey or whatever protein you eat for the holidays.
  • Not thawing your turkey – The larger the turkey (or other protein), the longer it needs to thaw. Thawing a turkey could take a few days in the refrigerator, so clear some space and get that turkey out of the freezer in good time to be ready for Thanksgiving.
  • Not planning the prepping and the cooking – There are a lot of components that need to be planned meticulously so that everything is finished at the same time, or you could end up with cold gravy, an undercooked turkey, and an overcooked string bean casserole.
Custom kitchen cabinets in Denver
Talk to us about upgrading your kitchen cabinets or remodeling your kitchen.
Photo: Parkwood Homes & Kitchen Craft Cabinets

Remodel your kitchen in Denver

There is a lot to be thankful for over the holidays. We are thankful to have helped so many clients design and install their dream kitchen, along with being able to give back to our community whenever possible. We are also thankful to be able to take time away from work to enjoy with our friends and family for the holidays. However, as soon as the turkey has been digested and the eggnog has run out, we’ll be back at our Denver kitchen showroom to help you design a stylish, personal, and functional kitchen.
If cooking for the holidays made you realize that your kitchen needs an upgrade or a remodel, or you got some serious kitchen envy while visiting your favorite aunt for the holidays, our designers are here to help you make your kitchen dreams a reality.

How to Avoid Stains on Your Kitchen Countertop, Part 3

Over the last couple of weeks, we have covered different cleaning tips and techniques you can apply in order to keep your kitchen countertop as clean and shiny as the day it was installed.
Not all countertops are the same and they come in a wide variety of materials, it is very important to have basic knowledge of your kitchen countertop and the material it is made of. This way, you will be able to apply the correct cleaning products and procedures without making a bigger mess.
On our previous posts we went over suggestions for cleaning countertops made of wood, quartz, granite, stainless steel, marble, and concrete among others. Today, we would like to focus on the last three countertop materials we haven’t discussed yet, starting with plastic laminate.

Center Kitchen DesignPlastic Laminate

Plastic laminate countertops provide cooks a smooth, waterproof work surface that’s easy to clean. No wonder why you can find them in countless kitchens across the U.S. Nonetheless, they get scratched, burned and stained pretty eassily as well.
It doesn’t mean that plastic laminate countertops are fragile, but they do require daily and proper care to keep them nice and clean.
For general cleaning, a two-sided scrubbing pad with fiber on one side and a sponge on the other works particularly well. Moistened slightly with water, the fiber side is just abrasive enough to loosen greasy buildup and scorched food spills.
Appliance wax or light furniture wax helps laminate surfaces resist stains and scratching. Try applying it with regularity for better results and never use abrasive cleaners or steel wool on laminate countertops.

Formica

Formica countertops are very popular because of their adaptability and versatility. It is inexpensive and requires little maintenance. It comes in many different colors and patterns and can be installed over existing laminate, which can reduce expenses when the time comes to replace countertops.

Photo by Modern Glass Solutions- modernglasssolutions.com
Photo by Modern Glass Solutions- modernglasssolutions.com

With the proper cares Formica countertops can last a long time. Be sure to wipe up spills immediately to prevent staining. Formica is easy to maintain if spills are cleaned up right away. However, if a stain sets in, it’ll be practically impossible to remove.
To clean Formica counters, avoid abrasive cleaners -including ammonia or bleach- and use mild soap, a soft cloth and warm water. If you notice it begins to show streaks, you can use a household glass cleaner to return the surface back to its original appearance.

Acrylic

Acrylic countertops are extremely durable and easy to clean. To remove any stain or scratches you can use a steel wool or try scouring powder. Use a mild abrasive cleanser applied directly to the wet countertop. Rinse well and buff dry with a soft cloth.
Keep in mind that regardless of the simple actions required to maintain clean an acrylic countertop; a very hot pot or pan will leave a permanent burn on the surface.
So, as you can see, there are numerous tips and actions you can perform in different types of kitchen countertops to keep them in great conditions, stainless and good looking.
Knowing the materials it was made of and how they react to different cleaning methods is the key to long lasting countertops. In addition, remember that regardless its material, to always clean any spill or mess immediately.