Tips for a sparkling kitchen – naturally

Have you ever thought about all the chemicals you use in your home to clean?  And after cleaning where do those chemicals go to?  Here are some alternative natural ways to get a sparkling clean kitchen.

The Power of Citrus — Oranges and lemons have powerful cleaning attributes.  If you cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with coarse salt, it works wonders on a dirty pan.  They can also shine countertops and faucets – and the leftover scent is a plus.  Or take the rinds and throw them in a pot of boiling water to add a fresh scent to your kitchen.

Baking Soda Magic – Just like citrus, baking soda is another alternative to scrubbing and deodorizing.  Keeping an open box in the refrigerator to absorb odors or pouring some down the kitchen drain helps keep the smells at a minimum.

Vinegar – this is a secret that grandma use to use all the time.  It is great for cleaning windows, and using old newspapers won’t leave lint on the glass.  If you find your old kitchen towels have that funky smell, put them in the washer with a cup of white vinegar and the musty smell is gone.  Hey, what about those fruit flies at this time of year?  Putting apple cider vinegar in a cup with a drop of dawn dish soap attracts those little pests and they drown.

Make Dust Disappear – Dust collects on everything, one way to help it from accumulating as fast is to use a dryer sheet.

Don’t Forget the Microwave – Put a bowl of water in the microwave for several minutes.  The steam will loosen everything and you can wipe it down with ease.  Just remember, the bowl of water is hot, so use caution when removing it.