All-natural cleaning solutions that really work
Shower doors -
Shower glass doors can be a pain to clean, especially if you don't do it frequently. Wipe with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It will protect the glass from grime buildup.
Drains -
Avoid clogged drains by cleaning them frequently. A great way to clean them and their pipes is by pouring vinegar down them. Then, after 30 minutes, flush with cold water.
Lemons -
The acid in lemon juice is excellent for removing dirt and rust stains. Combining lemon with salt also creates an effective brightening paste.
Faucets -
Combat annoying lime scale by rubbing lemon juice onto the taps and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, just wipe with a damp cloth, and you will have a sparkling faucet again!
Cutting boards -
To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half and squeeze onto the surface. Rub and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Scuffed walls -
Erase crayon marks from white walls by applying a baking-soda paste, made of equal parts baking soda and water. Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.
Stained teacups and coffee mugs - Fill with one part baking soda and two parts water, and soak overnight. The next day, rub with a sponge and rinse.
Table salt -
The granular texture of salt makes it suited for scouring. Table salt is the cheapest choice, but sea salt and kosher salt can all be used perfectly.
Oven spills -
If you get any spills when taking out food from the over, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven is cool, easily wipe with a damp sponge.
Glassware -
Compared to a scouring pad, salt won’t scratch glassware. To get out stubborn stains, add some salt when doing the dishes for extra abrasion, and then scrub.
Leather shoes -
To shine your leather shoes, wipe away dirt with a damp sponge, then apply a drop of vegetable oil to a soft cloth and rub the surface to remove marks.
Cast-iron pans -
To combat cooked-on debris, make a scrubbing paste with vegetable oil and a teaspoon of coarse salt. Then rinse with hot water, and your pans will look like new.
Castile soap -
This plant-based soap efficiently loosens grime and dirt from surfaces. But compared to many other similar soaps, it’s gentler and won't dull surfaces.
Floors -
You can mop almost any type of floor with a solution of ¼ cup of liquid Castile soap and two gallons of warm water.
Stove top and vent hood -
To combat accumulated grease, add a few squirts of liquid Castile soap to two cups of hot water. Apply to the stove top, the burners, and the vent hood.
Car -
If you need to wash your car, mix ¼ cup of liquid Castile soap with hot water and rub a generous amount of the solution on your car’s exterior.