Cleaning the Kitchen

Washing dishes, scrubbing pots and pans, and cleaning appliances can all be achieved with simple ingredients such as baking soda, natural liquid dishwashing soap, and essential oils.

Citrus dishwashing liquid
The lemon and orange essential oils are antibacterial and also help to cut grease.

125ml (4fl oz) unscented natural liquid dishwashing soap
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops orange essential oil

Mix the ingredients, shake well, and use as usual for washing dishes.

Citrus vinegar rinse
A scented vinegar to make your glassware sparkle and smell clean.

250ml (8fl oz) apple cider vinegar
20 drops lemon essential oil
20 drops orange essential oil

Shake the ingredients and add two tablespoons to the rinse water when dishwashing by hand.

Citrus Surface Cleaner
This cleanser cuts through dirt fast and leaves behind a clean, unmarred finish -- plus the scent of citrus which can freshen even the most stale of kitchens.

1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
2 teaspoon sweet orange essential oil

Using a small food processor, process the baking soda and borax until smooth.
Add the essential oil and process further until smooth and free of lumps.
Store in a glass or heavy plastic airtight container.

To use, dampen dirty area. Put on gloves to protect your skin and nails.
Scoop up Citrus Surface Cleaner using your chosen cleaning utensil (an old rag, paper towel, etc.) and clean the area until sparkling.
Use more mixture for stubborn stains, less for minor stains.

Kitchen cleaning spray
Ideal for cleaning kitchen countertops and other surfaces.
Vinegar helps to remove the oily film that collects in kitchens, and lavender and lemon essential oils are antibacterial.

125ml (4fl oz) distilled white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon natural liquid dishwashing soap
125ml (4fl oz) water
1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon essential oil

Combine all the ingredients together in a spray bottle. Shake well before using on kitchen surfaces.

Cleaning stainless steel
To clean and polish stainless steel cookware, rub a thin paste of baking soda and vinegar on to the metal surface, rinse well with water, and dry.

Tackling baked-on food
Sprinkle baking soda over baked-on or burned foods and add enough hot water to moisten. Let sit overnight and the food should be easy to remove.

Another option is to half-fill a pot with water, add a squirt of natural dishwashing soap and then bring to a boil. Cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Dishwasher formula
Rinse the food off the dishes before using this formula

3 tablespoons baking soda
1 tablespoon borax
2 drops lemon essential oil

Mix the ingredients together and use in your dishwasher.

Grease-cutting cleanser
A heavy-duty cleanserthat removes the greasy grime that accumulates on kitchen walls and cabinets.

30g (1 oz) baking soda
125ml (4fl oz) distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon natural liquid dishwashing soap
5 litres (1 gallon) hot water
5 drops lemon essential oil

Mix all the ingredients together in a bucket and use with a sponge or soft cloth.

Kitchen floor cleaner
Baking soda helps to neutralize kitchen odours. Soap and vinegar cut through the greasy film on kitchen floors. Eucalyptus and orange essential oils add a refreshing scent and help to kill germs.

30g (1 oz) baking soda
2 tablespoons natural liquid dishwashing soap
125ml (4fl oz) distilled white vinegar
10 litres (2 gallons) hot water
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops orange essential oil

Mix ingredients, apart from the oils, in a bucket and stir thoroughly. Add the oils and stir again. Mop the floor and rinse with clean water.

Cleaning the disposal
A kitchen sink disposal harbours food residues, unpleasant odours, and bacteria.
This mixture will help clean and disinfect it

30g (1oz) borax
30g (1oz) baking soda
1/2 lemon rind

Mix the ingredients and pour down the disposal. Turn it on and use plenty of hot water to flush.

Cleaning your oven the non-toxic way
Spray the oven with warm water and sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on to the bottom of the oven. Spray again with water, and let the mixture sit overnight.
The following day scrub the oven with steel-wool soap pads and rinse well with water.

Oven degreaser
This formula also works well with steel­wool soap pads.

1 tablespoon natural liquid dishwashing soap
125ml (4fl oz) distilled white vinegar
125ml (4fl oz) warm water

Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle.
Spray liberally on to the oven interior and rinse with warm water.

Cleaning automatic coffee makers
To remove the clogging mineral sediment in coffeemakers.

Pour 125ml (4fl oz) of distilled white vinegar into the coffee maker and run as you would to make coffee. Then flush with two full pots of water to thoroughly rinse the vinegar from the coffee maker.

Removing sediment from kettles
Vinegar and salt remove the mineral sediments from the bottom of kettles.

375ml (12fl oz) distilled white vinegar.
375ml (12fl oz) water
3 tablespoons salt

Put ingredients in the kettle, bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. Leave mixture in kettle overnight and in the morning rinse thoroughly with several changes of water.

Remove cutting board odours
Apply a paste of baking soda and warm water to a cutting board after you have chopped garlic and onions. Let it stand for 15 minutes, and rinse.

Baking soda deodorizer
Once a month, cut the top off a box of baking soda and place it in your refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh.

Refrigerator deodorizing cleanser
Baking soda and lemon juice cleans and deodorizes the refrigerator

125ml (4fl oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
500ml (16fl oz) hot water
1 tablespoon baking soda

Mix the ingredients, and using a sponge, thoroughly wash the interior of the refrigerator.
Wiping with a clean, damp cloth to finish.