5 Everyday Non-Toxic Cleaners
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Stop resorting to expensive and harsh chemical cleaners. Try these common foods and items to help keep your home looking great.
Ketchup
If a stubborn stain keeps burning in your oven, turn the oven on very low to warm it up. Then, squirt ketchup on the culprit, scrub and let sit for five minutes; it’ll wipe right up! You can also restore discolored copper pots by spreading a thin layer of ketchup on, then rinsing and drying.
Aluminum Foil
Tarnished silver is no match for this aluminum foil “recipe.” Bring 1 litre of water, 1 tbsp of baking soda and one piece of aluminum foil to a boil. Drop your silverware in the pot for 10 seconds (longer if it’s extra tarnished), then fish it out with tongs. Magic! You can also ball up foil and use it to scrub off caked-on food from pans (not non-stick ones).
Soda
If your garbage disposal is clogged, pour some room-temperature soda (cola works best) down the drain. Wait for it to stop fizzing, and then rinse with hot water. The phosphoric acid in soda strips off gunk. You can also use cola to clean your car windshield.
Orange Peels
Next time you peel an orange, don’t chuck the skin. The peel erases water spots on metal faucets, and dissolves light gunk build-up in sinks. You can also shine up dull wood with the white-membrane side of the peel; the orange’s oils act like a natural polish and leave a nice glow. It also is good for repelling insects.
Toothpaste
Dirty walls? Squirt a little non-gel toothpaste on the spots and scrub with a rag or brush, then rinse with water. The paste also acts as a natural deodorant against sour smells, so try scrubbing inside stinky baby bottles with toothpaste and then rinsing thoroughly.
