Nothing can derail your plans to clean the house more than realizing you are out of your favorite and go-to cleaning products. No Lysol or no Windex available? No problem! You don't have to go to the cleaning aisle of your supermarket to find what you need to clean your home. Just check your pantry and your fridge. There are a ton of products already at your disposal that you can use to sanitize, deodorize, and cleanse your home from even the most stubborn stains and dirt.
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I'm telling you, these foods are more effective and will do a better cleaning job than most commercial products. They are all great at removing stains, grime and other "troubles" around the house, without the sometimes heavy and overwhelming scents from chemical products.
Check out the slideshow below to find what foods are good for cleaning. You should always have them on hand and include them in your housework routine. Next time you have a stubborn stain, you'll know exactly what you to do by using these tips.
Teabags can rescue your furniture.
Used teabags are ideal for cleaning wood surfaces to retain their natural color and shine. Simply dip the used teabag in water and clean your tables and chairs, you'll see how pretty they'll look. If you run out of furniture polish, you'll know what to do with tea.
Baking soda will come in handy.
Baking soda is perfect for solving various problems around the home, especially for cleaning carpets. Baking soda removes dirt, impurities, and odors from your carpets. Vacuum the carpet first, sprinkle some baking soda on it, leave it for few minutes, then vacuum again. You can use it for cleaning the sinks and tub, too.
Toothpaste will make things shine again.
This trick is old but effective. Toothpaste is perfect for polishing silver jewelry and to restore its natural shine. Simply apply a little toothpaste on an old toothbrush and brush your jewelry. It'll look just like new. It's not really a food, but you do put it in your mouth, right?
Olive oil is leather's best friend.
Olive oil is great for brightening leather. If your child sat with his dirty clothes full of sap after playing all day in the yard, a little olive oil is all you need to clean your chair. It’s also great for bringing back the shine and life to your leather furniture.
Flour can get that pesky grease stain out.
Flour can help remove grease stains from clothing. Just pour a little flour directly on the stain and wait a day. When the flour is completely dry, wash the garment and the grease spot will be gone.
White vinegar is essential.
White vinegar is wonderful to clean and disinfect everything in your home, particularly the bathroom and toilet. White vinegar has natural antibacterial properties and is perfect for eliminating bacteria naturally.
Walnuts aren't just a tasty snack.
Walnuts are perfect to erase scratches and water stains from your favorite wood furniture. No need to buy expensive products when you can rub walnuts on the surface. Next time your child makes a scratch on your table, don’t panic! Shell some walnuts, and voila!
White rice is a staple in all Latino homes.
White rice really works to clean your coffee and spice grinder. Just put some uncooked rice in the grinder and turn it on. When you are done with the cycle, you’ll notice that there won’t be any coffee residue in the machine.
Lemon is a natural disinfectant.
Lemon juice is wonderful to clean and disinfect the kitchen sink. Lemon juice helps kill bacteria naturally and leaves a delicious and refreshing aroma. The lemon itself is a perfect sponge. Use it to rub and clean your kitchen counter and the kitchen sink.
Onions can get the grease out of the grill.
A raw onion is perfect for removing grease from a grill. Just put half of an onion on a fork and rub it on the grill. It works best when the grill is hot, so make sure to do it carefully to prevent burns.
Banana peels are a secret weapon.
Banana peels can polish silverware. Just rub the peel on the utensils and you’ll see how shiny they’ll look. I really recommend this trick because it really works.
Salt can help get rid of stains.
Salt works well to remove red wine stains from your carpet, clothes, and furniture, but you have to act quickly. Just put enough salt on the stain and let the sodium absorb it. The next day, clean the surface and you won’t have any stains.
Cucumber will get rid of paint.
Cucumber peel is perfect for removing paint and pencil stains from walls and countertops. So the next time your child draws a masterpiece on your wall, simply peel a cucumber and rub it on the area to remove the stains.
This sliced bread hack is so helpful.
Sliced bread is ideal for picking up broken glass from the floor. Next time you break a glass, grab a slice of bread and dip it in water. Rub the floor and you’ll see the tiny pieces of glass on the bread. Let the area dry and then vacuum.
Your pots can use some ketchup.
Ketchup is helpful for cleaning many things, especially copper. If you have pots of oxidized copper it’s not necessary to buy special a cleaner. Just rub a little ketchup on them and see how bright and shiny your pots will look.
