Recently, we witnessed some pretty scary hoarding situations.
Household products were swept off the shelves, with countries all over the world having homes turned into disinfectant garages.
Lines and lines of commercial cleaning products were swept off the shelves, leaving supermarkets a level of nakedness we’ve never seen.
As much as these cleaning products are formulated to specially deal with stubborn dirt and stains, did you know that many of them contain harsh chemicals that might cause adverse health effects?
What if you could find a cheaper alternative, which is easily available, just as effective and environmentally friendly all at the same time?
There are a few kitchen ingredients which are SUPER versatile, and are MUST-HAVES to keep your kitchen spick and span!
Are you ready to clean your house at an insanely low cost?
Must-Have Ingredients For Cleaning
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is effective in breaking down grease, mould and bacteria – which are substances that make up many household stains.
This allows vinegar also to have a slight antiseptic nature, allowing it to work as a natural disinfectant.
However, do note that the acids in vinegar can damage natural wood and stone surfaces.
So make sure you use it on a suitable surface!
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an alkali which can allow dirt and grease to dissolve easily in water, and thus being removed effectively.
Since, baking soda is a food ingredient, it is non-toxic and can be used around children and pets, and also used on surfaces which deals with food preparation.
In addition, baking soda can act as a deodorizer due to its ability to neutralise odours. This makes it particularly useful for areas like the refrigerator or carpet.
Other than being delicious in a tea, lemons (or other citrus fruits such as limes) contain antibacterial properties, which makes it able to fight bacteria and germs.
Being strongly acidic, lemons could be used to remove buildup on water equipment or in sinks, as these white crusty buildup are alkaline in nature. The acidity in lemon reacts with these impurities, softening and dissolving them.
In addition, its refreshing and citrus-y aroma works perfectly in freshening up spaces where it is being used.
Yes! Your good ol’ table salt.
Table salt has been known for centuries for its versatility, and cleaning properties. It is also an ingredient that is definitely available in all households.
This incredibly affordable ingredient works as a very gentle yet effective scouring agent.
In addition, salt when paired with other ingredients, boosts the efficacy of the cleaning process. For instance, the pairing of salt and baking soda can be used on many different surfaces for cleaning.
Time to grab that vodka from your alcohol cabinet for some cleaning action.
Yes, vodka! Who would’ve known?
Vodka has a high level of alcohol content, which actually makes it a great disinfectant.
In fact, vodka has similar cleaning properties as vinegar, and could be used to degrease cookware, removing stains, refreshing fabrics, and disinfect surfaces.
Easy Recipes for DIY Household Products
All-purpose spray cleaner
Ingredients:
Lemon
Vinegar
1) Place lemon peels into a glass jar of any size, enough to fill the jar up.
2) Pour white vinegar over the peels.
3) Allow the solution to sit for a couple of weeks, and then remove and throw out the peels.
4) Dilute the mixture with a 1:1 ratio of water and then pour it into a spray bottle.
All-Purpose Countertop Cleaner
Ingredients:
Vinegar or Vodka
1) Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
If your countertop is made from marble, granite, or stone, use vodka instead.
Kitchen Scrub
Ingredients:
1/3 cup table salt
1 lemon, halved
1) Mix ingredients together, and scrub is ready to be used.
Oven cleaner
Ingredients:
Vinegar
Salt (or baking soda)
1) Heat the oven above 125 degrees celcius.
2) Fill a spray bottle with equal parts of vinegar and water.
3) Once the oven is warm, spray the affected areas until it’s lightly damp, and pour salt directly onto these areas.
4) Turn off the oven and let it cool.
5) Use a wet towel to scrub the grime away.
If this recipe is not strong enough, replace salt with baking soda.
Underarm odours on clothing
Ingredient:
Vodka
1) Fill a spray bottle with 4 parts water to 1 part vodka.
2) Moisten both sides of the clothing’s underarm sections with solution.
3) Lets the clothing sit overnight.
4) Wash the clothing in cold water, and hang dry.
If the odor remains, use a stronger 3-to-1 water and vodka ratio to treat the areas.
For stainless steel products
Ingredients:
Lemon
Salt
1) Make a paste using lemon juice and salt.
2) Coat the stainless steel item with this paste. Let it sit for 5 minutes, and then wash with warm water.
3) Rinse dry.
This recipe can be used to clean stainless steel sinks too!
Natural insecticide
Ingredient:
Lemon
1) Mix equal parts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle.
2) Spray the bugs directly with the solution.
If the solution is not strong enough to kill the bugs, add more lemon juice.
Now, sit back and enjoy your lovely clean home!
