Green Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen

We all want to keep our kitchens clean and fresh smelling, but doing so we often use dangerous and harsh cleaners and detergents. These cleaners are often dangerous to people and pets, and they do not break down while in the environment. But you can use some safe cleaners from simple over-the-counter products.

Assemble Your Tools

Instead of using harsh chemicals, you’ll need to pick up a gallon or more of white vinegar, lemon juice, the largest package of baking soda you can find, and plain old ordinary table salt. You’ll be able to use these items along with sponges, water, mops, and regular cleaning supplies.

Put Your Tools to Work

You can use these items to clean the following:

• Kitchen sink—Use ¼ cup of baking soda, ½ cup of vinegar, per half gallon of water. Use this to cut grease and keep your sink clean. For drain maintenance, pour ¼ cup of baking soda and follow that with a half cup of vinegar down the drain. Boil water and after 20 minutes, pour that down the drain until you rinse out all the baking soda and vinegar concoction. Do this once a week to keep your kitchen drain working well.
• Stovetop—Sprinkle stovetop with salt and let it absorb any grease. Use a sponge with baking soda and water and clean your stovetop.
• Refrigerator—Empty your refrigerator of any waste and use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean it using a sponge.
• Countertops—Use the mixture of ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar per half gallon of water and wipe down countertops.
• Microwaves— Use ¼ cup lemon juice and one cup of water. Boil mixture in microwave for three minutes and leave in the microwave with the door closed for 10 more minutes. Wipe down with a mixture of ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar per half gallon of water. The lemon juice will have loosened the stuck on ingredients.
• Floors— Use a mixture of vinegar and water with a dash of lemon juice for fresh scent. Mop as you would normally.