Did you know that some of the food items in your kitchen could also double as cleaning agents? It’s true! Rummage through your kitchen pantry and if you find any of these eight items, you can test for yourself these clever foods that can clean your house!
Vinegar
White vinegar usually tops the list for anyone looking for alternative cleaning agents. This is because it is acetic and easily cuts through dirt, while killing bacteria and viruses. You need not worry about the smell as it quickly fades away. Just remember to mix vinegar with water when you use it to clean your kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has a reputation for removing unwanted odours in your home. It can also be used as a gentle abrasive cleaner, or when mixed with vinegar, it can be a very powerful cleaning material. (Although I am having flashbacks of childhood science experiments with mini-volcano explosions, so be careful and use only in very small amounts.)
Tea
Watered down tea can be used to clean mirrors. Brewed tea, on the other hand, can be used to make your wooden furniture, cabinets or hardwood floors shiny. Tea has also been known to remove rust from certain items by soaking the items in black tea and then wiping them clean.
Lemon
Lemon is great as an ingredient in dishwashing liquid. With its mildly acidic nature, you can usually easily get rid of grease and grime. Lemon juice may also clean up solid brass and can deep-clean a wooden chopping board. Plus, it smells good!
Salt
Salt is best used to complement other cleaning agents. It can be very effective as a stain cleaner when mixed with water and baking soda. Combined with vegetable oil, it can also remove those white rings that get left on your wooden tables thanks to beverages left to sit for a while.
Rice
Uncooked white rice can help clean up vases or bottles by pouring a handful of rice in with some warm water, then shake vigorously to clean. Uncooked rice can also remove oily residue in your coffee grinder blades.
Olive Oil
Unrefined olive oil can be used as a shoe polish by letting the solution soak in before buffing. You can also use it as a wood polish when combined with one part fresh lemon juice.
Ketchup
Believe it or not, ketchup can be the best cleaning agent for tarnished copper or silver. Dab some ketchup on a washcloth and rub on the surface with the tarnished copper or silver until it goes back to its original shiny state, then rinse with water (of course).
Can you think of any more?