Keep food storage and prep areas clean and sanitary with these simple tips.
1 Clean hard-to-reach areas of dishware and glassware with white rice. To clean irregularly shaped bottles and other containers, put a handful of rice, water, and a small squirt of dish soap in the container. Cover the container, and shake vigorously. The rice is hard enough and small enough to remove dirt and debris from nooks and crannies inside the container. Dispose of the used rice in the trash can to prevent drain clogs, rinse well, and allow to air-dry.
2 Remove coffee stains from ceramic mugs with baking soda or salt and lemon. Sprinkle some baking soda to coat the inside of the mug, and add a little water to form a paste. Use a sponge or cloth to scrub away stains with ease. If baking soda doesn’t do the trick, try salt and lemon. Pour a tablespoon each of salt and lemon juice in the bottom of the mug, and add a few ice cubes. Swish around, and watch stains disappear.
3 Eliminate silverware scratches from dishes with baking soda. Make a thick paste with baking soda and a little water. Apply the paste to dishes with a cloth, then scrub. Rinse well, and dry.
4 Hand-wash knives to keep them sharp. It may be tempting to throw your kitchen knives in the dishwasher to let it do all the work, but doing so can dull your knives and promote rust. Hand-wash knives in natural dish soap and warm water to keep them in great shape for years to come. Also, avoid cleaning them with white vinegar or lemon, as acids can cause etching in the steel.
5 Deodorize reusable water bottles with baking soda. Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a stinky water bottle, then fill with hot water. Let it sit for 1–2 hours, and wash as usual.
6 Save money with a homemade, high-powered dish soap. Sal Suds alone does a great job when you’re hand-washing dishes, but when you’re cleaning especially greasy pots and pans, you may need something stronger. This all-natural DIY dish soap gets the job done for a fraction of the price of store-bought, is effective even in hard water, and can also be used when other homemade cleaners throughout this book call for dish soap.
1/2 cup warm filtered water (minerals in tap water may interfere with thickening)
2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt (used to thicken the soap)
1/2 cup Sal Suds
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
20–30 drops essential oil (optional; lemon and/or lavender would be good choices)
Squeeze bottle or other storage container
Mix the warm water and salt in a medium bowl, and stir until the salt dissolves.
In a small bowl, mix the Sal Suds with the vinegar and lemon juice, and stir until combined.
Add the soap mixture to the salt mixture, and stir gently to prevent too many bubbles from forming. Stir until the mixture reaches a gel-like consistency.
Add your favorite essential oils, if desired. Lemon oil is a great option for additional grease-fighting power, and lavender provides a calming, pleasant smell and antibacterial and antifungal benefits. Do not add essential oils if you used sea salt, because the oils will cause the soap to turn runny again.
Pour the dish soap into a squeeze bottle or other container and use within 2–3 months. To use, add a small amount to hot running water, and wash dishes, countertops, and cabinets as usual.
7 Remove sticky residue from kitchen surfaces with this easy homemade gunk remover. Mix a 1:1 ratio of coconut oil and baking soda. Make only enough for the job at hand. For instance, if it’s a small job, mix 1 tablespoon of each. For larger jobs, start with 1/2 cup of each. The coconut oil will break down the sticky residue, and baking soda will gently scrub it away.
8 Infuse vinegar with citrus, herbs, and spices for better-smelling DIY cleaning recipes. Some people struggle with natural cleaning because they can’t stand the smell of vinegar. Luckily, the smell dissipates once the vinegar dries, but you can also make it smell more pleasant by infusing it with scents!
Your favorite scent combinations, such as mint and lime (mojito, anyone?), orange and clove, or lemon and basil
21/2 cups white vinegar
1-quart Mason jar
Fill the Mason jar half full with your chosen combination of citrus peels, herbs, and spices.
Heat the vinegar to almost boiling. You can heat vinegar in a glass container in the microwave or on the stovetop in a stainless steel or enameled cast iron pot. Do not heat vinegar in aluminum or regular cast iron cookware, since it is reactive with these materials.
Fill the jar with the hot vinegar, seal, and let it steep in a dark place at room temperature for at least 24 hours or longer if you want a stronger scent. Strain, and discard the peels, herbs, and spices.
Store the vinegar in a cool, dark place, and use diluted, at full strength, or in DIY recipes just as you would regular vinegar.
9 Prevent water spots and fingerprints on faucets with waxed paper. Run the waxy side of waxed paper on your kitchen faucet and other chrome fixtures to help prevent unsightly marks, including water spots and fingerprints. You’ll have to re-treat these areas regularly, but they’ll look cleaner longer than if you use typical scouring methods.
10 Keep your faucet running smoothly with vinegar. Before you go to bed, pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar into a small plastic food bag, add a few drops of lemon essential oil (if desired for extra cleaning power), and secure the bag onto your faucet with a rubber band or elastic hair tie. The next morning, remove the bag, and wipe your faucet clean. This mixture will remove mineral deposits and soap scum buildup from your faucet and keep it running smoothly.
11 Use salt to clean a dropped egg off the floor. Sprinkle salt on the egg, and let it sit for 30 minutes. You should be able to wipe it up with ease.
12 Save money by making your own foaming hand soap refills. Store-bought soap refills can save you some money over buying new dispensers every time, but making your own homemade hand wash will save you even more! The secret to foaming hand wash is in the pump, not the soap. Keep that empty foaming soap dispenser, and refill it with water and 1 teaspoon of liquid Castile soap or natural dish soap. The pump will work just as it used to!
13 Remove stains and odors from hands in a snap with items you already have in your kitchen. Cutting onions and garlic can make your hands pretty smelly, and washing with regular soap often won’t make the odor go away. Clean odors and stains from hands by bathing them in tomato juice, lemon juice, or salt.
14 Eliminate fruit flies from your kitchen with apple cider vinegar and sugar. Fill a small bowl or Mason jar with apple cider vinegar and a spoonful of sugar. Stir to mix, and cover with plastic wrap. Poke some holes in the plastic wrap to allow the flies to access the vinegar mixture without escaping. Once the fruit flies drown in the container, dispose of them in the garbage or outside.
15 Soak fresh produce in vinegar to remove wax and pesticides. For produce with a skin, fill your clean kitchen sink with cool water, and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Add the produce, and let it soak for 20 minutes to an hour. Rinse and dry thoroughly before storing or consuming. Soak more delicate greens, such as lettuce, kale, and spinach, in the vinegar mixture for about 15 minutes, swishing them through the water with your hands to remove dirt and grit, then use a salad spinner to dry thoroughly. Store in a big bowl between layers of paper towels or clean, dry cloths to absorb moisture and keep them fresher longer.
16 Clean delicate berries with a homemade all-purpose spray. Fill a spray bottle with water, and add 2 tablespoons of liquid Castile soap. Screw on the spray nozzle, and shake to combine. Put the berries in a colander, spray liberally with cleaner, and rub berries very gently to keep them from breaking apart. Rinse thoroughly with cool water, and let them sit in the colander for a few minutes to drain the water. Put berries in a storage container lined with paper towels, and store in the fridge. This all-natural spray can be used to clean surfaces throughout your home.
17 Use this easy DIY citrus soft scrub to scour kitchen surfaces without scratching. This mixture will clean and remove stains from sinks, stovetops, and other surfaces without damaging the finish.
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup liquid Castile soap
10 drops each lemon, lime, and orange essential oils
Mix the ingredients in a bowl to form a paste. Add more Castile soap if the mixture is too dry.
Apply the paste with a microfiber cloth or sponge, scrub, and rinse with clean water.
18 Clean and polish your kitchen sink in just a few moments with a lemon and salt. Cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and use it to clean and polish your kitchen sink. The abrasive action of the salt scrubs away stains, while the lemon removes grease, grime, and odors.
19 Dissolve hard-water stains around your kitchen with full-strength vinegar. Soak silverware and glassware in white vinegar, rinse well, and air-dry. Spray your refrigerator’s water dispenser with vinegar, wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, and dry with a clean, dry cloth. To clean your kitchen sink, spray with vinegar, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Scrub the sink clean with a sponge or damp microfiber towel, rinse well, and dry. For added cleaning power, soak a cloth in vinegar, and wrap it around the kitchen faucet. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
20 Make your own inexpensive, natural, and effective DIY kitchen spray in just minutes. White vinegar cuts through grease and has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, making it an excellent kitchen cleanser. Fill a spray bottle halfway with white vinegar, then fill it almost to the top with water. Add your favorite antibacterial essential oils (some of which are listed in Chapter 1), using 15 drops per 25 ounces. You can use one essential oil or a combination of two or three scents. Favorite essential oils for kitchen cleaning are lemon, orange, lemongrass, and rosemary, and favorite combinations include lemongrass-basil, lavender-rosemary, tea tree–grapefruit, and lemon-eucalyptus.
Before you call a plumber and pay for a repair, try some of these easy hacks to clear out minor drain clogs. Once the drain is clear, use the rest of the ideas to keep things running smoothly going forward.
21 Clear clogged or slow-moving drains with a plunger. Fill the sink half full with warm water, and plunge the drain vigorously using a rubber plunger. Rinse the sink and drain clean with hot water.
22 Break up fat, oil, and grease buildup with dish detergent and hot water. Heat a large pot of water to a boil, then stir in a few tablespoons of natural dish detergent. Pour the near-boiling mixture down the drain, and rinse with hot water. Repeat these steps, as needed, to melt the clog.
23 Use soda to break down clogs without damaging pipes. The acids in regular soda (not diet) are corrosive in nature and can clear drains without damaging your pipes or your skin like standard chemical cleaners can. Pour room temperature soda down the drain, and let it sit for an hour or two. Rinse with hot water.
24 Never put fats like cooking oils and grease in the drain or garbage disposal. Allow fats to cool before throwing away in the garbage.
25 Wash away grease with salt water. Salt is abrasive and works as a natural scouring agent. Pour 1/2 cup of salt down the drain, followed by a pot of boiling water. Rinse with hot water, and repeat, if necessary. Do this once a month to keep drains clear.
26 Clear tough clogs with a clothes hanger. Unfold a wire hanger, and make it as straight as you can. Using pliers, bend the end of the wire to form a hook, then use the hook to fish out the clog, being careful not to push the clog down farther into the drain.
27 Remove hard clogs with a wet/dry vacuum. Some clogs will be too hard to break down with the methods listed previously. If you have a wet/dry vac, put the vacuum hose on the drain opening, creating the tightest seal possible. With the vacuum on the highest setting, try to suck the clog back up out of the drain.
28 Dispose of food waste in the garbage or compost bin, not in the garbage disposal. The garbage disposal can handle small amounts of food debris, but disposing large amounts of food may overload your drain and cause clogs that are difficult to remove. When you have a lot of food waste, such as after peeling potatoes or cutting onions, throw these scraps into the garbage or compost bin instead.
29 Keep drains running smoothly and smelling fresh with baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda into the drain, then rinse with hot water. Do this once per week, or as often as needed.
30 Use vinegar to remove dirt and grime from pipes. About once a week, pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain, and let it sit for 20–30 minutes. Rinse with hot water.
31 Deodorize your garbage disposal with leftover citrus peels. Simply run the water at about half speed, and throw in some orange or lemon peels. Turn on the disposal for about 10 seconds, then let the peels sit for 15–20 minutes to soften any buildup and get rid of smells in your disposal. Turn on the water, and drop in a few ice cubes to blast away dirt and debris. Finally, fill up the sink about halfway with water. Pull the stopper, and run the disposal to flush out the drain.
32 Scrub your garbage disposal with an old toothbrush. Food particles and other debris can get caught in the folds of the rubber splash guard in your garbage disposal, causing offensive odors that can permeate your kitchen. Lift the splash guard up out of the drain, and scrub with dish soap and a toothbrush to clean grease, food, and odor-causing bacteria. Make sure no one turns on the garbage disposal while you’re cleaning it!
33 Quickly clean your kitchen trash can with cleaning spray. If you have guests on their way and your trash can smells bad, spray the inside liberally with DIY kitchen spray or another all-purpose spray, and wipe clean with a cloth or paper towels. Spray and wipe the outside of the can, too, if necessary.
34 Prevent smells from forming in your trash can with baking soda and essential oils. Keep your trash can fresher longer with this homemade freshening powder. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda and 20 drops of your favorite essential oils (optional). Some classic options for the kitchen include lemon, orange, lavender, lemongrass, and eucalyptus. Combine well with a spoon, then sprinkle in the bottom of the trash can (under the trash bag).
35 Disinfect kitchen surfaces in seconds with hydrogen peroxide. Put a spray nozzle on a container of hydrogen peroxide or pour it into a dark glass spray bottle, and spray any wiped-down surface to kill any remaining germs. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe dry with a clean cloth. Always store hydrogen peroxide in a dark container since light causes it to decompose much faster. (If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, use vodka!)
36 Use a gentle cleanser on soft stone surfaces. Acids can harm soft stone materials like marble and granite countertops, giving them a dull appearance also known as etching. Avoid using white vinegar, lemon, or other acidic materials on or near these surfaces, and instead use this gentle DIY cleanser to clean and disinfect. Fill a spray bottle with warm water, and add 1 tablespoon of gentle, nonabrasive dish soap. Be sure the dish soap does not contain lemon or other acid ingredients. Shake gently to mix. Spray the counter with the solution, wipe with a wet dishcloth, and dry with a soft, absorbent towel.
37 Use baking soda to gently scrub scuffs and scratches from laminate countertops. Pots, pans, and other cookware can leave superficial marks on laminate counters that won’t wipe off even with spray cleaner. When this happens, scrub them away with baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda on the mark, and use a wet rag to scrub the stain without scratching the surface.
38 Pick up dust and crumbs inside cabinets with your vacuum. Use your vacuum’s hose attachments to reach into all the corners inside your cabinets, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
39 Make your own all-natural DIY disinfecting wipes. Keep these wipes on your counter to quickly clean, disinfect, and degrease kitchen surfaces.
11/2 cups water
1/2 cup vodka
3 tablespoons liquid Castile soap or Sal Suds
30 drops lemon essential oil
30 drops tea tree oil
Washcloths or other soft fabric squares
1-quart glass Mason jar (widemouthed jars work best for easy access)
Mix the ingredients in a Mason jar or other glass container with a lid. Screw the lid on tight, and shake well to combine.
Add as many washcloths as you can fit into the container. You should be able to fit at least 6 regular-sized washcloths. Old cut-up towels and T-shirts also work well. Replace the lid, and shake again to wet the cloths.
To use, remove a cloth, wring out the excess cleaning liquid back into the container, and wipe surfaces clean. When the washcloths get dirty, launder with other cleaning towels, and reuse.
40 Wash and dry walls from top to bottom to prevent streaks. To clean grease splatters and more from walls, spray liberally with an all-natural, all-purpose cleaner (do a spot test first to ensure paint color doesn’t fade). Quickly wipe walls horizontally from top to bottom with a damp microfiber cloth to eliminate streaks from the dripping cleaner, then follow up with a dry cloth to remove any remaining streaks and prevent water damage.
41 Make wood shine with coconut oil. Using a clean cloth or paper towels, apply a dab of coconut oil onto wood cabinets and tables to make them shine. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then buff with a clean, dry cloth. Bonus: the lauric acid content in coconut oil also kills germs.
42 Disinfect sponges to make them last longer. Fill a bowl with cold water, add 3 tablespoons of salt, and stir to dissolve. Add the sponge, and let it soak overnight. You can also microwave sponges for 2 minutes to kill germs. Just make sure the sponge is wet and does not contain steel or other metals. For an eco-friendlier option, buy sponges that are machine washable, and just pop them in the washing machine every week or two.
43 Use cabinet liners to protect cabinets and make them easier to clean. Line your cabinets with removable liners (not the adhesive kind), and you won’t have to deep clean your cupboards as often, if at all. Liners are so much easier to clean. Simply remove them, and wash in warm, soapy water. Allow them to dry completely before putting back in the cabinets.
44 Make laminate and ceramic floors sparkle and shine for just a few cents. Mop floors with a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 gallon of water. Add 10–15 drops of essential oil for fragrance, if desired. For tough dirt and stains, pretreat with DIY kitchen spray before mopping as usual.
45 Clean scuff marks from vinyl floors with a tennis ball. Rub scuff marks with a clean tennis ball to remove them instantly.
46 Deep clean light fixtures in the dishwasher. Place glass light covers in the dishwasher to wash away grease and dust easily.
47 Scrub built-on gunk from cabinets with oil and baking soda. Form a paste with 1 part coconut oil and 2 parts baking soda to remove grease and grime from cabinets and make them shine in one step! Apply the paste with a sponge, cloth, or toothbrush. Scrub, then wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth, followed by a clean, dry cloth.
48 Use bread to pick up glass shards. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have something to clean up broken glass, press a piece of bread on the broken glass. The bread will grab the glass and help protect your hands.
49 Avoid germs by letting sponges dry between uses. Wet sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria. Always wring them out after use, and store them at the back of your sink or in a sponge holder to dry.
50 Protect recipe cards with natural hair spray. Save money on recipe card holders by lightly spraying recipe cards with hair spray to set the ink and prevent food stains. Now you can gently wipe away food messes with ease.
Ants love to invade kitchens, where they can easily find their next meal. Unfortunately, a few ants can quickly become several dozen. Try these easy tricks to evict them for good.
51 Make your own all-natural homemade ant bait. You really can’t stop the ants for good until you get rid of the source: the colony. Mix 1 part borax with 3 parts powdered sugar. Fill small containers, such as bottle caps, with the mixture, and set them out near ant trails. The powdered sugar will attract the ants, and they’ll take the powder back to the nest.
52 Keep your space clean. Ants are looking for an easy meal. Cut off their food source, and they’ll have to go somewhere else.
53 Repel ants with vinegar. Keep ants off your countertops with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Just spray and wipe clean. Ants dislike the smell of vinegar, so they’ll stay away.
54 Use peppermint oil to send ants packing. Ants also dislike peppermint oil. Put several drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls, and place them wherever you find ants in your home. Be sure to keep them out of reach of small children and pets.
55 Keep ants out with citrus peels. Place fresh citrus slices or dried peels near entrance points. Ants don’t like the smell of citrus and won’t enter your home.
56 Use diatomaceous earth for an easy way to get rid of carpenter ants. Carpenter ants don’t carry food back to their nests, so their treatment is a little more difficult. They nest in wood and build tunnels through it, so you may find them living in your foundation, deck, or woodpiles near your home. To get rid of the carpenter ants, sprinkle some food-grade diatomaceous earth directly into their nest, making sure to get the powder into all the cracks and crevices.
57 Spray the nest. If you’re lucky enough to actually find the nest, give it a good, soaking spray. Any natural cleansing spray will do because you’re basically drowning the nest’s inhabitants. How do you find the nest? Follow the ant path.
58 Seal up cracks and crevices in your home to keep ants from getting inside. Use caulk to seal openings around doors and windows. This can also save you money on energy bills.
59 Be vigilant. The best way to get rid of ants in your home is to keep at it. They’re pretty resourceful little buggers (pun intended), but if you keep after them, you’ll eventually win.