Written By Kirsten Hudson
Maybe you're a clean-as-you-go type of home cook? Or, do you cook under the leave-the-mess-for-later philosophy? Either way, kitchens get dirty -- and fast.
Even if you're meticulous about cleaning up after each meal -- doing the dishes, wiping down the counters, scouring the pans -- after a while your entire kitchen still needs a deep clean. Food and grease splatters manage to stick to the stovetop. Stray spills gook up the floors. And, do you ever find yourself wondering which condiment culprit leaked down the refrigerator door?
As the place where you eat and prep your food, no one wants a dirty kitchen. So, why dirty it up with toxic cleaning products? Most household cleaners, from oven cleaner to all-purpose cleaners, contain a noxious mixture of harmful chemicals. Many conventional cleaners even include ingredients banned in the European Union and other countries.
From carcinogenic chemicals to asthma- and allergy-causing substances, the ingredients in those cleaners aren't anything you want near the area where you chow down.
Instead, clean your kitchen with ingredients that you'd eat! Can't get safer than that. You can make most homemade cleaners with different mixtures of baking soda, vinegar, water, olive oil and lemon juice. If you add in non-food grade essential oils though, don't be tempted to taste test your homemade cleaning supplies! These homemade cleaner recipes will get your kitchen looking good enough to eat in no time.
Easy Refrigerator Cleaner
The fridge is one of those neglected areas that doesn't get a good clean too often. Before you give your fridge a good scrub down, turn it off. Or, turn the temperature all the way up to save energy while you clean.
First, remove all of your food items. Chuck any smelly or expired foods. Don't forget to check your condiments' expiration dates! Then, take out any pieces of the interior of the fridge that you can remove easily, like shelves. Scrub them down separately in the sink with a natural soap.
To clean the rest of your fridge, use the following recipe:
2 cups hot water
1 cup white vinegar
10 drops of your favorite essential oil
Combine the ingredients in a bucket or spray bottle. Use the mixture and a cloth to scrub the inside of your fridge. Replace all of your food and turn the temperature back down.
Nontoxic Oven Cleaner
Many conventional oven cleaners contain carcinogens and chemicals that lead to respiratory illnesses. Plus, they make your food taste like Easy-Off for weeks. All you need to get your oven sparkling clean is baking soda, a scrub brush, a spray bottle full of water and our all-natural method.
Kitchen Floor Cleaner
The kitchen sees a lot of foot traffic. Shoes and paws likely bring in all manner of germs and dirt on the trek for a snack. Spills and drips from who-knows-what also tend to accumulate on your floors. You likely want to disinfect, as well as remove dirt and stains. The vinegar and lemon juice in the following recipes will sanitize your floors and make them shine.
Basic Floor Cleaner
You can use this simple floor cleaner on sealed wood, tile, laminate and linoleum. Just mop!
1 part hot water
1 part white vinegar
Wood Floor Cleaner and Polish
If you also want to give your floors a good polish, as well as a scrub, mop with this cleaner.
All-Purpose Spray
All you need to clean the surfaces of your kitchen is a good ol' rag and this simple, but effective all-purpose cleaner. Use it to scrub down countertops, appliances, tables, walls and the sink.
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water
5 drops essential oil of your choice
Mix all of the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake and get cleaning!
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