Many people find cleaning very hassling, while others find it quite relaxing and maybe even therapeutic. Whichever the case is for you, cleaning cannot be avoided. No matter how much clutter you make or mess you leave behind, time will eventually come when you’ll finally have to take some time to clean up and organize your space. However, commercial cleaners can’t always do the job and they’re most often ridden with very harmful chemicals. Before reaching for that bottle of bleach, check out your fridge and pantry first to find natural cleaners that can clean your home as efficiently as commercial cleaners but without all the health-threatening ingredients. Here are four foods you can use to clean your house.
- Lemon
Lemon is one of the most well-known natural cleansers. Its mildly acidic component coupled with several anti-microbial and antiseptic properties make it great for cleaning grease and grime and for removing germs or bacteria. The acidity of lemon also gives it some bleaching properties.
There is more than one way you can use lemon to clean the house:
- Shine brass, remove grease and bacteria. You can use half a lemon to shine up items made of brass or to remove grease and grime from pots or ovens. Just rub the lemon over the surface of the object, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then rinse off. Do the same on chopping boards but with a small sprinkle of salt to remove disease-causing bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella that got stuck on the board after slicing meat.
- Remove tomato sauce stains. Lemon juice can be used to remove stains from tomato sauce. Squeeze some of the juice directly onto the countertop or affected area, let it sit, and then use a sponge to rub the spot with some baking soda.
- Baking Soda
Baking soda is best used for removing foul odours and stains. It’s slightly abrasive nature can also be utilized to get rid of grime without leaving scratches on the item.
- Deodorize fridge. Place some baking soda in a bowl or jar and leave it inside your refrigerator to get rid of any rancid odour.
- Deodorize pet’s urine. Sprinkle some baking soda on your pet’s urine to keep the smell from flooding the room.
- Unclogging drains. Pour a pot of boiling water down a drain followed with half a cup of baking soda. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before pouring a cup of vinegar in. Follow with a cup of very hot water then let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. Finally, finish cleaning the drain with another pot of boiling water.
- All-purpose cleaner. Mix some baking soda and warm water to create a paste which you can use to scrub various kinds of surfaces with such as countertops, sinks, tubs, and more. You can even use it to shine jewelry.
- Vinegar
Vinegar specializes in removing germs and bacteria thanks to its acidic nature.
- Disinfectant. Mix some vinegar with a little bit of lemon juice to make a very efficient disinfectant for cleaning bathroom surfaces and countertops.
- All-purpose cleaner. Make a solution out of water and vinegar in a spray bottle to make an all-purpose cleaner which you can use for a variety of surfaces, apart from stone. Clean windows, fans, mirrors, shower curtains, and more with the solution.
- Tile grout. Dump vinegar onto a tiled surface and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub the grout then rinse off.
- Salt
The abrasive nature of salt makes it great for scrubbing various items clean. It can also be mixed with water to make a saline solution that can be used for various stains.
- Mug stains. Remove lipstick, coffee, or tea stains from mugs by scrubbing it with salt.
- Oven grease. Sprinkle some salt on the dribbles of grease on your oven then let it sit for a while before scraping it off.
- Protein stains. Scrub blood stains or egg stains on clothes and carpet with a solution made of salt and water to get rid of it.
