Though there are countless cleaning products available in the market, it can be difficult to find reliable cleaning agents that won’t pose a risk to the health. That’s where these everyday ingredients come in. These common kitchen ingredients—which can probably be found in your cupboard as we speak—will clean up just about every surface of the home. This a safe and affordable method of cleaning your space, the natural way.
Vinegar
Vinegar is an ingredient with the ability to clean backsplashes and countertops, soften fabrics, dissolve dirt and water deposits, and make washroom tiles shine again. The type of vinegar you’ll want to use is distilled white vinegar. As a natural deodorizer, white vinegar absorbs odors instead of just masking them.
To use vinegar in your cleaning, mix 1 part white vinegar with 3 parts water in a spray bottle and use the mixture to wipe down surfaces or spray on any fabrics that need freshening up. You can add lemon juice or few drops of favorite essential oil if the vinegar scent is a little too aggressive for your liking.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has a range of uses like it act as a deodorant and freshen up the scent of your fridge, you can unclog the kitchen drain by using the mixture of baking soda and vinegar, and also it can be sprinkled directly onto a damp sponge and used for cleaning oven, sink, countertops and bathroom tiles.
You just need to mix 1 quart of water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda and wipe down countertops, tiles or sink with a sponge soaked with the mixture. It can also freshen up and deodorize rugs, just sprinkle a layer of the powder over it and let it sit overnight before vacuuming up the residue.
Lemons
Lemon will not only make your house smell citrusy and fresh but also ward off bacteria and clean your surfaces. You can pair lemon with water and vinegar to make the perfect home cleaning agent. Rub the juice over countertops, tile, and kitchen boards to give them an instant refresh.
Lemon peel can also disinfect, remove stains, and acts as a powerful degreaser. To make your all-purpose cleaning agent fill a mason jar with lemon peels and white vinegar, and allow to infuse for two weeks before using as a clean-all agent.
Olive Oil
Though rubbing olive oil on your surfaces can act like a mess-maker, this versatile cooking staple can also be used to polish wood and metal surfaces to make them look shiny and new again.
Combine 1 cup of olive oil with ½ cup of white vinegar to create an effective wood polish. You can also add a few drops of essential oils for a more pleasant scent. Buff the stainless steel with a soft cloth and olive oil into its original shiny state.
Salt
This natural ingredient has been used as a cleaning agent for many years. Add a table salt with vinegar or lemon juice to clean brass. Simply rub your brass object with a sponge filled with this mixture. Rinse with water and wipe it with a soft cloth. Salt combined with vinegar can also remove pesky coffee stains on ceramic mugs.