Cleaning your kitchen just got easier, healthier and less expensive!

If  you look under your sink, how many bottles of cleaner are there? How much money do you have invested? Well, there are some really good things you can use to clean surfaces with that are safe, cheap, and probably already in your kitchen. The following are some things that I have found on the web, used myself, and continue to use because they really work. Elbow grease needs to be added, but the payoff is safer, healthier and less expensive cleaners.

Today we will start in the Kitchen. These are a few of my favorite things. With the exception of the essential oils, these are things most of us already have on hand. Lets take a look at them.

The most useful items in your 'natural' DIY arsenal are: 

• Vinegar, both distilled white and apple cider
• Baking Soda
• Lemon Juice
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Vegetable oil
• Borax
• Lemon, Lavender, Tea Tree, and any other essential oils you want to use. Several have antibacterial properties.
• Water

Looks like quite a list! All or most of these items are already in your kitchen. They are non-toxic and do not pollute the air you breathe, or the surfaces you come in contact with. Harsh chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, and a lot of the additives in cleaners you may normally use give off toxic gases that can affect your respiratory and/or other organs as well as irritate your skin. They can also run up your household expenses. These items are all inexpensive (with the exception of the oils, but you are only using drops at a time). I try to buy in big quantities to save even more money. With these few, natural, inexpensive items you can eliminate just about all the cost and clutter under your sink!

Start with these easy switches to save money and live healthier:

DISHES: 

• I am sorry to say that I have been unable to find a liquid dish soap that is satisfactory. I have made some that clean very well, but don't last. I did make one recipe that did a wonderful job on the dishes. The glassware came out squeaky. I got used to there not being any bubbles. Contrary to popular belief, the bubbles do not do the cleaning! Unfortunately, it seemed that it lost its power quickly and I had to keep adding to it. I have tried some that don't work at all. I will keep looking and if I find one I will let you know. You can tell me if you know of one.
• Dishwasher soap is a different story. You can make really neat little ice cube sized nuggets that pop right in the dishwasher. To make these, combine 2 cups washing soda, 2 cups Borax, 1/2 cup Epsom salt, 1/2 cup vinegar and 10-20 drops of Lemon essential oil. Mix this all together and push into ice cube treys or some other 'mold' that fits in your dishwasher. Let these harden for 24 to 36 hours and pop them out. You can wrap each individually in waxed paper to keep it from sticking to others in the storage container. Just be sure they are in a water and air tight container. 

SINKS,  DRAINS AND FIXTURES: 

• Purchase a shaker jar with 1/4 inch holes in the top designed for cheese at a dollar store and fill it with baking soda. Keep it next to the sink so you can easily get to it. Shake some into the sink after washing dishes, wipe it down then rinse. Not only will your sink shine and smell fresh, but the sponge will too! Removes water spots from chrome and stainless steel sinks and fixtures. Be sure to rinse well. Add to the cleaning power by making a paste with baking soda, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Works to clean crayon off walls as well. A paste also works well with a wire brush to clean up messy, greasy grill.
• When you are done with the box in the fridge, use it to clean the drains. Dump half a cup down the drain followed by a pint of boiling water. If this doesn't get the drain running, try putting a half cup vinegar in with the baking soda and cover the drain. Give it a chance to 'fizz up', you may want \to leave over night. Then pour down the boiling water down the drain.  
• Mix half a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water to clean no-wax floors. This mixture can even be used on hardwood floors.
• Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge to wipe out the microwave and fridge to leave them clean and smelling fresh

MICROWAVE:

• Place a bowl with about a half cup of vinegar and a half cup of water in your microwave. Microwave on high for two to five minutes. Let the bowl cool slightly. Dampen a sponge with the vinegar solution and use it to wipe out the microwave. You will be amazed at how easily stuck on bits of food come off. You can use the same sponge and vinegar to clean the front of the microwave as well.

STOVE/OVEN:

• Okay. One of my least favorite smells is ammonia. I hate that stuff. But, this little trick is worth the smell. Cleaning the burner pans on the stove is always a pain. This way is so easy. Just take the burner pans (you can do the same with the burners if necessary) and place each one in a plastic baggie. Add a splash of ammonia to each bag, seal it up and leave them in the sink over night. The next day, plug your nose and close your eyes (you probably want gloves as well)...open the bags and dump out the ammonia. Take out the burner pans and just give them a wash in the sink with dish soap. If you need added scrubbing, try a little baking soda/vinegar paste.
• Baking soda and a damp sponge work well to wipe the top of the stove. You could also use a vinegar/water solution.
• To safely clean glass top stoves, use a paste of 1 part baking soda, 1 part salt and 1 part water. Rinse well with clean water.
• To clean the oven, (one of my least favorite things), make a paste of 1 Tbsp Dawn or another liquid soap, 1 1/2 C Baking Soda, 1/4 C distilled white vinegar, and 5-10 drops of any essential oil you like. Paint this onto the inside of the oven (after removing the racks). You can use a small paint brush or pastry brush or whatever you have that is inexpensive and available. Let this sit for 6-8 hours to overnight. To remove this, use clean water and a sponge. It will take a bit to remove, you will need to change your water several times. (Then vow to do it more often).

CUPBOARDS, COUNTER TOPS:

• Clean really greasy surfaces, like under the stove hood, with a few drops of vegetable oil on a paper towel. Sounds weird, but it works. Then finish up with a vinegar/water solution or the disinfectant spray below.
• Use either a 1:1 vinegar spray or a damp sponge with baking soda to make counters shine. Remember, distilled white vinegar will kill 90% of mold and 99% bacteria. When using vinegar, keep in mind that the smell will go away when it dries. 
• A great way to clean wooden cutting boards is with plain distilled white vinegar. Use this alone to wipe off the board.

FRIDGE/FREEZER:

• Place an open box of baking soda in the fridge and in the freezer to eliminate odors. 
• Use a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda to wipe out surfaces. Rinse well after with water.
• A vinegar/water solution can also be used to clean both inside and out. Use a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to get at tough spots inside and out.
• Vegetable oil can be helpful in removing 'sticky' residues.

ODORS:

• Shake some baking soda into the bottom of the garbage can to stop odors.
• Don't forget the box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer to remove odors. Works well in closets, other storage areas and shoes too! Great for campers. Mix a little with water to clean fishing gear. A little bowl with half a cup of Baking Soda and a few drops of your favorite essential oils works as well as any room freshener (and you control the scent). 
• Sprinkle some on dry carpets or upholstery and let it sit for a bit before vacuuming it up to freshen and deodorize. 

MISCELLANEOUS:

• An effective, Easy Multipurpose Disinfectant Spray can be made with one cup water, one cup vinegar, 3 tbls. liquid soap (like Castile, Dawn or Ivory), and 20-30 drops of Tea Tree Oil. Tea Tree Oil is an excellent disinfectant, and it smells good, too. If you really don't care for the smell of that try some Rosemary, Sage, Peppermint, Grapefruit Seed extract, Orange, Lemon, or Lavender essential oil or a combination of these to your mixture (about 15 -20 drops per pint). They all have disinfectant properties. This is a great one to have premixed in a spray bottle to use whenever you need to clean off a counter tops, stove fronts, or other surfaces around the house. Just remember to shake the bottle before you use it.
• Disinfectant Wipes can easily be made by cutting a roll of paper towel in half. Put it in a container, such as a coffee can that is waterproof and has a tight lid. Cut a flap in the lid to pull the towels through and add some of the disinfectant spray liquid to the can. Let it sit and soak into the towels.You will want to turn the towels so they soak up the solution from both sides. Be careful not to add so much that they are sitting in liquid or they won't keep their strength. You may have a more decorative idea for the container...Let me know!
• Fruit Flies and Gnats To trap fruit flies and gnats, place this mixture in a bowl and set it out in the kitchen: one pint water, 2 Tbsp sugar, two Tbsp. apple cider vinegar and a few drops of soap. Then start searching to destroy the source. Look for ripe fruit and vegetables, etc.
•  Ant Invasions can sometimes be controlled by wiping surfaces with distilled white vinegar. Wipe down cupboards, counters and floors.
• The best way to wash windows, glass surfaces, mirrors etc. is with 2 Tbsp. of distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water. Use newspaper instead of paper towels or cloth for a streak free finish.

This has turned into a very long and wordy post. Thanks for sticking with me! If you have any ideas to share, please leave them in the comments section at the end. I am also going to post some links to some of my

favorite DIY websites. As I said, none of these are my own recipes. I have found these and many more by surfing the internet. I just thought I would pull some of them together.

Links:
One Good Thing by Jillee
Crunchy Betty Blog
Fabulessly FrugalThe Daily Green
The Daily Green
Earth 911