Cleaning the house is a never-ending project. There are so many dangerous chemicals used in cleaning products today, that finding alternative methods is something I'm always open to. I've used quite a few food items for various cleaning aids and even found a few new ones to try. The list below consists of 7 ways to use food to clean your house. I hope you find at least a few of them useful!
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I found out that ketchup is great for taking out tarnished spots on copper. A pinch of salt can be added to it for an abrasive cleaner as well. The citric acid in the tomatoes is what makes ketchup so effective. I thought it was interesting that something people try to avoid getting on their clothes can actually be used as a cleaning aid.
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This aromatic spice can be simmered in water to freshen the air. I know this may not be an aid used for physical cleaning, but making things smell nice is usually the ultimate goal behind cleaning. The smell of cinnamon is a pleasant one that will definitely make any house smell wonderful.
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Salt is great for scouring. It is a natural abrasive and can even be used to soak up spills on the stove top. It's amazing how much can be absorbed by a pile of salt. If you have brass or pewter objects in your home, try mixing salt with lemon juice to clean these items. The salt will take care of the scouring, while the lemon juice will add the shine.
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Mix a bit of cornstarch with water and create a paste for polishing furniture or cleaning windows. This is also useful in cleaning carpets and rugs. All you have to do is add a bit of cornstarch to cool water and use it to spot clean any troublesome areas on the carpet or rug. Cornstarch has a very soft texture, so it won't scratch whatever it is used on, plus it won't leave streaks either.
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Lemon juice is highly effective against household bacteria. The citric acid in it is a natural disinfectant, plus it smells great. I've dropped a quarter of a lemon into my garbage disposal and turned it on to clean the disposal out. It's a natural way to kill any of the germs and bacteria left over from food that has been ground up in it. A cleaning paste can be made with lemon juice and baking soda. I've used this to get stains off the stove top and off of the counter top too. You can add a little bit of salt to the paste if you need some extra scrubbing power.
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There are so many uses for white vinegar. It cuts grease, removes mildew, removes odors and stains, and even prevents wax build-up. I pour a quarter cup in my coffee maker once a month to help clean it out. I fill the coffee maker with this quarter cup of vinegar and the rest with water, and then turn it on. It's amazing at how much build-up occurs with daily use. Unclogging drains is also possible with white vinegar. Dump a quarter to a half a cup of baking soda down the drain, and then slowly pour white vinegar in it. The bubbling of these two ingredients will usually dislodge whatever is blocking the drain.
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This food product cleans scours, softens water, and deodorizes. I've used it quite often to get food unstuck from a skillet. All you have to do is fill the skillet or cooking pot with a small amount of water and sprinkle baking soda in it too. Bring the water to a boil and let it continue to boil for a few minutes. Most of the large chunks will be floating around in the water and the rest can easily be scraped off.
These are the 7 ways to use food to clean your house that I've found very effective. Do you have something that you use instead of what I've mentioned above? I'm always looking for new ways to clean that is more environmentally safe. I'd love to hear what you use.
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