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When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them to Clean! Here’s How!

May 19, 2016 by

Did you know that lemons work as a natural disinfectant, a stain remover, a polish for metals, and so much more? Try these simple cleaning tips using the power of citrus!

  • Scrub your dirty dishes or plastic containers with a recently juiced lemon and a little bit of coarse salt to remove any stains or smells. This also works for wooden cutting boards.
  • Rub some lemon juice on a sponge and leave it in your refrigerator for several hours to remove any odors.
  • Give your microwave a good cleaning by mixing three tablespoons of lemon juice and one and a half cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl into your microwave and put it on high for five to ten minutes. Then just wipe away any remaining spots with a dishrag.
  • Make your own eco-friendly household cleaner with citrus peels and white vinegar. Simply place citrus peels in a glass mason jar, then pour enough vinegar over top to cover the peels. Let the mixture infuse for two weeks, then strain out the vinegar into a spray bottle!

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
10 Clever Ways to Clean With a Lemon [The Kitchn]
34 Useful Reasons to Load Up On Lemons [Reader’s Digest]

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How to Clean Your Microwave Without Harsh Chemicals

January 21, 2016 by

From reheating leftovers to warming up bowls of canned soup, your microwave sees a whole lot of messes from its various daily tasks. You may think that you need to use a store-bought cleanser to get out those tough, caked-on stains, but if you want to avoid those harsh chemicals, you can actually make your own cleanser at home. Follow these steps for cleaning your microwave in an all-natural way.

  1. Pour one cup of vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl, and then add one cup of hot water and stir the two together.
  2. Place the bowl with its vinegar solution in the center of the microwave and turn it on. Let it run on average power for 10 minutes.
  3. Keep an eye on the bowl and remove it from the microwave when you notice it starting to boil (likely somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes). Note: Be sure to use an oven mitt, as the bowl will be very hot.
  4. Wet a rag with lukewarm water and give the inside a good wipe-down to remove the now-loosened debris inside.
  5. Once all of the debris is steam cleaned away, create a simple solution of lemon juice and water. Dip another rag into the homemade cleanser and give the microwave another wipe-down to freshen things up.

How to Clean Your Microwave Naturally With Just a Lemon [The Kitchn]
How to Clean and Shine Your Microwave Without Cleaner [One Good Thing]
Use a Lemon to Make Cleaning the Microwave Easy [Lifehacker]

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How to Keep Your Fridge at Broadstone Towne Center Clean and Fresh

January 7, 2016 by

Looking for easy ways to help keep your refrigerator clean and fresh? These smart and simple household items will help you to get out even the toughest food smells and leave your fridge smelling like new again!

  • Baking soda. This one isn’t just an old wives’ tale; baking soda really does help to absorb unpleasant scents and remove them from the air. Start by sprinkling some baking soda around your refrigerator and scrubbing with a damp sponge. Once you’re done, place an opened box inside to absorb any additional smells that might happen in the future.
  • Lemons. Lemons are also all-natural deodorizers. Soak a cotton ball in a small bowl of lemon juice, and then leave it inside the refrigerator for several hours to permeate every inch of the interior.
  • Salt. Scrub the inside of your fridge with a simple salt and water solution, leaving the coarse granules for extra scrubbing power. This is a great way to do a heavy-duty clean without chemicals.
  • Liners. If you frequently find yourself scrubbing foul-smelling spills from condiments, leftovers, and other unsavory items, you might want to try lining the shelves of your fridge with paper towels. That way, you can simply remove them if (and when) a leak happens.

Clean and Deodorize Your Refrigerator [Reader’s Digest]
How To Clean & Organize a Refrigerator [Apartment Therapy]
Cleaning Your Fridge [Martha Stewart]

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Want to Clean Your Oven Without Chemicals? Here’s How!

June 19, 2014 by

Your secret recipe for lasagna might be a smash hit within your family, but its cheesy, greasy droppings have left their mark on your oven. You don't have to reach for a chemical cleaner, however. Instead, rely on a little bit of elbow grease and these three steps:

1) Gather your supplies.
Here's what you'll need to tackle your oven's caked-on grease and grime: liquid dish soap, white vinegar, water, and baking soda. (You can add a few drops of scented essential oil to the mix, if desired.) Combine the ingredients to form a paste (recipe here).

2) Spread and sit.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves, and spread the paste all over the interior of your oven, avoiding the heating elements. For maximum effectiveness, allow the paste to sit at least eight hours—or longer, if possible.

3) Rinse and shine.
Using a damp cloth, wipe the paste from the oven. This will likely require several wipe-downs, so be sure to rinse the towel frequently throughout the process. Should grease remain in any particular area, reapply the paste mixture to the spot, allow it to sit an additional 30 minutes, then rinse. Repeat as needed.

How to Clean an Oven With Baking Soda and Vinegar [The Kitchn]
How to Clean an Oven Naturally [MNN]
Make Your Own Inexpensive Natural Oven Cleaner [YumUniverse]

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Five Ways to Use Vinegar around the House

October 9, 2013 by

Vinegar's always a useful thing to have around the house. Plain white vinegar has many uses and it's very inexpensive — especially when bought in bulk! Here are five unexpected uses!

  • Unclog your drains. A combination of vinegar and baking soda produces a foaming fizz you might remember from science project volcanos. This simply chemical reaction's also great for unclogging drains and removing odorous bacteria.
  • Remove mold and mildew. White vinegar is one of the best things to use to remove mildew stains from your bathroom. Dilute vinegar with water for lighter stains; use undiluted vinegar for heavier mildew.
  • Shine silver. A bath of vinegar and baking soda can help clean tarnished or dingy silver. Rest items in the bath for two or three house. Rinse with cold water, dry with a soft cloth, and enjoy the shine!
  • Freshen closests. Mixing vinegar, ammonia, and baking soda produces a powerful cleanser that can vaporize pesky odors rapidly. Remove your clothes, wash the surfaces with the vinegar solution, and let the closet air out for 24 hours.
  • Remove stains from carpets. Vinegar can also remove stains from rugs and carpets. Mix it with salt and rub gently on light stains; mix with cornstach for heavily ground-in dirt.

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