It’s very easy to pick up a random disinfectant in the market and use it to clean your kitchen. However, these mass-produced commercial products have the tendency to leave chemical residues in your kitchen. This can affect your health, especially when you accidentally consume them. Additionally, these chemical-infused products have a drastic effect on the environment. It’s time to have greener habits. To get you started, here are natural kitchen cleaning hacks you should know.
Use lemon and salt
This combination is perfect to clean wooden cutting boards and other surfaces. They do not leave harmful residues. The acidic nature of lemons can serve as a disinfectant and stain remover. The coarse salt can clean up any surface of physical dirt.
Sprinkle the rock salt over the area you intend to clean. Take a lemon, sliced into two. Take a part of the lemon and squeeze it over the salt, while rubbing across the surface. Let the mixture sit for about five minutes before scraping it off. Lastly, rinse the area with clean water.
Use vinegar and baking soda
We bet you have at least one pot with that pesky burnt residue. No matter what you do, you can’t remove the burnt marks or the infused food. The solution for this is a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.
Mix one cup of water and one cup of vinegar. Pour it into the pot with the burn marks. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let it bubble for a few minutes and then remove the pot from the stove. Mix in about two tablespoons of baking soda. You can expect the mixture to fizz and sizzle. After a while, pour the mixture out. Scrub the pan and expect a sparkling pot after a few scrubs.
Use citrus peels
You don’t have to throw out the peels of the oranges you just ate. You can reuse them by making an all-purpose cleaner. Collect the peels and place them in a glass jar. Make sure the jar is halfway filled with peels. Cover the peels with some vinegar. Replace the lid of the jar and then store it away for two weeks.
After two weeks, drain the vinegar by using a strainer. Throw away the citrus peels. The liquid mixture will serve as an all-purpose cleaner. The acidity and natural elements will be enough to turn any surface into its former squeaky-clean glory. You can add some herbs like rosemary or thyme to improve the smell.