We all have our preferences when it comes to cleaning products, and some of us are really into using cleaners that are as natural as possible. If you are one of those people, did you know that some foods can also act as natural cleansers? It's true! In fact, many of the things you have sitting in your kitchen can help you clean various household items, from pots and pans to vases, spick and span—and you might not even know it. And how great is it that something that is safe enough for you to ingest can be used to clean? Oh, and did we mention most of these are far cheaper than typical cleaning products? Give them a try next time you need to do some deep or not-so-deep cleaning.
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So which edible items also do double duty as cleaning products? There are literally tons. For centuries, people have turned to food items to do everything from disinfecting to deodorizing. So whether you're trying to switch up your household cleaning routine by ditching harsh chemicals or you've found yourself in a mess that needs to be cleaned up pronto and you're all out of your store-bought favorites, everyday items from your fridge and kitchen cabinets might be just the solution you need. Check out these unexpected household staples that also act as natural cleaners.
Apple cider could become your best ally.
Apple cider vinegar is tasty in salad dressings and even in some salsas. It's also great to use for removing the pesticide residue from your fresh fruits and veggies. Just add a bit of it to a big bowl of water, then soak your fresh fruits and veggies in the mixture for a bit and rinse off. And no, you won't be left with fruits and veggies that taste like vinegar. You can also use it on tough-to-remove mildew. Just apply it directly to the mildew, let it sit for half an hour or more, and then wipe it and the mildew away.
Vinegar has a lot of uses.
It probably isn't surprising that white distilled vinegar is a natural cleaning product, because many people use it. What is surprising about it is how versatile it is. Many people swear you can use it to clean just about anything in your home as it helps fight bacteria and gets rid of odors. You can use it in the bathroom to clean in and around the toilet. In your laundry, you can use it to get rid of mildew and dank smells by adding it to your regular wash. If the smells are particularly bad, run a wash using only vinegar and no detergent, and then run another wash with detergent.
Baking soda is no slouch either.
Baking soda is another natural cleaning agent with lots of uses. You can use it to get stains and odors out of containers by soaking the containers in a mixture of baking soda and warm water. It is also great at dissolving grease, so you can mix it with water and use it to clean countertops and your stove top.
Vinegar and baking soda together are powerful.
Moms everywhere know that kids are really good at clogging the toilet. So good at it that sometimes no matter how long or how hard you plunge, the clog just won't go away. That's when you can combine the power of vinegar and baking soda to help you out. If there is not enough water in the bowl, you can start by adding some warm water, then pour 1 cup of baking soda into the bowl, and follow up by slowly pouring 1 cup of vinegar into the mix. There will be fizzing. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes minimum and then resume with plunging and flushing. Things should clear up nicely.
Grapefruit can keep your tub clean.
You can create a simple scrubber to make your tub, shower, and all the fixtures shine using half of a grapefruit and some coarse salt. Simply sprinkle the cut side of the grapefruit with a thick layer of salt and set about scrubbing everything down. It will smell amazing!
Banana peels can be used to polish silver.
Blend the peels with a little bit of water to make a polish paste perfect for cleaning your silverware! This can be especially helpful for those who inherit family heirlooms in need of a little TLC.
Rice is great for scrubbing.
Have a vase or thin-necked bottle that you can't get completely clean? Add a tablespoon of uncooked rice, fill the item three-quarters full with warm water, and shake! And don't forget rice can also help dry out a cellphone that's been dropped in water.
Cornstarch absorbs grease.
Cornstarch is really useful for cleaning up any grease spills off carpets. Just let it sit on the stain for half an hour, and then vacuum. You could even try it on other fabrics and upholstered furniture.
Rubbing alcohol removes difficult stains.
If your kids recently decided to decorate your wood floors or solid countertops with permanent markers, don't worry. Just pour rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or gauze pad and apply to lift the stain.
Ketchup can restore shine to your cookware.
If you have tarnished brass or copper cookware, try squeezing ketchup onto a cloth and rubbing it into the affected pots and pans. Their normal color should return! Afterward, rinse with warm water and dry.
Buff pots and pans with olive oil.
Use olive oil to buff your stainless steel pots and pans until they're spotless. You can also use it to clean cast-iron skillets—just mix the oil with some salt, and scrub. We've also used a small amount to restore shine to our wooden mortar and pestle and cutting boards.
White bread is great for delicate dusting.
It might seem crazy, but soft, fluffy white bread is perfect for gently removing dust from delicate items like artwork and framed photos. It really is similar in texture to a soft cloth.
Oatmeal can be used as an abrasive.
Dry rolled oats are commonly used as an exfoliant in skin care products, but those same exfoliant properties can also help you scrub and scrape up household messes without roughing up your hands.
Tea has multiple household uses.
Brewed tea can be used to dust and restore shine to wood furniture and floors as well as to clean mirrors. Then you can use the used tea bags to deodorize your refrigerator. You can even use them to clean eyeglasses.
Clean stainless steel with club soda.
Most of us know that club soda can be used as as a quick stain remover, but it can also be used to clean and buff stainless steel sinks, appliances, and utensils, as well as to shine up chrome fixtures in your bathroom, kitchen, or even your car.
Use walnuts to fix your wood furniture.
Well, not exactly fix, but you can use a shelled walnut to cover up scratches and scuffs on wood furniture. Simply rub the nut into the damaged area to camouflage it. Because walnut shells are a similar color to wood, their residue can hide the scratches.
Get more use out of cream of tartar.
Cream of tartar may have different purposes in baking, but it can also be used for cleaning. You can combine it into a paste with white vinegar to remove residue from aluminum utensils and cookware. You can also boil it in a pot of water with lemon juice or vinegar to remove stuck-on food.
Vodka makes a great deodorizer.
If you have a bottle of vodka lying around that you don't enjoy drinking, you can use it to deodorize your laundry. Pour undiluted vodka into a spray bottle and mist clothes and shoes with it to freshen them up.
Don't throw out those orange peels!
OK, so technically you are throwing them out. Running orange peels through your dishwasher is an awesome and effective way to deodorize the appliance and get your kitchen smelling wonderful.
You'll never guess what you can use rosemary for.
Rosemary has both antibacterial and antiviral properties, which makes it an excellent all-natural floor cleaner. Add it to a container of white vinegar, and after letting it sit for about two weeks, you can remove the herb and use the infused vinegar to clean your floors.
