The kitchen is one of the most frequently used rooms in our house and keeping it clean isn't always the simplest task. Follow these eco-safe kitchen tips to help keep your kitchen fresh without having to use harsh chemicals or products.
Use course salt and lemon to scrub wooden surfaces and cutting boards
Whether you are looking to clean a surface like a butcher block or a wooden cutting board, this not only helps give it a deep scrub but also leaves it smelling fresh. Start off by taking some coarse salt and sprinkling it over the surface. Next, slice a lemon and half and scour it against the top as if it were a scrub brush. Give it some light squeezes while you're doing it to release the juice. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and then wipe it down with a clean, wet sponge for a completely refreshed wooden surface.
Shine stainless steel with cream of tartar
Have your stainless-steel appliances lost their shine? Grease and grim can cause stainless-steel to look… well, stained. Take a look in your pantry or baking shelf for some cream of tartar, sprinkle it on a rag dampened with water and you're good to go! Just give your appliances a good rub and for a more in-depth clean, mix the cream of tartar with vinegar.
Clean baking sheets with baking soda and vinegar
Are your baking sheets becoming too dark to bare? After years of burnt-on residue from cooking and baking, it's time to do something about it. Brighten those sheets with a simple mixture of 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Put the baking sheet into your sink, plug the drain, and pour the mixture over the entire top of it. Just let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour, then scrub it with a scouring pad or rough sponge. This can also be used to clean burnt pots or pans!
Use leftover fruit peels to make an all-purpose cleaner
The next time you have some fruit, you might want to hang onto those old peels. Peels of citrus fruit like oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit can be added to a large mason jar and covered with vinegar. The jar should be about half full of peels and covered with a lid. Let it sit for two weeks to infuse. When it's ready, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the peels. Funnel or pour the liquid into an old spray bottle and you have yourself an all-purpose cleaner. You can add herbs like mint, rosemary or thyme to add to the scent.
Clean your garbage disposal naturally
Garbage disposals can be very helpful, but the smell and odour are never as nice. There are actually a couple ways to help clean this without having to use something harmful like drain cleaner. One option is to cut a lemon in half and to grind it with water running for about 10 seconds. You can also freeze lemon or orange peels in ice cube trays with either water or vinegar and grind these as well. Another solution is to pour ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the disposal. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then run the disposal while running water.
These handy hacks can help keep your kitchen clean without having to use any harsh chemicals. Do you have a natural cleaning solution or helpful kitchen tip you always use? Let us know on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. And for more helpful home hacks, visit our blog.
