Nowadays, there’s a cleaning product for every kind of stain and surface. However, when you check, you’re most likely to find one or two kitchen ingredients listed as part of these products. As we move towards a more sustainable environment, it’s necessary to find eco-friendlier alternatives to our daily needs such as cleaning.
Kitchen ingredients are more sustainable and safer than other cleaning products that may contain harmful chemicals. If you’re looking to switch to a greener household or simply looking for cheaper cleaning products, here are some kitchen ingredients you can use to clean your home.
- Vinegar
This is simply a cleaning machine. Since it’s a natural disinfectant, you can use it to wipe down surfaces. However, the most common use of vinegar as a cleaning agent is to get rid of food stains. It’s effective in making glasses cleaner, cleaning microwaves, and washing cooking pots. It also helps get rid of mould. Therefore, you can use it to clean the bathroom as well.
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- Ketchup
If you’re trying to save costs, then it might not be economical to use ketchup to clean. Ketchup is great for cleaning metal surfaces and removing tarnishes. Thanks to the acetic acid in this kitchen ingredient, it breaks down the dark colouration that forms in pots while cooking. Once you’ve poured some ketchup into the pot, let it sit for 30 minutes then scrub.
- Salt
Salt makes a good abrasive since it’s rough. You can use it to scrub stubborn stains off surfaces and dishes. Additionally, the salt will scrub off the dirt without causing any damage, unlike most artificial abrasives which tend to be too rough on certain surfaces. Since salt is quite inexpensive, this is an economical way to have a greener home.
- Activated Charcoal
There are so many wonderful uses of activated charcoal both around the home and as a beauty product. For home use, activated charcoal cleans the air through its absorptive properties. You can use it to remove bad smells from culprit areas around the home such as the fridge, toilet, or kitchen. Additionally, you use this kitchen ingredient to improve the air quality in your home since it also eliminates toxins.
- Olive Oil
There are lots of wooden surfaces around the home from cabinets to furniture which, without proper care, end up looking crusty. To avoid this, you keep them in mint condition using readily available kitchen ingredients. Olive oil is especially good for polishing wooden surfaces keeping them from chipping. It’s also milder than store-bought wood polish thus it can be used as an alternative for delicate wood. Health Benefits Of Including Olive Oil In Your Diet
- Lemon
Using kitchen ingredients to clean your home ensures that you reduce your exposure to toxic substances especially on the surface you use for cooking. As such, you can use a lemon solution to disinfect your chopping boards and food containers. Dilute some lemon juice in water then soak your dishes and cutlery in the liquid. Lemons also have multiple functions around the home such as removing stains and eliminating any odour keeping your kitchen tools looking and smelling clean. The Benefits Of Lemon
- Vanilla extract
Don’t you just love the smell of vanilla? Well, you can use vanilla extract to make your fridge smell just as good. Fridges are prone to odours since they store food. From spills to rotting veggies, we can’t avoid having a funny smell every once in a while. To get rid of such odour, place a few drops of vanilla extract in a saucer then place it on the bottom shelf of the fridge for a few days.
- Potatoes
Potatoes are not only delicious food that’s enjoyed around the world but it can also be used to clean some of the worst stains. If you have rusty metals around the house, there’s still hope for them. Potatoes contain oxalic acid that dissolves rust. Therefore, you can use slices of potatoes to clean surfaces with rust. For stubborn rust, sprinkle some baking soda or use soapy water with a slice of potato to get rid of it. 5 Ways You Can Use Potatoes As A Beauty Product
