By BobVila.com
Before you stock up on cleaning products loaded with chemicals, take a peak inside your pantry. Chances are you have these items that make excellent natural household cleaners.
Remedies at the Ready
No matter the size of the chore—whether it’s spot cleaning or wiping down all the kitchen countertops—the solution you need may very well be something you have on hand…in your kitchen. That’s right: The makings of an all-natural clean home start with ingredients you may have picked up for family mealtime. So, open up your cupboard doors and take stock: How many of these cleaners are hiding in your pantry?
Club Soda
Club soda, isn’t just a delicious drink, it’s also a fantastic stain lifter. Pour it on fabric and blot—don’t rub—to lift the stain. Because it’s odorless and safe to drink, you won’t have to worry about chemical fumes or leaving it out when kids are around.
Coffee Filters
Is it time to wash the windows? Instead of reaching for the paper towels, go for the coffee filters. The lint-free paper guarantees clean, streak-free results.
Black Tea
Got some worse-for-wear garden tools on hand? Renew them by submerging the steel parts completely in strong black tea. Start by filling a large bucket with hot water, add the tea and let it steep, and then put in the tools for a few hours. When you return, wear gloves as you wipe the tools down with a clean rag. Rust and caked-on dirt should fall away easily, leaving your trowel, hand rake, and pruners in near-pristine condition.
Vinegar
Vinegar is so versatile that it can clean everything from toilets and showers to windows and floors. Add a few citrus peels, and vinegar can cut kitchen grease even faster—and leave behind a fresh scent. Simply let lemon or orange peels soak in 1 quart of white vinegar for two weeks. Then strain, pour into a spray bottle, and use anywhere you like.
Baking Soda
You’ve seen fizzy bombs for baths, right? Well, you can make a cleansing fizzy for your toilet, too. All you need is 1 1/3 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup citric acid, and 90 drops of essential oil. Mold the mixture in an ice cube tray, and allow to dry. To use, simply drop in the bowl and, once the bubbles stop, scrub as usual.
Baking soda also makes a great deodorizer. Leave a box in the fridge or sprinkle some in the garbage can to freshen things up.
Cream of Tartar
Depending on whom you ask—and on the particular copper object—tarnish is either a beautiful patina or an unwanted layer of corrosion. Should you fall into the latter camp and wish to remove the tarnish, it’s easy. Simply make a copper cleaner by mixing cream of tartar with half as much lemon juice; it works almost immediately.
Coarse Salt
More than just a go-to seasoning, salt also works quite effectively as a cleaning agent. It absorbs oil and grease well, making it ideal for kitchen cleaning. Just sprinkle a pinch on fresh spills in the oven soon after they’ve cooled, and then wipe away. Or, combine it with baking soda and dish soap, and you get a basic scrub that’s potent enough to tackle tough grime on most appliances.
Bread
The next time one of your party guests accidentally drops a glass on the floor, skip the broom—and grab the bread. Dampen a slice, then dab it on the visible glass fragments and all over the floor where the piece shattered. Even the smaller shards will cling to the bread.
Aluminum Foil
When combined with the right ingredients, aluminum foil can help you polish tarnished silverware for easiest-ever shine. In a foil-lined glass dish (or aluminum baking dish), add 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 tablespoon sea salt, then slowly pour in 1/2 cup white vinegar, followed by 1 cup boiling water. Drop in silver pieces for 30 seconds to a minute at a time; remove carefully using tongs, then buff with a rag.
Lemons
The citric acid in lemon makes it an excellent household cleaner for all corners of the home. You can use lemons to get rid of stubborn stains or odors. Mix lemon juice with baking soda for a homemade cleaning paste or allow lemon peels to soak in vinegar for two weeks for an all-purpose cleaner.
Ziplock Bags
Ziplock bags come in handy for more than just storing snacks and sandwiches. Grab a baggie and fill it with your favorite dried flowers and herbs, and then poke a few small holes in it—just like that and you have a homemade drawer sachet. You can also use a Ziplock bag to help you declog a shower head. Fill a plastic bag about halfway with vinegar and secure it tightly around the head. Let it stand overnight, and by the next day you’ll have a great shower experience again.
