The Absolute Best Ways To Clean Stainless Steel

PLUS: 3 unexpected ways to use emery boards, a super simple 5-minute lasagna, and more. PLUS: 3 unexpected ways to use emery boards, a super simple 5-minute lasagna, and more. February 12, 2022 [View Online]( Good morning! I didn’t have any stainless steel in my own home for the longest time, but once we “moved in” to the OGT Studio, I quickly gained a lot of experience from cleaning the steel fridge and sink there. I’ve put that experience to use in Today’s Good Thing, where you’ll find my 3 go-to methods for cleaning stainless steel. Also in today’s newsletter, you’ll find a quick and easy dinner recipe to add to your weeknight rotation. "5-Minute Lasagna" may sound too good to be true, but it has all the lasagna flavors you love and only takes 5 minutes to assemble, so my hands were tied! Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING The Absolute Best Ways To Clean Stainless Steel [Photos of cleaning a stainless steel fridge with vinegar, Bar Keepers Friend, and steam.]( Want your stainless steel appliances and surfaces to sparkle? Clean them with one of these methods. Method #1: White Vinegar The first method couldn’t be simpler—just fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spritz it onto stainless steel appliances, sinks, etc. Wipe gently with a [microfiber cloth]( moving in the direction of the steel’s “grain” to minimize streaks. This method leaves stainless steel surfaces clean and shiny, and it’s a great option for everyday cleaning. Method #2: Bar Keepers Friend For tougher messes on stainless steel, look no further than [Bar Keepers Friend](. Just sprinkle some of the powder onto a damp cloth or sponge and wipe the surface you want to clean. Wipe the surface thoroughly with a separate damp cloth afterward to wipe away any remaining cleaner. With Bar Keepers Friend, it’s important to avoid leaving the cleaner on the surface for longer than a minute or two, as it could cause discoloration. But overall, this method is ideal for stainless steel appliances and surfaces that are very grimy or have stubborn burnt messes. Method #3: Steam For tough-to-clean areas like door handles, or to remove any type of hardened mess more easily, I find that using my [handheld steamer]( really helps make the job easier. Steaming grime before wiping it up will also help you avoid scrubbing, which will help keep your stainless steel looking like new longer. If you don’t own a handheld steamer, you can still harness the power of steam by dampening a cloth with hot water and placing it over the mess for a few minutes before cleaning it. (Just be sure to wear some thick gloves so you don’t burn yourself!) [More tips for keeping stainless steel clean ➜]( Related • [Never Clean These 5 Things With A Magic Eraser]( • [14 Things You Can Clean With Bar Keepers Friend That Will Amaze You]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Trying to keep mold or mildew out of your bathroom? This simple 2-ingredient solution is my go-to for fighting fungi. [Read more ➜]( • If you still need a Valentine’s Day present for your sweetheart, find your inspiration in these 21 last-minute gift ideas. [Read more ➜]( • Of all the tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years, this one might be the most useful decluttering tip of them all. [Read more ➜]( COOKING Lasagna In 5 Minutes? You Better Believe It [Photos of ravioli lasagna.]( Five minutes of prep and an hour in the oven is all it takes to get this delicious meal on the table. The secret to this weeknight-friendly "lasagna" is using frozen ravioli in place of lasagna noodles. With delicious layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce, it’s a hearty and satisfying meal that even the pickiest eaters can agree on. It's also easy to dress up with any additional ingredients you might want to add! Here's how to make it: Open a jar of your favorite pasta sauce (about 24 ounces), then pour just enough of it into a greased 9x13" baking dish to cover the bottom in a thin layer of sauce. Arrange half of a 25-ounce bag of frozen ravioli in a single layer on top of the sauce, then pour half of the remaining amount of pasta sauce on top of the ravioli. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the sauce. At this point, you can add a layer of anything else that sounds good to you, like a drained can of sliced mushrooms, a thawed and drained package of frozen spinach, or a large handful of cooked Italian sausage. (It's also delicious as-is, so you can't go wrong!) Add another layer of ravioli, sauce, and cheese in that order, using the remainder of the sauce and ravioli plus 1 more cup of mozzarella. Finally, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan on top of the last layer of cheese and cover the dish with a piece of tin foil. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown. Let it cool out of the oven for at least 10 minutes before serving. [See the full recipe ➜]( UNUSUAL USES 3 Things You Didn’t Know An Emery Board Could Do [Photos of uses for emery boards.]( You may already use one to smooth ragged fingernails, but your emery board can do much more than that. 1. Sharpen Small Items. You can use an emery board to sharpen small tools and implements like sewing machine needles, embroidery needles, craft knife blades, and even tweezers. Just drag the tip or point of the item across the board a few times in the same direction to sharpen a dull point. 2. Remove Gunk From An Eraser. The first time I used a big pink pencil eraser to remove sticker residue from something, I realized I didn't know how to then get the gunk off the eraser! Luckily for me, an emery board made short work of it. Just rub any eraser over an emery board to remove grime or dirty spots. 3. Sprout Seeds Faster. Some commercial seeds are coated in a thin, protective layer to preserve them, while other seeds have a natural protective coating. Both can be removed or worn down using an emery board. That way once you plant them, the water can penetrate the seed faster and kick start the sprouting process. JILLEE'S PICK Shopping And Style Inspiration [An image of phone screens displaying the Amazon Fashion Instagram account.]( While I do find it convenient to shop for clothes on Amazon, it isn’t always easy to envision how a particular item is going to fit or what it will look like as part of an outfit. And when you also consider the seemingly infinite variety of clothes there are to choose from on Amazon, it's easy to feel overwhelmed! Since I’ve had a number of conversations with the OGT Team that have touched on how overwhelming it can be to shop for clothes on Amazon, I figure it must be a fairly common experience. That's why I wanted to tell you about a resource I found that can make the process easier. It’s the Amazon Fashion Instagram account ([@amazonfashion](), and their feed is full of photos of people wearing clothes—or entire outfits—they bought on Amazon. And if you tap the link in their profile, it brings up a shoppable version of their Instagram feed so you can easily get to the listing of an item you’re interested in. Whether or not you end up buying anything featured in their photos, the Amazon Fashion account is worth following. I’ve found it a good resource for outfit inspiration too! REMEMBER WHEN The Magic 8 Ball [A photo of a vintage Magic 8 Ball.]( When I was a kid, my older sister Becky told me our Magic 8 Ball could predict the future, and I bought it hook, line, and sinker. I can’t remember what questions I asked the 8 Ball at the time, but I do remember turning it over and waiting with bated breath as the answer emerged from the murky depths of the liquid within. When I was a little older, I distinctly remember playing with the Magic 8 Ball at sleepovers with my friends. We would stay up all night passing the ball around and asking it questions about boys. (Didn't everyone?) Here are a few fun facts about this classic toy: • It was invented in 1946 by Albert Carter and Abe Bookman, after Albert was inspired by a writing device his mother used in her work as a clairvoyant. • The die inside the ball is an icosahedron, meaning it has 20 sides, like the ones used in role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. • Of the 20 answers on the die, 10 are positive, 5 are noncommittal, and 5 are negative. • The liquid inside is dark blue alcohol. The 20-sided die has openings that allow the alcohol to pass through it, causing it to slowly float to the surface where the raised white letters of the answer can be read. • According to Mattel, they still sell around 1 million Magic 8 Balls every year. A FEW MORE THINGS... Top Tips: In February of 2021, the most popular posts on One Good Thing by Jillee were [this list of 30 things to get rid of]( when clutter is creating problems, this list of the [11 most useful disposable items to repurpose](, and my post about a great [eco-friendly alternative to standard kitchen sponges](. Darwin Day: It’s International Darwin Day, honoring the life and work of British naturalist [Charles Darwin](, who was born on this day in 1809. Interestingly, Darwin Day celebrations sometimes include a “Phylum Feast,” a potluck meal of dishes from as many [phyla]( as possible, as a reflection of Darwin’s own adventurous eating habits and to celebrate biodiversity. 🤔 Wordle: [Solve today's 5-letter word](. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! 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