Natural Cleaners: kitchen!

To me, the kitchen is the HEART of a HOME. There we not only cook, but gather with family and friends, do homework, have long conversations, pay the bills (as of a lack of a home office - it works!!). Unfortunetely, it's also the room where the garbage is kept, where the floors endurer the patter of muddy feet - 12 feet to be exact!! Needless to say is the hardest place to keep clean and germ free.

The kitchen is probably the most frequented room in the house and is most in need of daily cleaning!

Here are some tried and true recipes for cost-effective, healthy alternatives to kitchen cleaners:

Dishwashing


Fruity Dishwashing Blend
liquid castile soap (for locals: I buy this at Sunflower Market)
15 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil
6 drops lavender EO
5 drops bergamot EO
Fill aclean 22-ounce squirt bottle with castile soap. Add the essential oil. Shake the bottle before each use. Add 1 - 2 tbs of the liquid to dishwater and wash as usual.

Automatic Dishwasher Detergent


Super Easy Dishwasher Powder
2cups washing soda
1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
Combine all ingredients and store in a glass jar. To use, add about 2 tablespoons to the soap compartiment.

Rinse for hard water
Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to the rinse compartiment.

Kitchen Sink


Basic Cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
3 drops lavender, rosemary, lemon, lime or orange EO
Combine all ingredients. Rinse sink with hot water. Pour the cleanser in the sink and wipe with a sponge or cloth. Rinse again with hot water.

Rust Remover
1/4 cup baking soda
5 drops essential oil of choice (see oils properties here)
juice of half lemon

Oven Cleaners

As I mentioned before, commercial oven cleaners are one of the MOST toxic products you could use. I haven't used any od these, since I am lucky enough to own a self-cleaning range! But it should work very well. But remember: no oven cleaner is a miracle worker - bummer - sometimes it may require a bit of elbow grease if there's too much build up.

Formula for "After Disaster" clean up
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup washing soda
1 box (16oz) baking soda
scant 1/4 cup water
3/4 cup white vinegar
10 drops thyme EO
10 drops lemon or lemongrass EO

1. Combine salt, washing soda, and baking soda in a glass bowl. Add just enough water to make a paste.
2. Remove oven racks and preheat the oven to 250F for 15 min., then turn off and leave the door open.
3.Carefully spread the paste on oven walls with a sponge or cloth and allow to set for 20 - 30 min.
4. Combine vinegar and EO in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray oven walls and wipe clean. Rinse well.

Oven Maintenance Formula
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons liquid castile soap
10 drops sweet orange, lemon or lime EO
1/2 cup hot water

1. Preheat the oven to 250F for 15 min., then turn off and leave the door open.

2. Combine the baking soda, castile soap and EOs in a spray bottle. Add water and shake well.
3. Spray oven walls and wait 20 min. Wipe clean and rinse well.

Kitchen Surfaces


Herbal Degreaser
2 cups water
1/4 cup oil-based soap (I use Murphy's)
10 drops rosemary or lavender EO
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray on surface (works well on appliances) and wipe.

Lemon Blast Cleaner
Citrus peels
White vinegar
Water
10 drops of essential oil of choice

1. Fill a quart- to half-gallon-size glass jar with citrus peels.
2. Pour vinegar over the peels to cover.
3. Let mixture sit fot at least two and half weeks. The vinegar will take on an orange/golden hue.
4. Fill half a spray bottle with citurs-vinegar, straining as you pour. Fill the rest with water. Add the EO.
5. Shake well before each use. Spray and wipe with a cloth.

Kitchen Floor


Pine Fresh Floor Cleaner
1 gallon hot water
2 tablespoons liquid castile soap
10 drops pine EO
5 drops cypress EO
Mix all ingredients in a large bucket. Dip the mop into the mixture and squeeze out the excess liquid. Rinsing is not necessary.

Note: if you don't like the smell of pine, leave out the pine and cypress oils and add 15 drops sweet orange and 8 drops lemon or 1/4 cup lemon juice for a citrusy smell!

Blog to you soon...