We are exposed to more chemicals today than ever before and we are often looking towards a more natural approach for our health, home and everyday lifestyle. Natural cleaning products are just as easy to use as their chemical counterpart, with a little bit of elbow grease these natural cleaning ideas will have your kitchen glowing, your surfaces sparkling, your wallet happy and it will also benefit your long term health
Citrus all-purpose cleaner
Collect left over citrus peels (oranges, grapefruit, lemons) and place into airtight glass container. Cover with distilled white vinegar and cover the peels. Sit in a dark place for at least 2 weeks. Once ready strain away the peels, dilute the vinegar with filtered water, place in a spray bottle and use as needed.
Fruit and vegetable cleaner
It’s always nice to give produce a good clean before eating, to remove any chemical residue but also when you think about all the hands that may have touched the food before you! Simply fill a freshly cleaned sink with water, add a cup of vinegar or apple cider vinegar and place produce in to soak for at least 30 minutes, gently scrub, rinse, dry and use when ready.
Sparkling steel pots and pans
This one can be tricky (and best avoided for non-stick cookware) but if you accidently burn something onto the pot, try adding roughly chopped lemon pieces and bring to the boil with a little water. Boil for a few minutes before removing from the heat, rinsing and wash as normal. Another trick is to scrub the pots/pans with coarse salt and a scouring pad.
Stinky Fridges
Finished with those left over coffee grounds? Add them into a bowl and place them into the fridge! They can absorb bad smells and have the fridge smelling wonderful. If you don’t like the smell of coffee, after you have cleaned your fridge, dampen a cloth and add some vanilla extract and give your fridge a wipe over. If your fridge needs a little extra love, create a paste out of bicarb soda and water and scrub the individual components. A little spray of that citrus all-purpose cleaner can also do wonders here!
Title grout cleaner
Mix 1 part water and 3 parts bi carb soda into a paste, apply to grout and let it sit for a few minutes. Using a scrubbing brush or toothbrush scrub the grout and rinse off. Add essential oils such as clove bud oil to fragrance the paste and prevent mould build up.