The kitchen is an essential room in the home, and it should thus always be pristine at all times. More people traverse in and around it, which is also more prone to dirt and grime than other rooms. Dirt can accumulate from grease and oil, pilling dishes, sauce, food scraps, and other trash. It only makes sense that the cleaners used in this place and the rest of your home be predominantly environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, this is not the case. However, as you will see below, it is easy to change your cleaning products moving forward.
Using Lemon
If nature had a cleaning wonder kid, then lemons would be it. Other than powerful antiseptic properties, lemons also feature superior antibacterial properties. Additionally, their acidic content, which is unusually high, makes them a highly efficient natural deodorant. So, how can you use lemons to keep your home clean and smelling fresh?
- Lemon and baking soda mix works wonders as a cleaning agent. The concoction is predominantly efficient at cleaning stains on plastic containers.
- Lemon peel and white vinegar are another winning combination. Marinate the two in a jar for a few days. After straining the peel, use the vinegar to clean. Lemon also acts as a disinfectant when you rub it across the chopping boards.
White Vinegar
This weak acetic acid works like magic as a home cleaner. Thank its superior antibacterial properties for that. When mixed with water, white vinegar removes stains from various textiles effectively. Other than that, like lemons, it is an effective deodorizer. Using it will not only leave your house looking sparkling clean, but it will also leave it smelling great.
As seen above, combining white vinegar with other natural cleaning products increases its potency as a cleaner. Simmering a mix of white vinegar and water on a stove absorbs cooking odors. It is also efficient against leftover fish, onion, and garlic scents.
Commercial Green Cleaning Products
While many homemade cleaning products are handy for home and kitchen cleaning, commercial products work as well. There is nothing wrong with commercial cleaners, provided they are green (environmentally friendly).
One advantage of homemade cleaners is that commercial ones do not need measuring. Thus, less effort and time is wasted, unlike when you need to measure and test before finding a perfect mix for a homemade green cleaner.
Moreover, some might even work better and often require less scrubbing and scouring of surfaces that need cleaning. They also come in different varieties, from floor, bathroom, oven, window, and kitchen cleaners to all-purpose cleaners.
Baking Soda
Another cleaner that Mother Nature hands to us is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Thankfully, this is a staple in a majority of kitchens. If you need a cleaner in a huff and puff, you can always grab some baking powder as a “green cleaner.”
Baking soda is a mild alkaline. It is a great deodorizer and a gentle abrasive. To remove surface rust, make a thick paste of sodium bicarbonate and water, then scour and scrub away. A lighter mixture of water and baking soda removes grease astoundingly well.
Salt, Vinegar, And Flour
Cleaning metallic areas of your home can be a nightmare, but only if you have no idea of the potential of your kitchen. Because most metal polishes have ammonia as an ingredient, they can be irritating and smelly. If your home’s copper and brass antiques are tarnished, all you need is a mix of salt, vinegar, and flour. Scouring them with this mixture gives them shine and leaves them looking as good as new. And the combination does not damage them.
The mix should contain equal parts of all three. Lemon dipped in salt also cleans brass or copper with light tarnish. Concentrated vinegar is sprayed on the metal and then sprinkled with a little salt. Mix one part lemon juice and two parts olive oil to polish the wood. Use it on furniture and apply it with a soft cloth. This cleaner leaves your furniture with a sparkling shine and a pleasant smell.
Prevention
The good old saying “prevention is better than cure” applies even to home and kitchen cleaning. Other than using commercial or homemade cleaners, prevention goes a long way in keeping your cleaning options clean. One good preventative measure is keeping your windows cracked. Instead of using an air freshener, which might have irritating chemicals (like phthalates), why not open your windows and let some clean air freshen up your home?
While house cleaning is an essential daily routine, Eco Clean Solutions notes that enjoying a sparkling clean home is possible without feeling stressed out. Using the tips and tricks above will leave you with a pristine and healthier home that smells nice. Additionally, it will keep the environment clean. Check also this resource about the best carpet steam cleaner in the market today.