Do you not know how to clean your cast-iron skillet? Does your kitchen sink smell like a mixture of moldy leftovers and bad milk? Did you never learn how to reheat pizza properly? Don’t give up on life—we’ve all been there.

Instead, consult this list of easy solutions to common kitchen problems. We’ve included hacks to help you get a jump-start on spring cleaning, along with a few important tricks—like how to make coffee without a coffee maker, and how to chop onions without crying.

Check out the list below for simple-but-amazing kitchen hacks and cleaning tricks.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR CAST IRON SKILLET





Degree of difficulty: 2

How it works: No one wants a rusty, grimy cast-iron skillet laying around the kitchen. Here’s the best way to clean your cast iron: While it’s still hot, scrub out any food remains with a mixture of salt and hot water. Dry your skillet on the stove for 5 to 15 minutes to prevent rusting. When the skillet is dry, add a thin layer of olive oil to keep the pan seasoned.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN SINK



Degree of difficulty: 3

How it works: Sometimes, lazily spraying your sink down with water just isn’t enough. When that’s the case, here’s what you’ve got to do: First, wet the base and sides of the sink. Sprinkle baking soda all over the surface, then let the soda set for a few minutes. Use the scrubbing side of a double-sided sponge to scrub the baking soda away. Use an old toothbrush to clean the crevices of the drain. Rinse the sink with warm water, buff it with a towel, and voila—your sink will shine bright like a diamond.

HOW TO CLEAN A WOOD CUTTING BOARD

Degree of difficulty: 3

How it works: Each time you’re done using your cutting board, it’s best to wipe it down with warm water, then dry it to prevent warping. But sometimes that board needs a deep clean. When this is the case, start by sprinkling baking soda on top of the board. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the board. Using the lemon as your scrubber, scrub the baking soda and lemon juice in small circular motions. Wipe down the board with a hot, wet towel, getting off all the excess lemon and baking soda. Final step: Drizzle mineral oil over top of your board and massage it into the board with your hands.

HOW TO CLEAN A GAS GRILL

Degree of difficulty: 5

How it works: You’ve been grilling all summer with your friends and your grill is looking pretty nasty. Remedy this by removing your cooking grates and soaking them in warm, soapy water. Next, remove your brickettes, lava rocks, or flavor bars to get to the burner. Remove residue—carefully—from around the burners. Using a wire brush, brush the burners, focusing on scrubbing out rust and clogs in the vents. With a stick wire brush and soapy water, scrub the inside surface of the grill. Do the same with your brickettes, lava rocks, or flavor bars. Coat the inside with cooking oil or spray, then replace your brickettes, lava rocks, or flavor bars. Remove the cooking grates from the water, and brush them clean with the wire brush. Place the clean grates back onto the grill, and air dry. Now call your friends up and have another cookout.

HOW TO CHOP AN ONION WITHOUT CRYING

Degree of difficulty: 1

How it works: There are a couple easy ways to prevent tears from flowing as you chop an onion (without using goggles). Storing onions in the refrigerator, dunking them in ice water for 30 seconds, or placing them in boiling water for the same amount of time changes the chemistry of the sulfuric acid and prevents your tears from welling up. Another tip is to pop a piece of bread in your mouth while you’re chopping the onion.

HOW TO MAKE COFFEE WITHOUT A COFFEE MAKER

Degree of difficulty: 4

How it works: Pour the amount of water you’ll need into a pot. When the water is boiling, add coffee grounds proportional to the amount of water you added (2 tbsp for every 6 oz. water) and stir. Cover the pot for four to five minutes so the grounds can settle. Ladle the coffee into your mug, and leave the grounds at the bottom of the pot.

HOW TO PROPERLY MICROWAVE PIZZA

Degree of difficulty: 2

How it works: To revitalize your pizza crust and not dry it out, fill a glass of water (not to the top), and stick it in the microwave with your day-old pizza of choice. The water will prevent that dreaded cracked, dry crust, and your pizza will be as good as new. After a toaster oven, this is the next best thing. (Photo: imgur)

HOW TO CLEAN A GLASS MICROWAVE

Degree of difficulty: 3

How it works: We’ve all tried heating up pasta sauce or soup, only to have it explode all over the inside of the microwave. When that happens, do this: Heat a wet sponge in the microwave for three to five minutes, then let it sit for a while after in the microwave so that the steam can loosen up caked-on grime. Now all you have to do is wipe the microwave clean. (Photo: LifeHacker)

HOW TO REHEAT BREAD IN THE MICROWAVE

Degree of difficulty: 1

How it works: Heating up your entire oven for a piece or two of bread seems silly. Try this instead: Lightly moisten a paper towel, and place it on top of the surface of the bread, then microwave the bread on low power (30-50%) for about a minute. Check to make sure the bread is a good temperature–neither too cold nor piping hot. Remove from the microwave and go to town. (Photo: TheKitchn)