Fast recipes for kitchen cleaning

Wish your kitchen would clean itself? Unfortunately, we've only seen that on "The Jetsons." But it is possible to get a little help from some of your kitchen appliances, says Jeff Bredenberg, author of "How to Cheat at Cleaning" (Taunton, $12.95). Here's a rundown of some appliances that practically clean themselves:

-Coffee grinder: Run 1/2 cup uncooked white rice through the grinder and throw it away.
-Blender: Rinse it to remove most traces of food, then fill it halfway with water and add a squirt of dishwashing liquid. Close the blender and turn it on half a minute. Rinse again, and let the blades spin again for a few seconds to toss off the water.

-Microwave oven: Pour 2 cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Set it in the microwave and cook on high for five minutes. The steam will soften any cooked-on food inside. Remove the bowl using oven mitts, then wipe down the interior with a damp sponge.

-Coffee maker: Put a new filter in the basket to catch any loosened mineral deposits. Fill the coffee maker's tank halfway with white vinegar and the rest of the way with water. Turn on the machine and let it run its cycle. Then let the water and vinegar sit in the carafe for five minutes. Pour it out, wipe the carafe, refill the tank with plain water, and run through the cycle again. Do this once a month if you have hard water.