Kitchen Green Cleaning

April 11, 2009

The kitchen is the most important room in the house. It is where food is kept, family members hang out and mingle, it is quite often the control center for the household. With all that activity it is critical that the kitchen get cleaned often and stay as clean as possible. There are five green ways to keep your kitchen sparkling; All purpose cleaner, window cleaner, wood cleaner, deodorizer and drain cleaner.

A simple all-purpose green cleaner can be made from  baking soda dissolved in water. Add lemon juice, tea tree oil, or lime juice for a fresh scent and additional antibacterial properties (tea tree oil is also a natural fungicide)

White distilled vinegar makes a good window cleaning. Use diluted with water and wipe dry with a lint-free cloth for a streak free finish.

To clean your wood without all the toxic chemicals and overwhelming scents you can use olive oil combined with a couple of drops of tea tree oil and a small amount of lemon juice (food grade is fine). This mixture will replenish your wood’s natural rich look and won’t put too much of a dent in your purse. As a bonus, it’s all natural so it won’t hurt your furniture, your family or the planet.

Baking soda is an ideal all natural deodorizer. By using it directly on surfaces your whole kitchen will smell fresh and clean without any artificial scents overpowering the glorious scent of clean. The one thing you should know is that baking soda take a lot of effort and water to rinse off. Trust, though, it is worth the effort.

Although baking soda and vinegar neutralize each other, they make an effective drain cleaner and deodorizer. First pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow with a cup of white distilled vinegar. You should see a great deal of foaming and fizzing. Let it sit for about thirty minutes and run hot water down the drain for a few minutes to clear the residue out.

Posted in Green Cleaning