natural cleaner

How to Properly Clean These 14 Kitchen Tools and Appliances — Naturally

Marla Walters — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 09:30:48 +0000

When was the last time your kitchen tools and appliances got a good scrub? If you can't remember, that chore is probably overdue. However, it's not necessary to break out the harsh chemicals. Go in like Grandma and arm yourself with baking soda, vinegar, lemons, and salt. You'll love the results and fresh, clean smell. Plus, the environment will appreciate it, too. (See also: 16 Simple Kitchen Skills Every Frugal Person Should Master)

1. Dishwasher

Seems odd, doesn't it, that a machine that spends its life washing dishes would get so grimy. Soap scum starts building up, and sometimes we aren't good about rinsing before we place dishes inside. Baking soda and vinegar to the rescue!

First, take out the filter and soak it in some dish liquid. After it has soaked, get a soft toothbrush and give it a gentle scrub. Put it back, and get out the vinegar and baking soda. Pour a cup of vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher, and run it through a cycle. That should eliminate the rest of the gunk. If you still have odors after that, sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher, let it sit, and then run a cycle again.

2. Toaster

This morning, I set off the smoke alarm while attempting to make my toast. That was a really good reminder to clean the toaster. Ever cleaned a toaster before? It's not hard, but there are some important steps. Watch the moves of this toaster-cleaning pro here.

3. Butcher Block

Butcher blocks can be a beautiful part of your kitchen. They're even collectible now, so take heed and keep yours clean. Butcher blocks need maintenance and frequent cleaning. Daily maintenance should include spraying with vinegar and wiping them down. For more stubborn stains, clean your butcher block using some natural cleaning tricks.

4. Rusty Knives

Ever get those rust spots on knives? Combine equal parts warm water and lemon juice in a cup. Put in your rusty knives, soak for 10 minutes, and rinse; dry with a kitchen towel. If you love your knives, please don't put them into the dishwasher — wash by hand, carefully.

5. Coffee Maker

It never hurts to wash the carafe and filter basket in warm, soapy water after use. You should also periodically wipe up spills on the heating element. But then, there is that water reservoir, which really needs your attention. It's a favorite hangout for yeast, mold, calcium deposits, and other gross stuff.

Put a filter into the basket, and then fill the reservoir with equal parts of water and vinegar. Hit the "on" button, and let it run. Stop the machine, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, turn it back on, finish brewing, and pour it all out. Rinse by running water through another brewing cycle.

6. Blender

For a grimy blender, fill halfway with hot water. Add a drop of dish soap. Cover with lid, and hit the "on" button. Blend for 30 seconds and then pour out the soapy water. Add more hot water (halfway) and blend again two or three times to rinse.

7. Microwave

All of those splutters and spills add up in the microwave — an oft-forgotten appliance to clean (and they are usually the worst in offices). Pour a cup of vinegar into a two-cup glass measuring cup. Add a cup of water and microwave for 10 minutes. Let it steam up the microwave for another 20 minutes, then wipe it all out with paper towels.

8. Reusable Tote Bags

Think about where those bags have been, and you'll realize... Yuck. Hopefully, you have the kind that you can toss into the washer, because odds are, they're harboring bacteria and possibly E coli.

9. Sink

Baking soda works about as well as chemical cleaners, and it's so much safer for the environment. Use as you would a powdered cleaner. For really stubborn stains, add salt to the baking soda, and try a natural-bristle brush to scrub.

10. Oven

If you own a self-cleaning one, you're good to go. Although you may want to read up on some of the issues associated with actually using that feature, due to the high temperatures. What about the rest of us (me, included) who have gas ovens, or non-self-cleaning electric ovens? There are natural ways to clean ovens using things like vinegar and baking soda. However, a caveat: Check your manufacturer's manual. If you cannot find your manual, look up the brand online, where most manufacturers have PDFs of manuals posted. Also, what may apply to electric may be downright dangerous with gas. If you have gas, you have to turn off your pilot light and the gas before cleaning.

11. Fridge

Don't use dishwashing detergent, which may leave an odor on your food. Instead, use baking soda and hot water. Remove racks, wash, and rinse. Wipe down all the walls of the refrigerator and dry before reinstalling racks. Don't forget to remove the drawers and wash those, too.

12. Clean the Cleaning Stuff

You've probably heard that your kitchen sponge is dirtier than your toilet seat, but in case you didn't, throw your sponge out. Get a new one. Once that has been accomplished, sanitize it regularly. Get it wet, and toss it into the microwave for a minute. If you have a dishwasher, you can run it through the longest and hottest cycle. Lastly, try soaking it in a solution of bleach and water (½ teaspoon per quart of warm water) for a minute. If you use dishrags, use a fresh one each day.

13. Grocery "Cold" Bags

I use my insulated bag every week when I load up my groceries. Yesterday, however, I went to pop in the grocery bags, only to discover that meat juices had previously leaked. Yuck! I turned that bag inside out, washed with hot, sudsy water, and left it outside in the sun to dry thoroughly.

14. The Gunky Mixer

The best way to avoid having to attack gunk buildup on your mixer is to wipe it down after each use. I just use warm water and a damp dishcloth. For those tough areas, try an old toothbrush and a little plastic scraper (so as not to damage the finish). A little baking soda on a toothbrush does wonders. Be sure to rinse and dry.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Marla Walters of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Awesomeness of Sodium Bicarbonate: 27 Uses for Baking Soda

Mikey Rox — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:36:42 +0000

The use of baking soda — or sodium bicarbonate as its known in the science world — dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it as cleansing agent. Today, however, we use baking soda in lots of ways, from making delicious chocolate chip cookies to whitening our teeth and myriad more applications. So before you open that box of Arm & Hammer and stuff it in the back of the fridge, take a few minutes to consider how else you can put baking soda to use around the house with these 27 ideas. (See also: How Baking Soda Took My Bathroom From "Yuck" to "Yes!")

1. Use as a Natural Deodorant

Instead of handing over several dollars for an expensive name-brand deodorant, pat your pits with baking soda to eliminate body odor.

2. Use as an Antacid

If you suffer from heartburn or indigestion, drink a solution of baking soda (1 to 2 teaspoons) and water (8 oz.) after dinner.

3. Soothe Insect Bites

Apply baking soda directly to affected areas to soothe the stinging or itching sensation associated with insect bites.

4. Soak Oral Appliances

Dissolve 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a glass of warm water to soak oral appliances like dentures or retainers. The baking soda will help loosen food particles and reduce odor. After soaking overnight, brush the appliance with baking soda.

5. Foot Soak

Substitute baking soda for Epsom salt when your little piggies have had a hard day. Let your feet soak, and then gently scrub them.

6. Freshen Sponges

Stinky sponges smelling up your kitchen? Soak them in a solution of baking soda (4 tablespoons) and water (1 quart) to breath new life into them.

7. Polish Silver

Make a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water and rub onto tarnished silver with a clean cloth. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

8. Clean the Oven

Forget about the harsh chemicals the next time you need to clean the oven. Instead, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your oven and spray it with water until it’s damp. Let the baking soda sit overnight, then clean it out with ease using a sponge or towel.

9. Deodorize Trash Cans

A sprinkle of baking soda in the bottom of your cans will help quell offensive odors.

10. Put Out Fires

Use baking soda on small household fires — especially in the kitchen — to extinguish them quickly and efficiently.

11. Use as a Face Wash

Mix baking soda with honey to create an all-natural, healthy face scrub that’s gentler on your skin that store-bought exfoliants.

12. Treat Acne

Make a paste using baking soda and water and spot-apply it to unwanted blemishes.

13. Settle Your Stomach

The natural alkaline in baking soda helps neutralize acid that causes stomachaches. When your tummy hurts, drink a glass of water mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda.

14. Relieve Diaper Rash

If you baby suffers from diaper rash, soak him or her in a small tub mixed with two tablespoons of baking soda to help soothe and heal the irritated skin.

15. Soothe a Jellyfish Sting

Rub baking soda to the area of skin that was stung by a jellyfish to help draw out the poison.

16. Add to a Vaporizer

Adding 2 teaspoons of baking soda to a vaporizer will help freshen the air, so you can breathe cleaner and better.

17. Keep Flowers Fresh

Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a vase of water to help keep flowers fresh longer.

18. Reduce Foot Odor

Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your stinky gym shoes to chase the odor away.

19. Repel Rain on Windshields

Rub your windshield with baking soda, then rinse it off to create a surface that repels rain, so you can see better.

20. Restore Stiff Brushes

If you have brushes whose bristles have hardened, save them by placing them in a pot of boiling water mixed with a tablespoon or so of baking soda. The bristles will loosen and the brush will return to working order in about five minutes.

21. Kill Roaches

Mix baking soda and powder sugar to kill roaches. Place the mixture on small lids where the vermin congregate. The sugar will attract the pests, while the baking soda will poison them.

22. Freshen Kitty Litter

If the scent of kitty business permeates your home, try mixing the litter with baking soda to draw out some of the stench.

23. Defeather Chicken

Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a pot of water intended for boiling a chicken to help remove any lingering feathers.

24. Remove Marks From Vinyl

If you have a kid who likes to color on your vinyl surfaces, calm your nerves knowing that a solution of baking soda and water will wipe away the unsightly marks.

25. Clean a Coffee Maker

Fill your coffee carafe with a quarter-cup of baking soda and one cup of warm water. Swirl the solution around so the baking soda dissolves a bit, then pour the solution into the reserve tank of the coffee pot. Place the carafe back under the dripper and run the coffee pot. When the dirty baking soda-water solution has run its course, clean the carafe, fill it with clean water, add it to the reserve tank, and run the coffee pot once more. Clean the carafe and replace.

26. Boost Your Laundry Detergent

Pour a half-cup of baking soda into the wash if you use liquid detergent to give the stain-fighting power a boost.

27. Make a Sports Drink

If you like sports drinks but hate paying the high prices, consider making your own using baking soda. This recipe for a homemade sports drink includes, water, baking soda, table salt, salt substitute, and sugar. You also can add your own flavors to help make the medicine go down.

What other uses do you have for baking soda? Let me know in the comments below.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

25 Alternative Uses for Lemons

Ashley Watson — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:36:15 +0000

When life hands you lemons, you can make a lot more than lemonade. From household cleaners to weed killers, here are 25 uses for lemons and lemon juice that you might not have considered. (See also: 254 Uses for Vinegar. And Counting.)

1. Boozy Lemonade

If you are going to make lemonade, you might as well get creative. Try this watermelon rosemary lemonade if you are looking for a refreshing alcoholic drink. Or for the non-drinkers, you can leave out the gin or simply add fresh mint to your favorite lemonade to give it a little kick.

2. Lemon Cubes

You can freeze fresh-squeezed lemon juice in ice cube trays to preserve in small amounts. It's nice to have on hand when you forget to buy lemon for a recipe and don't want to go to the store for one item.

3. Sangria

While you don't need a recipe to make a great sangria, you do need lemon. It's also nice to serve it with a few slices in the glass or on the rim.

4. Removing Strong Odors

When I worked in produce, we would squirt some lemon juice in the sinks or over the compost whenever there were some funky smells in the prep room. To remove odors from garbage disposals, you can drop in leftover lemon peels (make sure the pieces are small or they will get caught). Rub lemon juice into cutting boards that have retained strong odors or stains, and clean with soap and water. For the fridge, pour some lemon juice on a sponge or cloth and place it in the fridge until the smell goes away.

5. Natural Cleaner

Similar to Citrasolv, lemon juice works as a natural household cleaner. You can use lemon juice or squeeze a lemon directly on kitchen or bathroom surfaces, and wipe them with a wet cloth to remove the sticky residue. For stains and really dirty areas, mix in some vinegar and water with the lemon juice.

6. Skin Care

For dry skin, you can use a lemon-sugar scrub, or rub a cut lemon on particularly dry areas, such as knees, elbows, or heels. Be careful when applying to cracked skin. You can also make your own detoxifying body wash with this recipe for sea salt and lemon body cleanser.

7. Bathroom Stains

It may take a little extra scrubbing, but you can remove water stains, soap scum, and limescale naturally with lemon juice. Use a lemon, water, and vinegar mixture for tough stains on your shower walls or tub.

8. Laundry Detergent

You don't need bleach or chemicals to brighten your whites. Try using lemon juice instead of detergent for cleaner and naturally scented clothes. Lemon juice is also good for removing stains. You can directly apply lemon juice to the spot before washing it, or for bigger stains, it is recommended to soak the clothing in a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and lemon juice.

9. Sore Throat

There's nothing like a Hot Toddy for a sore throat, but you don't have to have the whiskey. A freshly squeezed lemon in a cup of hot water will also do the trick. I like to add honey, which sweetens the drink and is another natural germ killer.

10. Natural Preservative

For fresh-cut fruit or veggies, squeeze a fresh lemon over them to prevent browning. This is another reason many guacamole recipes call for lime; in addition to the flavor, it keeps the guac from turning brown when you store it.

11. Natural Weed Killer

Believe it or not, you can use lemon juice instead of harmful weed killers to get to those hard-to-remove weeds that always come back, particularly in the cracks of your sidewalk or driveway. For more efficiency, put the lemon juice in a garden hose filter, and soak the area thoroughly.

12. Hair Highlights

For natural hair highlights, use lemon juice directly on your hair before going out in the sun. There are many different suggestions for how much lemon juice, but it depends on the hair. You may have to experiment to see what works best for you. But always wash your hair afterwards.

13. Nails

Like hair, nails can be brightened with a little lemon juice. Again, there are many recipes for whitening nails; however, if you find a recipe online that also recommends using lemon to whiten teeth, I would not recommend lemon for this. My mother worked for a dentist for a long time, and she said that the citric acid is too harsh on the teeth and gums. You can also mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on a toothbrush to get the same results, but keep in mind it will take a few applications to notice a difference.

14. Notes

Yep, notes. A friend of mine has two children who like to leave notes or little poems on lemons. I'm not sure why, but they love it, and it's cheap entertainment for mom.

15. Dirty Dishes

Lemon juice works great to cut the grease on dishes if you don't have a dishwasher, but you can also use lemons in the dishwasher (in addition to dish detergent). Place a cut lemon in the top rack of the dishwasher to get that Jet-Dry clean, but make sure you secure it so that it doesn't fly around during the wash.

16. Stainless Steel

I used to buy an expensive stainless steel cleaner until I heard that I could just use a little salt and lemon juice. Make sure you wipe the steel down with a clean cloth afterwards. You can use this on most metals, but it is not recommended for silver or gold.

17. Natural Ant Repellant

Spray lemon juice around the areas that you see ants in your house or outside in the places where you think they might be getting into your home.

18. Flavoring and Tenderizing Meat Dishes

Recently, someone invited me to dinner, and she had roasted a chicken with an entire lemon inside of it (cut in half). It was the most tender chicken I've ever had; she told me that the lemon was the key. You can also mix lemon juice with your favorite herbs and rub it under the skin to add moisture and flavor. And freshly squeezed lemon is a classic pair for any kind of fish, grilled or broiled.

19. Making Tasty Salads

Any time I make a salad dressing, I add a small amount of lemon juice to enhance the flavor and also preserve it longer. A good basic vinaigrette to have on hand is lemon, balsamic vinegar, and oil. The portions depend on your tastes, but typically a vinaigrette has more oil than vinegar (olive oil is best), and a small amount of lemon juice.

20. Zest

Lemon zest can be used in many recipes, but it also makes a nice garnish.

21. Table Centerpiece

If you are looking to gussy up that centerpiece and don't want to spend a lot of cash, lemons add a lot of color to the table and can be used with many other decorations. Try putting them in a large clear bowl for something simple, or place them in a basket with some fresh herbs for a holiday decoration.

22. Desserts

There are so many luscious desserts that use lemon from meringues to pies; lemon is a classic dessert flavor. You can also use lemon instead of lime in some recipes. I replaced the lime with lemon zest and lemon juice, and turned lime and coconut crumble bars into lemon bars. Very tasty!

23. Cold Drinks

From soda and seltzer to iced tea, a few slices of lemon can enhance any cold drink, even some light beers.

24. Pasta

While lemon may not be the first ingredient you think of using when making pasta dishes, baked lemon pasta is one of my favorite dishes.

25. Hand Sanitizer

Lemon can disinfect germy hands. So skip the hand sanitizer, and grab the nearest lemon.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Ashley Watson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: